The Sadguru said:
In ancient times, in the city of Puṇḍarīkapura, lived the great sage Vyāghrapāda with his wife, ever devoted to Śiva.
śrīsadgururuvāca
puṇḍarīkapure pūrvaṃ vyāghrapādo mahāmuniḥ|
śivabhaktirato nityamuvāsa nijabhāryayā
पुण्डरीकपुरे · puṇḍarīkapure — in the city of Puṇḍarīkapura
पूर्वम् · pūrvaṃ — in ancient times
व्याघ्रपादः · vyāghrapādaḥ — the sage named Vyāghrapāda
महामुनिः · mahāmuniḥ — the great sage
शिवभक्तिरतः · śivabhaktirato — devoted to the worship of Śiva
नित्यम् · nityam — always
उवास · uvāsa — dwelled
निजभार्यया · nijabhāryayā — with his own wife
पुण्डरीकपुरे पूर्वं महामुनिः व्याघ्रपादः निजभार्यया सह नित्यं शिवभक्तिरतः उवास।
in the city of Puṇḍarīkapura · in ancient times · the sage named Vyāghrapāda · the great sage · devoted to the worship of Śiva · always · dwelled · with his own wife
This verse introduces the setting and the protagonists, establishing the pious background of the sage Vyāghrapāda which serves as the foundation for the divine events that follow.