Knowledge can never be completely attained by self-effort. The Mundaka Upanishad, states that- Knowledge was originally imparted in toto to the Rishis and the Divine beings. Indeed, true knowledge can flow only through the descent of knowledge-current from the sages. The ancient students possessed unparalleled perseverance to the ideal of Knowledge or Jnana. Truly, acquiring Jnana has a lot of groundwork behind it.