Acharya Prashant explains that discipleship is a process of ripening that requires a specific mental qualification. Using the Upanishadic tradition as a reference, he notes that many disciples were successful kings and lords. This is significant because it demonstrates they were neither naive victims of the world's shrewdness nor slaves to their own inner laziness. A true disciple must be sharp enough to manage worldly affairs and recognize the 'ways of Maya' (illusion) both in others and within themselves. They are individuals who, despite achieving worldly success, realize that such victories are insufficient and that something remains unfulfilled within.