Vaishampayana said : Having been thus addressed by the illustrious Pandava in the midst of the Rishis, the exalted and the greatly ascetic Markandeya said-
वैशम्पायन उवाच इत्युक्तः पाण्डवेयेन महात्मा ऋषिसंनिधौ। उवाच भगवांस्तत्र मार्कण्डेयो महातपाः॥