1. Tricky Krsna

    Yudhisthira Maharaja was advised by Krsna that "You go to Dronacarya and tell him the lies." "What is that?" "Now, tell him that 'Your son Asvatthama is dead.' " Because Dronacarya had some benediction that unless he is shocked by the death of his son, he will never die. So Krsna had to take this diplomatic, because it is politics. Because Dronacarya will not believe anyone. He knew that Maharaja Yudhisthira is a most pious man; he never tells lies. So if Maharaja Yudhisthira goes and says that "Your son is dead," then he will believe. Otherwise, Krsna could have gone personally, but He knew that people do not believe Him. [laughter] He is very tricky. [laughter]

    So therefore no tricky man can excel Him. A man may be very tricky, very intelligent, but he will not be able to excel Krsna. He is more tricky. Just like in His childhood, Krsna was naughty, so mother wanted to bind Him. So Krsna also became tricky. Mother first of all brought some rope and bound, and when it was to be knotted, it was short. And then again she joined another rope. In this way, whatever rope store she had, she brought one after another, and at last, when knotting, it is too short. Krsna thought, "Mother, nobody can bind Me, and because I have accepted to become your child, you are trying to bind Me? All right, you bring your all ropes. You will never be able to bind Me." This is Krsna. But Mother Yasoda is the greatest devotee. So when Krsna saw that "My mother is now exhausted, perspiring. All right, you can bind Me."

    From Srila Prabhupada's lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.28-29 — July 13, 1975, Philadelphia