Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.70.47
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
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sarva-jñena
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by the all-knowing one
Sarva-jña — knower of everything. Bhagavān's own quality, explicitly named, in the same line that says He acted as if perplexed. The verse fully states the līlā: omniscience and theatrical not-knowing are simultaneous.
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mugdha-vat
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as if perplexed, as if charmed-out-of-knowing
Mugdha-vat — like one beguiled. Mugdha can mean both 'simple' and 'enchanted.' Bhagavān is enchanted by His own līlā into apparent simplicity. The Gauḍīyas dwell on this: bhakti is the only thing that 'enchants' the all-knowing.
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śirasa ādhāya
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placing on the head
To 'place an order on the head' (śirasi-dhṛta) is the classic Vaiṣṇava idiom for total acceptance of the master's word. Uddhava performs the gesture; every Vaiṣṇava who takes guru-ājñā repeats it.
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bhartrā
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by his master
Bhartṛ — supporter, husband, master. Uddhava regards Kṛṣṇa as bhartṛ — the one who sustains him. The mood is dāsya, but tinged with sakhya: Uddhava is both servant and friend, and both names fit one love.
Thus end the purports of the humble servants of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda to the Tenth Canto, Seventieth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Daily Activities.”
Being instructed with affection (upāmantritaḥ) by his master, whose order he must necessarily obey, with devotion he took the order on his head. This means he joined his hands and placed them on his head. Thus end the purports of the humble servants of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda to the Tenth Canto, Seventieth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled "Lord Kṛṣṇa's Daily Activities." 10.71: The Lord Travels to Indraprastha verses: Summary, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31-32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41-42, 43, 44-45 Chapter Summary This chapter relates how Lord Kṛṣṇa followed Uddhava's advice and went to Indraprastha, where the Pāṇḍavas celebrated His arrival with great festivity. Wise Uddhava, knowing Lord Kṛṣṇa's inner desire, advised the Lord as follows: "By conquering all directions and then performing the Rājasūya sacrifice, King Yudhiṣṭhira will fulfill all his purposes-defeating Jarāsandha, protecting those who have taken shelter of You, and executing the Rājasūya-yajṣa. Thus the Yādavas' powerful enemy will be destroyed and the imprisoned kings freed, and both deeds will glorify You. "King Jarāsandha can be killed only by Bhīma, and since Jarāsandha is very devoted to the brāhmaṇas, Bhīma should disguise himself as a brāhmaṇa, go to Jarāsandha and beg a fight from him. Then, in Your presence, Bhīma will defeat the demon." Nārada Muni, the Yādava elders and Lord Kṛṣṇa praised Uddhava's plan, and Lord Kṛṣṇa proceeded to mount His chariot and head for Indraprastha, followed by His devoted queens. Soon Lord Kṛṣṇa arrived in that city. Hearing of the Lord's arrival, King Yudhiṣṭhira immediately came out of the city to greet Him. Yudhiṣṭhira repeatedly embraced Lord Kṛṣṇa, losing external consciousness in his ecstasy. Then Bhīmasena, Arjuna, Nakula, Sahadeva and others each embraced or bowed down to Him, as was appropriate. After Lord Kṛṣṇa had properly greeted everyone, He entered the city as a fanfare of many musical instruments played and reverential hymns were chanted. The women of the city scattered flowers down from the rooftops, remarking on the extreme good fortune of the Lord's queens. Śrī Kṛṣṇa entered the royal palace and offered respects to Queen Kuntīdevī, who embraced her nephew, and Draupadī and Subhadrā offered obeisances to the Lord. Kuntīdevī then requested Draupadī to worship Lord Kṛṣṇa's wives. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, gratified King Yudhiṣṭhira by remaining there for some months. During this stay He enjoyed strolling here and there. He would drive on chariots with Arjuna, followed by many warriors and soldiers.
Bhagavān, omniscient, pretending to be perplexed (mugdha-vat) and asking Uddhava for advice is like a master craftsman handing his apprentice the chisel for the final cut. Uddhava takes the order 'upon his head' — the body of the servant becomes the instrument of the Lord's will.
Mahāprabhu, who is Bhagavān Himself, repeatedly asked questions of Rāmānanda Rāya (CC Madhya 8), of Sanātana Gosvāmī (CC Madhya 20-23), pretending not to know. By these questions He gave the world the Rāmānanda-saṁvāda and the Sanātana-śikṣā.
The principle is from this verse: sarva-jñena api mugdha-vat — though all-knowing, He acts as if perplexed. His not-knowing is the door through which His servants enter into giving Him what they alone could not have given without that door.
My note
Source: vedabase.io