Jaya and Vijaya Never Left Vaikuntha: Only Their Amsas Descended

In the Srimad Bhagavatam, we read how Vishnu appeared in the form of the beautiful golden child Vamana and approached Bali Maharaja, the king of the demons. Bali was performing a great sacrifice, and Vamana asked him for a gift of land – only as much land as He could cover with three steps of His feet.

Bali agreed.

Vamana then revealed His extraordinary divine power. His small form expanded until it became gigantic, filling the universe. With His first step He covered the Earth, and with His second He extended through the higher regions. Nothing remained for a third step. The commentators explain that after His second step there was not even the smallest amount of space left for Him to place His foot a third time.

In this way Vamana claimed everything that had belonged to Bali and the asuras.

The demons were enraged.

Although Bali himself did not wish to break his promise, his followers took up weapons and rushed forward to attack Vamana. The Bhagavatam describes how the attendants of Vishnu then appeared from Vaikuntha to oppose the demonic army.

The residents of Vaikuntha who came to fight are listed by name:

nandah sunando ‘tha jayo vijayah prabalo balah
kumudah kumudaksas ca visvaksenah patattrirat
jayantah srutadevas ca puspadanto ‘tha satvatah
sarve nagayuta-pranas camum te jaghnur asurim

Among them are Jaya and Vijaya.

This leads to an important question.

According to the familiar account in the Third Canto of the Bhagavatam, Jaya and Vijaya were the two gatekeepers of Vaikuntha who were cursed by the four Kumaras. As a result of that curse, they descended into the material world and appeared first as Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakashipu, then as Ravana and Kumbhakarna, and finally as Sisupala and Dantavakra.

Yet here, during the appearance of Vamana, Jaya and Vijaya are still present among the personal attendants of Vishnu.

How can they be in Vaikuntha and at the same time be undergoing their births as asuras?

Srila Visvanatha Chakravarti Thakur addresses this directly.

Commenting on the appearance of Jaya and Vijaya in the Vamana-lila, he writes:

jaya-vijaya iti bhagavato brahmanyatvasya bhaktanam aparadha-vibhisikayas ca pradarsanartham evanayoh prakasav eva vaikunthad adhah petatur iti trtiye vaikuntha-varnana eva vyakhyatam

That is

“Regarding Jaya and Vijaya: it was only the manifestations, the prakasas, of these two that fell down from Vaikuntha. This has already been explained in the Third Canto in the description of Vaikuntha.”

This is most important.

Visvanatha does not say that Jaya and Vijaya themselves, in their eternal spiritual identities, left Vaikuntha and became conditioned souls.

He says that their prakasas descended.

And when we turn to his commentary on the Third Canto, he explains this even more clearly.

After Jaya and Vijaya were cursed, Bhagavan said to them:

bhagavan anugav aha yatam ma bhaistam astu sam
brahma-tejah samartho ‘pi hantum necche matam tu me

“The Lord said to His two attendants: ‘Go. Do not fear. May all be well with you. Although I am capable of destroying the power of the brahmanas’ curse, I do not wish to do so, for this is My desire.’”

— Srimad Bhagavatam 3.16.29

Srila Visvanatha Chakravarti Thakur explains that when Jaya and Vijaya heard that they were to leave, they became overwhelmed with separation and began weeping.

Bhagavan’s heart softened.

Visvanatha then gives a remarkable interpretation of the Lord’s words. He connects the word ma not only with “do not fear,” but also with the instruction to go.

Thus the Lord’s words can also carry the sense:

“Do not go from here. Remain here in Vaikuntha, always serving Me.”

Then Visvanatha writes:

tathaivaikamsena ekaika-prakasena asura-bhavam gacchatam vaikunthe ‘pi sva-svarupena tisthatam

Meaning:

“In the same way, through one amsa – through one particular prakasa of each of you – assume the forms of asuras, while remaining in Vaikuntha in your own swarup.”

Let us be clear about this. Visvanatha Chakravarti tells us very plainly:

Only an amsa – a particular prakasa – of each of them descended. Jaya and Vijaya themselves, in their own svarupa, remained in Vaikuntha.