Verse 2.632

Sanskrit text and transliteration:

नैवं यतः क्रियैवेह चोदनाभिर्विधीयते ।
स्वव्यापारे यतस्ताभिर्नियोक्तुं शक्यते पुमान् ।
द्रव्यस्वरूपेऽसाध्यत्वात्कथं ताभिः प्रवर्त्यते ॥ ६३२ ॥

naivaṃ yataḥ kriyaiveha codanābhirvidhīyate |
svavyāpāre yatastābhirniyoktuṃ śakyate pumān |
dravyasvarūpe'sādhyatvātkathaṃ tābhiḥ pravartyate || 632 ||

English translation of verse 2.632:

It is not so, because action alone is enjoined by the injunctive texts, and a person can be directed by them only in what is to be accomplished. How can he be impelled by them in respect of the existent reality, since it is not what is to be accomplished.

Notes:

This verse refutes the pūrvapakṣa stated in the previous verse.

The Niyogavādin argues that the Vedānta texts which are assertive are in need of injunction. Let us examine how he would try to justify his standpoint. Two possibilities are open to him. He may argue that the Self falls within the scope of an injunction. Or, he may argue that the knowledge of the Self falls within the scope of an injunction. The first alternative is not tenable. Action alone which is to be done is enjoined by an injunctive text. Since its scope is restricted to what is to be accomplished (sādhya), the Self which is existent (siddha-vastu) can never be the subject of an injunction.