Shloka 2
The Lord’s Apology to the Kumāras and the Fall of Jaya and Vijaya
श्रीभगवानुवाच एतौ तौ पार्षदौ मह्यं जयो विजय एव च । कदर्थीकृत्य मां यद्वो बह्वक्रातामतिक्रमम् ॥ २ ॥
śrī-bhagavān uvāca etau tau pārṣadau mahyaṁ jayo vijaya eva ca kadarthī-kṛtya māṁ yad vo bahv akrātām atikramam
The Supreme Lord said: These two are My attendants, Jaya and Vijaya; by disregarding Me, they have committed a great offense against you.
To commit an offense at the feet of a devotee of the Lord is a great wrong. Even when a living entity is promoted to Vaikuṇṭha, there is still the chance that he may commit offenses, but the difference is that when one is in a Vaikuṇṭha planet, even if by chance one commits an offense, he is protected by the Lord. This is the remarkable fact in the dealings of the Lord and the servitor, as seen in the present incident concerning Jaya and Vijaya. The word atikramam used herein indicates that in offending a devotee one neglects the Supreme Lord Himself.
FAQs
In this verse, Lord Viṣṇu acknowledges that His own attendants committed a serious offense by disrespecting saintly devotees, showing that aparādha is grave even when committed by exalted beings.
He identifies them as His attendants and confirms the sages were faultless, establishing the moral and spiritual weight of the offense and validating the devotees’ position in Vaikuṇṭha.
Treat devotees and sincere spiritual seekers with respect; avoid arrogance in the name of religion or authority, because disrespect to the saintly harms one’s own spiritual progress.