Shloka 36
The Kingdom of God (Vaikuṇṭha) and the Curse of Jaya and Vijaya
भूयादघोनि भगवद्भिरकारि दण्डो यो नौ हरेत सुरहेलनमप्यशेषम् । मा वोऽनुतापकलया भगवत्स्मृतिघ्नो मोहो भवेदिह तु नौ व्रजतोरधोऽध: ॥ ३६ ॥
bhūyād aghoni bhagavadbhir akāri daṇḍo yo nau hareta sura-helanam apy aśeṣam mā vo ’nutāpa-kalayā bhagavat-smṛti-ghno moho bhaved iha tu nau vrajator adho ’dhaḥ
The gatekeepers said: O sinless sages, the punishment you have given is indeed fitting, for we neglected due honor even to saintly ones like you, godly in nature. Yet, by your compassion upon our repentance, may the delusion that destroys remembrance of Bhagavān not come upon us, even as we descend lower and lower.
To a devotee, any heavy punishment is tolerable but the one which effects forgetfulness of the Supreme Lord. The doormen, who were also devotees, could understand the punishment meted out to them, for they were conscious of the great offense they had committed by not allowing the sages to enter Vaikuṇṭhaloka. In the lowest species of life, including the animal species, forgetfulness of the Lord is very prominent. The doormen were aware that they were going to the criminal department of the material world, and they expected that they might go to the lowest species and forget the Supreme Lord. They prayed, therefore, that this might not happen in the lives they were going to accept because of the curse. In Bhagavad-gītā, Sixteenth Chapter, verses 19 and 20, it is said that those who are envious of the Lord and His devotees are thrown into the species of abominable life; life after life such fools are unable to remember the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and therefore they continue going down and down.
FAQs
This verse shows that even a slight offense to saintly devotees is taken seriously; Jaya and Vijaya pray that the Lord’s punishment fully eradicate their neglect toward the exalted devotees.
After obstructing the Kumāras at Vaikuṇṭha’s gate and being cursed, they humbly address the sages, seeking that their punishment purify the offense and requesting the sages not to fall into regretful delusion.
When mistakes happen, accept correction humbly, seek forgiveness, and keep steady remembrance of God—avoiding spiraling guilt or resentment that disrupts devotion and clarity.