Verse 1

¹So it was that long ago the revered Maitreya was asked this very thing by the Ksatta, who had left his own prosperous house and gone into the forest. ²Or rather: the Bhagavan, lord of all, who made counsel for you, left the house of the Paurava king and entered a house that he had made his own. ³Where did the Ksatta's meeting with the revered Maitreya come about, and when was the talk they had together? Describe this to us, lord. ⁴For no question of small purpose could rise from Vidura, whose self is spotless; and the one he put it to was the better man, and it was filled out with the sayings of the good. ⁵Asked in this way by King Pariksit, that best of sages, who knows a great deal, answered him with a glad heart: Let it be heard.