Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 38
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
Checked by Jaya and Vijaya, Sanandana and the other sages, burning with anger, cursed them: “You foolish gatekeepers! Stirred by rajas and tamas, you are unfit to dwell at the shelter of Madhudviṣa’s lotus feet, which are free from such modes. Go at once to the material world and take birth among the most sinful asuras.”}]}
FAQs
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.