इति पृष्टस्तदा सर्वैर्मुनिभिर्भावितात्मभिः । सूतो व्यासं नमस्कृत्य वाक्यं चेदमथाब्रवीत्
iti pṛṣṭastadā sarvairmunibhirbhāvitātmabhiḥ | sūto vyāsaṃ namaskṛtya vākyaṃ cedamathābravīt
Demikianlah, ketika ditanya oleh semua muni yang berjiwa terkawal dan bertafakur, Sūta terlebih dahulu bersujud kepada Vyāsa, lalu mengucapkan kata-kata ini.
Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa/Sūtanarrator)
Listener: munis (assembly)
Scene: Sūta, surrounded by contemplative sages, rises slightly or bows with folded hands toward an unseen Vyāsa (or a symbolic manuscript/seat), then begins the discourse; the atmosphere is orderly and meditative.
Sacred knowledge is transmitted with humility—honoring the guru (Vyāsa) before teaching.
The broader context is Kedāra-kṣetra (Kedārakhaṇḍa), though this verse mainly establishes the narration frame.
No explicit rite is prescribed here; it models reverential conduct (namaskāra) before discourse.