śrī-śukaḥ uvāca - Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; evam - thus, as aforementioned; viprakṛtaḥ - having been put into difficulty; rājan - O King; baliḥ - Mahārāja Bali; bhagavatā - by the Personality of Godhead Vāmanadeva; asuraḥ - the King of the asuras; bhidyamānaḥ api - although situated in this uncomfortable position; abhinna-ātmā - without being disturbed in body or mind; pratyāha - replied; aviklavam - undisturbed; vacaḥ - the following words.

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: O King, although the Supreme Personality of Godhead was superficially seen to have acted mischievously toward Bali Mahārāja, Bali Mahārāja was fixed in his determination. Considering himself not to have fulfilled his promise, he spoke as follows.