The Lord, in His Krishna avatara, indulges in play acting, which, like His many pranks, is most endearing. Whenever the Gopikas come to Yasoda with their complaints, Krishna assumes an air of innocence and assures His mother that He has not done anything wrong. So good is His acting, that Yasoda believes Him, said Kidambi Narayanan.
When Krishna is on Yasoda's lap, He pretends that He does not even know what night means. Later, when Yasoda is away, He eats up the butter, and knocks down the pot containing buttermilk, and comes back to where Yasoda left Him, and pretends to be asleep. The evidence against Him is strong, for there is no one else there, who has an inordinate love for butter. And yet, Krishna pretends to be asleep, thinking He can fool Yasoda.
Likewise Andal, in Her Tiruppavai, thinks of Herself as a Gopika, a role She never slips from in any of Her verses. She keeps to Her assumed role in the verses. In one of Periazhvar's verses, Yasoda chides Krishna for not bathing regularly. What will the girl Nappinnai, who is to marry Him think of Him, His mother wonders. Will she not laugh at Him?
In the Rama avatara, there is an episode, where Rama goes to Sita's room, when She is still dressing. Angry at being interrupted, Sita asks Rama how He could enter Her quarters without Her permission. Rama leaves. But as soon as He leaves, Sita is sorry for Her words. She wants to make amends for asking Rama to leave. As for Rama, He is sorry for having offended Her, and wants to make up to Her. So He goes back to see Sita. Sita is waiting to apologise to Him, and Rama is waiting to apologise to Her. But who is to break the ice? Neither knows how to begin the conversation. Rama then deliberately drops His ring, and pretends that it has slipped off His finger. Sita then looks for it, finds it and hands it to Him. And thus their domestic quarrel is forgotten. What a piece of play acting on the Lord's part! It is this ring that is later taken by Hanuman to Sita, and seeing it Sita recalls the incident. Seeing the ring She becomes emotional, and longs for the company of Rama.
