Vedanta

shrImadAnandatIrthArya mukhanissR^itaM

aprayatnena kAmAnAmavAptiH sA yadA bhavet |

tadaivAkAmahatatA kuta evAnyathA bhavet || A.V 3.4.4

In reply to a question why “akAmahatatva” etc is not possible in saMsArins, it was said - it is so because they are not AptakAmAs (people whose desires are fulfilled). Because only those people who have all their desires effortlessly fulfilled can be akAmahatas.

But one may ask a question here.  Where is the rule that one who is AptakAma can only be akAmahata? If we take a closer look, there are two possible ways to become akAmahata

1. Having fulfilled all desires (AptakAma)

One who has fulfilled all desires would not have any more desires that need to be fulfilled. So he can be considered as akAmahata

Suppose a person sees a mango in front of him. He would definitely get affected by the desire to eat the mango. He would not be affected by the desire only if he had already partaken mangos according to his hearts content. Hence one who is AptakAma cannot be affected by desires. Thus he will be akAmahata.

2. Having no desires at all (akAma)

One who does not have any desires is also not affected by kAmas. If the desires exist in the first place then there is a question of being affected by them. But for the one who is not having any kAmas, there is no question of being affected by them. Hence he can also be considered as akAmahata.

Suppose someone offers a mango to a sage who is doing penance. As the sage does not have any desire for the mango, he won’t be affected by the desire for the mango. Hence he can also be called as akAmahata.

So, why can’t someone who is free from all desires (akAma) as in case 2 become akAmahata?

To this we reply.

We never said that akAmAs cannot be akAmahatas. Our intention was that among the people who are having desires, only those who have all their desires fulfilled (AptakAmAs) can be akAmahatas.

Though we agree that a person who is free form all desires(akAma) can also be akAmahata, there is no such person in this saMsAra who can boast to be without any desires. As pointed our earlier all saMsArins (including amukta brahma) are in some way affected by kAmAs, Hence our statement “akAmahatatva is not possible in saMsArins” is perfectly valid.

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