[452] **"Things held dear in the world — having what as their source (nidāna)?"** means: things held dear — having what as their source? Arisen from what, produced from what, generated from what, brought forth from what, made manifest from what? Having what as their source, having what as their origin, having what as their birth, having what as their wellspring? — thus he asks about the root of things held dear … asks about their origin, questions further, requests, invites, and prevails upon [him to declare it]. Hence, "Things held dear in the world — having what as their source?"
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.