Nārāyaṇa’s Impartiality, Absorption in Kṛṣṇa, and the Jaya–Vijaya Descent
Prelude to Prahlāda’s History
अशपन् कुपिता एवं युवां वासं न चार्हथ: । रजस्तमोभ्यां रहिते पादमूले मधुद्विष: । पापिष्ठामासुरीं योनिं बालिशौ यातमाश्वत: ॥ ३८ ॥
aśapan kupitā evaṁ yuvāṁ vāsaṁ na cārhathaḥ rajas-tamobhyāṁ rahite pāda-mūle madhudviṣaḥ pāpiṣṭhām āsurīṁ yoniṁ bāliśau yātam āśv ataḥ
Als Jaya und Vijaya sie aufhielten, verfluchten Sanandana und die anderen Weisen sie zornig: „Ihr törichten Torhüter! Von rajas und tamas aufgewühlt, seid ihr nicht würdig, am Schutz der lotusgleichen Füße Madhudviṣas zu weilen, die frei von diesen Modi sind. Geht sogleich in die materielle Welt und werdet in einer höchst sündhaften Asura-Linie geboren.“
This verse shows that those deemed unfit for pure service at the Lord’s feet—service free from rajas and tamas—may be sent away to take a lower, even demoniac, birth due to offense and anger.
In the Vaikuṇṭha narrative, the gatekeepers obstructed the Kumāras from entering; the sages, angered by this impediment to seeing the Lord, pronounced a curse sending them to demoniac birth.
Cultivate sattva through clean habits, truthful speech, and steady devotion—so one’s service is not driven by ego, anger, or agitation, which this verse implies can lead to spiritual setback.