गोविन्द भाष्य (श्रील बलदेव विद्याभूषण - अचिन्त्यभेदाभेद वेदान्त ब्रह्मसूत्र भाष्य सटीक)

Sūtra 20 vidhir vā dhāraṇa-vat vidhiḥ—rules; vā—or; dhāraṇa—studying; vat—like. Or, the rule may be like studying.. Purport by Śrīla Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa The words "vidhir vā" mean that the statement “He may act in whatever way he likes," of Bṛhad-āraṇyaka Upaniṣad 3.5.1 (quoted in the purport of sūtra 17) refers only to a person situated in transcendental knowledge. The sūtra explains, "dhāraṇa-vat" (it is like studying). This means that as the three higher castes are eligible to study the Vedas, and others are not eligible, in the same way only a self- realized pariṇiṣṭhita devotee situated in transcendental knowledge is allowed to act in whatever way he likes". Others are not allowed. In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam the Supreme Personality of Godhead explains: śaucam ācamanaṁ snānaṁ na tu codanayācaret anyāṁś ca niyamān jñānī yathāhaṁ līlayeśvaraḥ "As I, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, voluntarily enjoy transcendental pastimes, so the person situated in transcendental knowledge performs snāna, ācamana, śauca, and follows a host of other rules voluntarily, and not because he is ordered to do so." In the next sūtra an objection is raised and then answered. Sūtra 21 stuti-mātram upādānād iti cen nāpūrvatvāt stuti—praise; mātram—only; upādānāt—because of reference; iti—thus; cet—