ciraḿ vimṛśya munaya
īśvarasyeśitavyatām
jana-sańgraha ity ūcuḥ
smayantas taḿ jagad-gurum
ciram -- for some time; vimrisya -- thinking; munayah -- the sages; isvarasya -- of the supreme controller; isitavyatam -- the status of being controlled; jana-sangrahah -- the enlightenment of the people in general; iti -- thus (concluding); ucuh -- they said; smayantah -- smiling; tam -- to Him; jagat -- of the universe; gurum -- the spiritual master.
For some time the sages pondered the Supreme Lord's behavior, which resembled that of a subordinate living being. They concluded that He was acting this way to instruct the people in general. Thus they smiled and spoke to Him, the spiritual master of the universe.
Srila Sridhara Svami explains the word isitavyata as referring to one's not being a controller, or in other words, to being under the law of karma, obliged to work and experience the results of one's work. While addressing the sages, Lord Krishna accepted the role of a subordinate living being to emphasize the importance of hearing and serving saintly Vaishnavas. The Personality of Godhead is also the supreme teacher of spiritual surrender.
