Although these four great sages were older than Brahma's other sons like Marici, they appeared like small naked children only five or six years old

Expressions researched:
"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"

Srimad-Bhagavatam

SB Canto 7

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, Translation and Purport

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.

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.