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## Verse 66
## Gunasthan / 115
I
The term 'liberated' is used for that which is bound. Just as the term 'liberated' is used for a thief bound by shackles. The term 'liberated' is not used for light, etc., because they are not bound. This proves that liberation occurs only after bondage. The soul has been bound by karmas since time immemorial; liberation occurs when those karmas are destroyed. This is well-known in the scriptures. Bondage occurs due to false perception, etc. Liberation occurs through right perception, etc., i.e., right perception, right knowledge, and right conduct. This is supported by logic.
The Samkhya philosophy believes that nature itself experiences bondage, liberation, happiness, and suffering. The soul does not experience bondage, liberation, happiness, or suffering. To refute this, the term 'Sodomuda', meaning 'peaceful', is used for the Siddhas. The soul itself undergoes transformation into false perception, etc., and due to this, karma-bondage occurs, the fruit of which is suffering in the form of worldly afflictions. The soul transformed by right perception, etc., attains liberation, and its fruit is happiness in the form of peace. This proves that the soul itself experiences bondage, liberation, happiness, and suffering. Nature (Prakriti) is non-conscious; it cannot experience happiness or suffering.
The Reet theory states that even liberated beings, due to their connection with the karmic influence, again become worldly. This is because if all beings were to be liberated, the influence of the world would cease to exist. Therefore, Maskari formulated this theory that liberated beings again become bound by karmas and become worldly, ensuring the continued existence of worldly beings. To refute the Maskari theory, the term 'Mirjan' is used for the Siddhas. Due to the complete liberation from all karmic actions, both mental and physical, the pure nature of the liberated being is influenced by false perception, etc., which are mental karmic actions. Therefore, bondage, which is the result of mental karmic actions, is possible. Otherwise, liberation would be without a cause, and the absence of the world would arise. There are countless beings in the world. Even if they continue to be liberated for an infinite period, there will be no lack of worldly beings. A quantity that does not end, even though it is without beginning and subject to destruction, is infinite.
The intoxicated ones believe that the effect of knowledge-progeny is liberation. To refute this, the term 'freear', meaning eternal, is used. Liberation is something to be attained, and effort is made for it through austerities, yoga, etc. If knowledge-progeny were liberation in the form of destruction, then no one would make any effort for such liberation, because it is impossible to make an effort for an undesirable result. It is well-known in the world that a wise person never acts for his own detriment. All people strive for unprecedented gain, not for the destruction of their roots. All substances, including the soul, are eternal and imperishable. This is also supported by logic. NOTHING IS CREATED NOTHING IS DESTROYED. Therefore, according to the theory of substance, the soul is eternal. The Buddhists' belief that substances are momentary is directly contradictory.
The Nyaya and Vaisheshika philosophers believe that liberation is the complete annihilation of the nine special qualities of the soul: intellect, happiness, suffering, desire, aversion, effort, virtue, and impressions. To refute this, the term 'Attaguna' is used. The Supreme Soul has inherent qualities like pure knowledge, etc. If these qualities are named, then the destruction of the substance, which is inseparable from those qualities, would arise. If the effect of knowledge, etc., is accepted in liberation, then the Supreme Soul would become non-conscious, just as the sky, etc., are non-conscious due to the effect of the knowledge quality. Consciousness is the nature of self-awareness and awareness of others.