Brahma is addressed as "ambhojanma jani", who is born from the lotus. This indicates that Brahma, though a living being, has a material birth. The hint is here given that he was so covered by material energy that he wanted to test Krsna , who is the very source of maha maya. One should not claim that Brahma’s power of illusion could actually exert influence over all knowledgeable Krsna and his dear cowherd boys, because a later verse says "vatsan pulinam aninya" (as before Krsna took the calves to the river bank). Putana’s bewildering Krsna and Yasoda was permitted by the lila sakti for production of pastimes producing vismaya rasa (astonishment). That bewildering could never be done by her. By Brahma’s power of illusion the boys were put to sleep, but this was allowed for the production of pastimes. Thus they were put to sleep by Krsna’s yogamaya potency. This can be understood from the later statement: Krsna maya hatatmanam (the cowherd boys were bewildered by Krsna’s maya). One should not claim that after being bewildered by Krsna the boys were taken somewhere else by Brahma, because Brahma later said, " These boys are not sleeping by my maya. Where did they come from?" And Sukadeva says after this that Brahma could not understand which boys were produced by Krsna and which were created by the external energy. Sukadeva would not describe the real cowherd boys as being created by the external energy. It is proper to stay that Brahma had stolen some other forms of boys created by the external energy. After seeing the killing of Aghasura, Brahma wanted to see more of Krsna’s powers, and therefore came to this spot (tad antargatah). Brahma then took the cowherd boys and calves from the bank of the Yamuna elsewhere (itah) and hid them and then disappeared. The calves and boys whom Brahma stole were created by maya. Since that maya arises from the Lord’s maya, one could say that everything was under the Lord’s maya. Bewildered by the Lord’s energy, Brahma stole the calves and boys created by maya in order to see Krsna’s powers. "When I steal the boys and calves will Krsna show some power, some wonderful pastimes? Will he look and find the cows by himself or come to me and pray to get them back? Or will he not be able to understand anything?" Such thoughts were not possible except if Brahma were bewildered by the Lord’s energy. Thus When Brahma desired to steal the boys and calves, yogamaya hide the real boys and calves and mahamaya at that instant produced some exact replicas to show to Brahma for stealing. Prabhavata means from Krsna. Being astonished from seeing Krsna kill Aghasura, Brahma came there.

He saw that Agha was liberated by the Lord (prabhavataḥ). Though born from the lotus navel of the Lord, and thus having all knowledge by his nature, he was surprised on seeing the demon liberated by the Lord endowed with great powers. He who was surprised, finding and opportunity, took the calves and boys elsewhere in order to see some other sweet power of the Lord (iśituḥ), who was capable of giving liberation to the demon. Placing them outside of Vṛndāvana (where Kṛṣṇa would confine the search) he then disappeared like a thief. But from later statements (SB 10.13.41) it is understood that Kṛṣṇa again brought the boys and calves back to their original places. Vatsān pulinam āninye yathā-pūrva-sakhaṁ svakam: he took the calves, who were still situated where they had been a year earlier, and brought them to the riverbank, where he had been taking his meal and where his cowherd boyfriends remained just as before. (SB 10.14.42) Brahmā says māyāśaye śayānā me nādyāpi punar utthitāḥ: I have kept them sleeping on the bed of my mystic potency, and to this very day they have not yet risen again. (SB 10.13.41) But though the boys had qualities similar to the Lord’s, they could be overcome by Brahmā’s māyā as part of the Lord’s human pastimes, for without this, Kṛṣṇa’s human pastimes would not be complete. “If Brahmā is omniscient, why was he surprised? Why did he stoop to such a low test?” Kṛṣṇa is a boy endowed with bewildering powers (māyārbhakasya). He has childhood pastimes which are most bewildering. That bewildering nature covers up knowledge of his powers. Though previous childhood pastimes were also bewildering, now by the bewildering power of Kṛṣṇa’s taking a meal in the forest, Brahmā lost all fear, became greatly astonished and then began searching for some other power in him. O best of the Kurus! The childhood pastimes by their bewildering power bewilder even Brahmā who is fixed in the highest knowledge.

Because he was born from the lotus in the navel of the Lord, Brahmā should have been shown respect to the Lord. Kṛṣṇa was the real master of the universe (īśituḥ), or he was Brahmā’s father and guru. But Kṛṣṇa was also a boy who had deceptive playfulness (māyārbhakasya) or he showed himself as a boy by his mercy (māyā). Or though he is a cowherd boy, his devotees cannot be bewildered by māyā (amāyā), or because of him his devotees cannot be bewildered (āmāya). Or because of him there is pure (amāya) happiness (ka) in the cowherd boys (arbha). Or he is a cowherd boy who diplays his spiritual powers. He wanted to see the Lord because he had liberated Aghāsura or because though he was supreme, he was eating as previously described. Thus he did not come to test the Lord. He came out of bhakti. He took the calves and boys from one place or from where they were situated (itaḥ) to another place (anyatra) or placed them eleswhere. This was for testing the Lord. This was the external appearance seen by Brahmā who was put in illusion. He took the boys and calves and made them disappear for it Brahmā says māyāśaye śayānā me: they are sleeping on my bed of māyā. (SB 10.13.81) man-māyā-mohitetare: who are these boys here playing, different from those under my māyā? (SB 10.13.42) māyāṁ vitatya: you spread māyā. (SB 10.14.19) Śukadeva says svayaiva māyayājo pi : Brahmā himself was put into bewilderment by his own māyā. (SB 10.13.44) Though Brahmā’s māyā cannot bewilder or cover the devotees of the Lord, it was permitted by the Lord and could do anything. The same applies to Balarāma. This will be clear later. O Parīkṣit, born in a good family (kurudvaha)! You should not think that Brahmā committed an offense. Disappearing, Brahmā remained there somewhere invisibly. Or he went to Brahmaloka without anyone seeing, out of fearm and so that the lord could not see him. Or for fun he acted like a thief and disappeared. He did this act to see the powers of Kṛṣṇa, who spreads his powers in newer and newer ways (prabhavataḥ). Or he saw the liberation of Aghāsura by Kṛṣṇa who spreads his powers. Or he saw the liberation of Aghāsura from more births in the material world (prabhavataḥ). Thus he was most astonished.