जगद्व्यापारवर्जम्, प्रकरणात्, असंनिहितत्वाच्च ॥ १७ ॥
jagadvyāpāravarjam, prakaraṇāt, asaṃnihitatvācca || 17 ||
jagadvyāpāravarjam—Except the power of creation etc.; prakaraṇāt—on account of (Iswara being) the subject-matter; asaṃnihitatvāt—on account of (released souls) not being mentioned; ca—and.
17. (The released soul attains all lordly powers) except the power of creation etc., on account of (Iswara being) the subject-matter (of all texts where creation etc. are described), and (the released souls) not being mentioned (in that connection).
The question is raised whether those who by worshipping the qualified Brahman attain Brahma-loka and lordly powers, have limited or unlimited powers. The opponent holds that it should be unlimited, because of the scriptural texts, “They can roam, at will in all the worlds” (Chh. 7. 25. 2, 8. 1. 6); “To him all the gods offer worship” (Taitt. 1. 5). This Sutra says that the released souls attain lordly powers without the power of creating, preserving, and destroying the universe. Barring this power they get all other powers. Why? Because Iswara is the subject-matter of all the texts dealing with creation etc., while the liberated souls are not mentioned at all in this connection. Moreover, this would lead to many Iswaras, which may give rise to a conflict of wills with respect to creation etc. Therefore the powers of the liberated souls are not absolute but limited, and are dependent on the will of Iswara.