श्रीशुक उवाच
इन्द्रो वृत्रवचः श्रुत्वा गतालीकमपूजयत् ।
गृहीतवज्रः प्रहसंस् तमाह गतविस्मयः ॥ १८ ॥
sri-sukah uvaca-Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said; indrah-King Indra; vrtra-vacah-the words of Vrtrasura; srutva-hearing; gata-alikam-without duplicity; apujayat-worshiped; grhita-vajrah-taking up the thunderbolt; prahasan-smiling; tam-unto Vrtrasura; aha-said; gata-vismayah-giving up his wonder.
Sukadeva Gosvami said: Hearing the straightforward, instructive words of Vrtrasura, King Indra praised him and again took the thunderbolt in his hand. Without bewilderment or duplicity, he then smiled and spoke to Vrtrasura as follows.
King Indra, the greatest of the demigods, was astonished to hear the instructions of Vrtrasura, who was supposed to be a demon. He was struck with wonder that a demon could speak so intelligently. Then he remembered great devotees like Prahlada Maharaja and Bali Maharaja, who had been born in the families of demons, and thus he came to his senses. Even so-called demons sometimes have exalted devotion for the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore Indra smiled reassuringly at Vrtrasura.