दावाग्निभीतगोपालगोप्ता दावाग्निनाशनः ।नयनाच्छादनक्रीडालम्पटो नृपचेष्टितः॥
dāvāgnibhītagopālagoptā dāvāgnināśanaḥ ·nayanācchādanakrīḍālampaṭo nṛpaceṣṭitaḥ
protector of the cowherds terrified by the forest blaze
Protector of cowherd boys terrified by forest fire — when the Vṛndāvana forest catches fire surrounding them, Kṛṣṇa swallows the entire conflagration.
destroyer of the forest fire
he drank the flames down
Destroyer of the forest fire — Kṛṣṇa's swallowing of the fire is the second great fire-act; he later swallows another in S.B.G 10.19.
eager for the game of covering the eyes (blind-man's-buff)
Fond of the eye-covering game — Kṛṣṇa plays blind-man's-bluff with his friends; the cosmic Lord pretends not to see while his friends hide and seek.
who played at being a king
Acting like a king (in play) — Kṛṣṇa and the boys play 'royal court' games; sometimes Kṛṣṇa is king, sometimes another friend; the rotation of mock-sovereignty is a cherished game.
