sri-suka uvaca

tatra tesv atma-paksesv a-

 grnatsu vijigisaya

vacah pesaih smayan bhrtyam

 uddhavam praha kesavah

 

Translation: 

 

Sukadeva Gosvami said: When His supporters, the Yadavas, objected to this proposal out of eagerness to defeat Jarasandha, Lord Kesava turned to His servant Uddhava and, smiling, addressed him with fine words.

 

Purport: 

 

Srila Prabhupada explains, “Just before the great sage Narada arrived in the Sudharma assembly house of Dvaraka, Lord Krsna and His ministers and secretaries had been considering how to attack the kingdom of Jarasandha. Because they were seriously considering this subject, Narada’s proposal that Lord Krsna go to Hastinapura for Maharaja Yudhisthira’s great Rajasuya sacrifice did not much appeal to them. Lord Krsna could understand the intentions of His associates because He is the ruler of even Lord Brahma. Therefore, in order to pacify them, He smilingly [spoke] to Uddhava.”

 

Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti points out that the Lord smiled because He was about to demonstrate Uddhava’s brilliant ability to give counsel in difficult situations.