अहं हि सर्वदा स्तौमि नारदं देवदर्शनम् । महेंद्रगदितेनैव स्तोत्रेण शृणु तन्नृप
ahaṃ hi sarvadā staumi nāradaṃ devadarśanam | maheṃdragaditenaiva stotreṇa śṛṇu tannṛpa
Sesungguhnya Aku sentiasa memuji Nārada, sang penyingkap darśana para dewa. Wahai raja, dengarlah madah pujian itu, yang diucapkan oleh Mahendra sendiri.
Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) addressing the sages (deduced); internal quotation introduces Indra’s hymn
Listener: A king (nṛpa)
Scene: A royal listener sits respectfully as a narrator announces a hymn spoken by Mahendra; Nārada is envisioned as radiant devarṣi with vīṇā, embodying ‘devadarśana’.
Saintly praise (stuti) preserves and transmits sacred qualities; hearing hymns is itself a dharmic act.
No site is named; the verse introduces a stotra tradition within the narrative.
Śravaṇa (devotional listening) of a stotra is implied: “śṛṇu”—hear the hymn.