prasanna-vadanÄmbhojo
nášĹaášsaáš nirapatrapam
manasÄ dĹŤyamÄnena
vihasann idam abravÄŤt
prasanna-vadana-ambhojaḼ - Vasudeva, who externally presented himself as if very happy; nášĹaášsam - unto the most cruel; nirapatrapam - shameless Kaášsa; manasÄ - with the mind; dĹŤyamÄnena - which was full of anxiety and sorrow; vihasan - smiling externally; idam abravÄŤt - and spoke as follows.
Sometimes one must act duplicitously in a dangerous position, as Vasudeva did to save his wife. The material world is complicated, and to execute oneâs duties, one cannot avoid adopting such diplomacy. Vasudeva did everything possible to save his wife for the sake of begetting KášášŁáša. This indicates that one may act duplicitously for the purpose of saving KášášŁáša and His interests. According to the arrangement already foretold, KášášŁáša was to appear through Vasudeva and DevakÄŤ to kill Kaášsa. Vasudeva, therefore, had to do everything to save the situation. Although all the events were prearranged by KášášŁáša, a devotee must try his best to serve the purpose of KášášŁáša. KášášŁáša 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-gÄŤtÄ. Although KášášŁáša 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.