Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 10, Chapter 50, Text 05-06

Text-05-06

SB 10.50.5-6

niriksya tad-balam krsna
 udvelam iva sagaram
sva-puram tena samruddham
 sva-janam ca bhayakulam
 
cintayam asa bhagavan
 harih karana-manusah
tad-desa-kalanugunam
 svavatara-prayojanam
 
Translation: 
 
Although Lord Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the original cause of this world, when He descended to the earth He played the role of a human being. Thus when He saw Jarasandha’s assembled army surrounding His city like a great ocean overflowing its shores, and when He saw how this army was striking fear into His subjects, the Lord considered what His suitable response should be according to the time, place and specific purpose of His current incarnation.
 
Purport: 
 
The acaryas point out that the Supreme Godhead did not have to worry about a mortal attack from Jarasandha and his soldiers. But, as stated here, Sri Krsna was playing the part of a human being (karana-manusah), and He played the part well. This play is called lila, the Lord’s enactment of spiritual pastimes for the pleasure of His devotees. Although ordinary persons may be dumbfounded by the Lord’s pastimes, the devotees derive tremendous pleasure from His inimitable style of behavior. Thus Srila Sridhara Svami points out that Sri Krsna thought as follows: “How should I defeat Jarasandha? Should I kill the army but not Jarasandha, or should I kill Jarasandha and take the army for Myself? Or perhaps I should just kill both of them.” Lord Krsna’s conclusion is described in the following verses.
Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 10, Chapter 50, Text 04
Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 10, Chapter 50, Text 07-08