Verse Text
gauraveṇa, yathā –
govinde subala-mukhaiḥ samaṁ suhṛdbhiḥ
smerāsyaiḥ sphuṭam iha narma nirmimāṇe |
ānamrīkṛta-vadanaḥ pramoda-mugdho
yatnena smitam atha saṁvavāra patrī ||126||
Translation
Concealment out of respect: When Kṛṣṇa began to joke among His laughing cowherd friends, His servant Patrī became jubilant. Out of respect, he hung his head and with great difficulty covered his laughing.
Purport (Nectar of Devotion)
Once when Kṛṣṇa and His cowherd friends were enjoying friendly conversation, Kṛṣṇa began to address His associates in casual language. At that time Kṛṣṇa’s servant Patrī was also enjoying the conversation. But then, remembering his position of servitude, Patrī bowed down before his master, and with great respect and control, he stifled his smiling. This subdued smiling is an instance of concealment caused by a respectful attitude.