| Canto 10: The Summum Bonum | Chapter 1: The Advent of Lord Krishna: Introduction |
Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 10.1.53
prasanna-vadanāmbhojo
SYNONYMS
prasanna-vadana-ambhojah — Vasudeva, who externally presented himself as if very happy; nriśamsam — unto the most cruel; nirapatrapam — shameless Kamsa; manasā — with the mind; dūyamānena — which was full of anxiety and sorrow; vihasan — smiling externally; idam abravīt — and spoke as follows.
TRANSLATION
Vasudeva's mind was full of anxiety because his wife was facing danger, but in order to please the cruel, shameless and sinful Kamsa, he externally smiled and spoke to him as follows.
PURPORT
Sometimes one must act duplicitously in a dangerous position, as Vasudeva did to save his wife. The material world is complicated, and to execute one's duties, one cannot avoid adopting such diplomacy. Vasudeva did everything possible to save his wife for the sake of begetting Krishna. This indicates that one may act duplicitously for the purpose of saving Krishna and His interests. According to the arrangement already foretold, Krishna was to appear through Vasudeva and Devakī to kill Kamsa. Vasudeva, therefore, had to do everything to save the situation. Although all the events were prearranged by Krishna, a devotee must try his best to serve the purpose of Krishna. Krishna Himself is all-powerful, but it is not that a devotee should therefore sit idly and leave everything to Him. This instruction is also found in Bhagavad-gītā. Although Krishna was doing everything for Arjuna, Arjuna never sat down idly as a nonviolent gentleman. Rather, he tried his best to fight the battle and be victorious.
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His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
His Holiness Hrdayananda dasa Goswami
Gopiparanadhana dasa Adhikari
Dravida dasa Brahmacari