Devanagari
तं वत्सरूपिणं वीक्ष्य वत्सयूथगतं हरि: ।
दर्शयन् बलदेवाय शनैर्मुग्ध इवासदत् ॥ ४२ ॥
Verse text
taṁ vatsa-rūpiṇaṁ vīkṣya
vatsa-yūtha-gataṁ hariḥ
darśayan baladevāya
śanair mugdha ivāsadat
Synonyms
tam
—
unto the demon
;
vatsa
—
rūpiṇam — assuming the form of a calf
;
vīkṣya
—
seeing
;
vatsa
—
yūtha — gatam — when the demon entered the group of all the other calves
;
hariḥ
—
the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa
;
darśayan
—
indicating
;
baladevāya
—
unto Baladeva
;
śanaiḥ
—
very slowly
;
mugdhaḥ iva
—
as if He did not understand anything
;
āsadat
—
came near the demon .
Translation
When the Supreme Personality of Godhead saw that the demon had assumed the form of a calf and entered among the groups of other calves, He pointed out to Baladeva, “Here is another demon.” Then He very slowly approached the demon, as if He did not understand the demon’s intentions.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
When the Supreme Personality of Godhead saw that the demon had assumed the form of a calf and entered among the groups of other calves, He pointed out to Baladeva, "Here is another demon." Then He very slowly approached the demon, as if He did not understand the demon's intentions.
KB 10.11.42
By taking the shape of a calf, the demon could mingle with the other calves. Kṛṣṇa, however, specifically noticed this, and He immediately alerted Balarāma about the entrance of the demon. Both brothers then silently approached him.
Purport
The import of the words
mugdha iva
is that although Kṛṣṇa knows everything, here He pretended that He did not understand why the demon had entered among the calves, and He informed Baladeva by a sign.
Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
With a glance of his eye, he informed Balarama (darsayan) and pretending that he did not know (mugdha iva), h close by (asadat).
Purport (Jiva Goswami)
He mingled with the calves, disguised as calf out of fear. He was sent forcibly by Kaṁsa because Pūtanā and others had been killed. Kṛṣṇa is called Hari because he takes away the life of demons and attracts the devotees. He also takes away the suffering of the demon by liberating him. Kṛṣṇa looked at Balarāma to indicate the demon in order to have some fun.