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—