Verse 2.671

Sanskrit text and transliteration:

कर्तुः क्रियायां स्वातन्त्र्यं वस्तुवृत्ते ह्यनीश्वरः ।
वस्तुवृत्तं च नो मुक्तिः क्रियातश्चेदनित्यता ॥ ६७१ ॥

kartuḥ kriyāyāṃ svātantryaṃ vastuvṛtte hyanīśvaraḥ |
vastuvṛttaṃ ca no muktiḥ kriyātaścedanityatā || 671 ||

English translation of verse 2.671:

An agent can exercise his freedom in respect of an act to be done. He is, indeed, powerless in respect of an existent thing. To us release is of the nature of the existent Self. If it is to be accomplished by an act, it will not be eternal.

Notes:

It has already been stated that neither the existent Self nor the knowledge of the Self falls within the scope of an injunction. A further reason is given in this verse to show that the existent Self cannot be brought within the scope of an injunction. An agent can exercise his freedom with regard to an act which is to be done. He is free to do it, or not to do it, or do it differently. Such being the case, injunction is quite in order with regard to an act to be done. Since a person has no such freedom with regard to an existent object, no injunction is possible thereto.

The Niyogavādin may argue that, even though injunction is not possible in respect of an existent thing, it is possible in the case of release (mukti) which is to be attained through Scripture-ordained rites. Even this argument is untenable. According to Advaita, release consists in realizing the nature of the ever-existent Brahman-Ātman. It is the essential state of the Self, which is eternal consciousness. It is not something to be accomplished by karma. So it does not fall within the scope of an injunction. If it is what is accomplished through Scripture-ordained rites, it will cease to be eternal.