Puṇyaśīla and Suśīla

Puṇyaśīla and Suśīla are the divine doorkeepers (dvārapālas) of Vaikuṇṭha, the supreme abode of Bhagavān Vishṇu, in the Uttara Khaṇḍa of the Padma Mahā Purāṇa (Chapters 108–109). Puṇyaśīla was first the poor brāhmaṇa devotee Vishṇudāsa. When he saw Bhagavān Vishṇu, he was taken directly into Vaikuṇṭha. Suśīla was first King Cōḷa of Kāntipura. He entered his yajña (fire ritual) fire when he saw Vishṇudāsa taken into Vaikuṇṭha.

The two names

• Puṇyaśīla means one whose conduct is meritorious (puṇya). Bhagavān Vishṇu gave this name to the former devotee Vishṇudāsa. It honours the pure, meritorious conduct of his earthly life, lived without wealth or ceremony.
• Suśīla means one of good character. This name was given to the former King Cōḷa. It honours the noble quality that led him to give up his royal rank and enter the sacred fire.

This is told in Chapter 109.

The Bhāgavata Purāṇa account

The Bhāgavata Mahā Purāṇa (Skandha 3, Chapters 15–16) names the doorkeepers of Vaikuṇṭha Jaya and Vijaya. They were attendants who were cursed (śāpa) by the Sanatkumāras after they stopped them from entering the seventh gate of Vaikuṇṭha.

Another Padma Purāṇa account

The Padma Mahā Purāṇa also has a separate account, in Chapter 110. It describes Jaya and Vijaya as sons of Kardama and Devahūti who quarrelled over Marutta’s dakshiṇā (priest’s gift).

Sources

• Padma Mahā Purāṇa, Uttara Khaṇḍa, Chapters 108–110
• Bhāgavata Mahā Purāṇa, Skandha 3, Chapters 15–16