4.1 Qualified Student (Adhikaaree)

As it stands, every human being is qualified for the instruction of Vedanta. Even so, one whose mind has been purified by tradition-methods (sanctioned action, worship, yoga) and external-methods
(four fold qualification) is considered the primary qualified student. In this there is no difference between men and women, nor between castes, nor between life stages (aashramas). There is also no difference between wealthy and poor, between educated and uneducated.
 
Any one who wants the result of Vedanta instruction which is liberation, who has removed or wants to remove the dirt of action through performance of sanctioned action and selfless karma yoga, who has purified his desires through worship or has removed the agitation of thought flow through yoga, one who has discriminated between the permanent and the temporary and has attained dispassion towards the temporary, one who has gained the six fold wealth which is the maturation of dispassion, and is eager to hear the words of the teacher in order to attain liberation, who has all or some of these qualifications, all these are qualified students of Vedantic instruction.
 
Interest and capability together create qualification. There are several people who have a sharp intellect such as lawyers, judges, scientists, but they do not have any interest in liberation. And there are several devout people who want liberation after hearing and talking about it, but who neither have the capability of discrimination, nor of dispassion. Our Mimaamsakaas have listed the qualifications of action. If you need to decide whether someone is fit to perform a certain action, examine whether (1) does he want that action and its result (2) is he capable to perform that action (3) does he understand the science of that action (4) do the scriptures prohibit him from performing that action? If he is an "arthi" (wants it), "samarthi" (capable of it), "vidwaan" (knowledgeable), and is not under any restrictions, then that person is qualified to perform the action. But, in the context of knowledge, being an arthi and samarthi is sufficient. He needs to desire liberation and possess the capability of discrimination and dispassion.