पुरा कृतयुगे तात ऋषिरासीन्महायशा:
purā kṛtayuge tāta ṛṣir āsīn mahāyaśāḥ
กาลก่อน ในกฤตยุค โอ้ลูกเอ๋ย มีฤๅษีผู้มีเกียรติยศใหญ่ยิ่งผู้หนึ่งดำรงอยู่
वासुदेव उवाच
The verse frames a dharma-teaching through an ancient exemplum: by locating the lesson in the Kṛta Yuga and introducing a renowned sage, it signals that the forthcoming instruction is grounded in timeless, exemplary conduct.
Vāsudeva begins a retrospective account, addressing someone affectionately (“tāta”) and introducing a celebrated sage who lived in the Kṛta Yuga, setting up a story meant to illustrate ethical or dharmic principles.