—json {

  "name":"SB 7.1.37",
  "h1":"SB 7.1.37",
  "label":"Text 37",
  "title":"Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 7.1.37",
  "description":"Although these four great sages were older than Brahmā's other sons like Marīci, they appeared like small naked children only five or six years old. When Jaya and Vijaya saw them trying to enter Vaikuṇṭhaloka, these two gatekeepers, thinking them ordinary children, forbade them to enter."

} —

SB 7.1.37

Text

pañca-ṣaḍḍhāyanārbhābhāḥ
pūrveṣām api pūrvajāḥ
dig-vāsasaḥ śiśūn matvā
dvāḥ-sthau tān pratyaṣedhatām

Synonyms

pañca-ṣaṭ-dhā—five or six years; āyana—approaching; arbha-ābhāḥ—like boys; pūrveṣām—the ancients of the universe (Marīci and the rest); api—even though; pūrva-jāḥ—born before; dik-vāsasaḥ—being naked; śiśūn—children; matvā—thinking; dvāḥ-sthau—the two gate guards, Jaya and Vijaya; tān—them; pratyaṣedhatām—forbade.

Translation

Although these four great sages were older than Brahmā's other sons like Marīci, they appeared like small naked children only five or six years old. When Jaya and Vijaya saw them trying to enter Vaikuṇṭhaloka, these two gatekeepers, thinking them ordinary children, forbade them to enter.

Purport

In this regard, Śrīla Madhvācārya says in his Tantra-sāra:

dvāḥ-sthāv ity anenādhikāra-sthatvam uktam

adhikāra-sthitāś caiva
vimuktāś ca dvidhā janāḥ
viṣṇu-loka-sthitās teṣāṁ
vara-śāpādi-yoginaḥ

adhikāra-sthitāṁ muktiṁ
niyataṁ prāpnuvanti ca
vimukty-anantaraṁ teṣāṁ
vara-śāpādayo nanu

dehendriyāsu-yuktaś ca
pūrvaṁ paścān na tair yutāḥ
apy abhimānibhis teṣāṁ
devaiḥ svātmottamair yutāḥ

The purport is that the personal associates of Lord Viṣṇu in Vaikuṇṭhaloka are always liberated souls. Even if sometimes cursed or blessed, they are always liberated and never contaminated by the material modes of nature. Before their liberation to Vaikuṇṭhaloka they possessed material bodies, but once they come to Vaikuṇṭha they no longer have them. Therefore even if the associates of Lord Viṣṇu sometimes descend as if cursed, they are always liberated.