eṣa dānava-daityānām
agranīḥ kīrti-vardhanaḥ
ajaiṣīd ajayāṁ māyāṁ
sīdann api na muhyati
eṣaḥ - this Bali Mahārāja; dānava-daityānām - among the demons and unbelievers; agranīḥ - the foremost devotee; kīrti-vardhanaḥ - the most famous; ajaiṣīt - has already surpassed; ajayām - the insurmountable; māyām - material energy; sīdan - being bereft (of all material opulences); api - although; na - not; muhyati - is bewildered.
In this verse, the words sīdann api na muhyati are very important. A devotee is sometimes put into adversity while executing devotional service. In adversity, everyone laments and becomes aggrieved, but by the grace of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, a devotee, even in the worst condition, can understand that he is going through a severe examination by the Personality of Godhead. Bali Mahārāja passed all such examinations, as explained in the following verses.