Krsna gave permission for Brahma to leave by his silence, for it is said "Silence means consent." Brahma had asked permission to go in verse 39. Seeing the Lord’s silence, Brahma took that as his permission. Krsna could not break his silence because he had to perfectly play the part of the young son of the king of Vraja in the pastime of the bewilderment of Brahma. Krsna continued his act of looking for the calves and boys as described in 10.13.16. When Brahma began his prayers in this chapter, Krsna, as a young gopa anxious to find the calves, could not understand where Brahma had come from, what he was doing and what he was saying. By remaining silent, Krsna completed his act as a cowherd boy. He played the role of being ignorant of his own powers in front of Brahma who was dependent on him and thus the word "natya" (actor) is used. However, in front of Yasoda and other devotees in intimate relationships, the ignorance that he shows for his own powers covered by the mahaprema of the inhabitants of Vraja, is not a pretense and is not described as "natya". That ignorance is real. Krsna brought the calves absorbed in eating grass back to the same place on the bank of the river (svakam) That place was the same as before, with the cowherd boys sitting in the same positions. In that place were the same original cowherd boys (yatha purvasakham), different from the expansion cowherd boys who performed lila for one year with the Lord.

Kṛṣṇa gave permission to Brahmā, his son (sva-bhuvam). This phrase indicates that he forgave Brahmā for his offenses, just as a father forgives a son. Kṛṣṇa gave him permission, asking with a smile, “Are you going so soon?” This indicated Kṛṣṇa’s humility, mercy, forgiveness, teaching, joking, and scolding with a hint of his omniscience. I will not be happy with these forms of boys and calves that you put to sleep. I will gain happiness from these boys and calves in a waking state. After giving Brahmā permission, he brought the calves, the same now as in their previous state, to the bank of the Yamunā where they boys were eating lunch as previously. The boys looked at him, with yogurt rice in his hand, as previously. The power of his māyā acting by his will reconciled all things. Though the mothers remembered the activities of the boys who were actually Kṛṣṇa’s expansion from the previous day, it was not desirable that they should remember incidents which occurred during the previous year.

Brahmā did not leave only by his will. Kṛṣṇa gave permission to Brahmā, forgiven for his offenses. After that (tataḥ) Kṛsṇa brought the original calves to the bank where the boys had been eating (svakam) or where the calves had been. The calves had been in the forest or on the river bank at another place. Brahmā brought the calves and boys back, or the the Lord brought them back. It is clear that the boys remained in illusion at that place for one year for it is said that Kṛṣṇa brought only the calves back. He had previously gone to get the calves to pacify the anxious boys. It does not say that they came from somewhere and again sat there. With the disappearance of māyā they were sitting on the bank for eating their meal. But this was not visible. Why could other cowherds not see them there? Did they not suffer from cold wind during that time? Was it because of powerful illusion? Though the Lord saw this condition of the boys why was he indifferent? Did Brahmā take the boys to Brahmaloka to a place that the Lord could not see and keep them there, bewildered by illusion? That is not proper. It was said in SB 10.13.41 that they were on the bed of māyā. By the mercy of the Lord they did not suffer. Wherever they were taken, they were not invisable to the Lord, who is condensed knowledge. When Kṛṣṇa previously did not see them and began searching for them, that was a show of extreme affection or in order to fool Brahmā. That was previously stated. Thus the boys were situated at that place. Śrīdhara Svāmī says, “How could they remain sitting there for such a long time? Did they forget about eating and drinking?” The boys were situated as previously. The boys, the calves, the bank, the food and the seats were there as previously. But after one year, they would have grown in form. By the power of the Lord the boys’ behavior and appearance over the year manifested to the mothers and others by himself (as the boys). Otherwise there would be some difference between the boys of the previous year and now.