Knowledge is actually the outcome of knowing process. It takes place within the body, in the plane of consciousness, which is unlike matter and energy. No law or rule relating to matter and energy applies to it. One begins to think with the help of comparison and contrast. But as he proceeds further, going into the very concepts as to what they are and how they evolve, etc. it will be a journey in consciousness itself, disconnected from matter and energy. He will have to leave wakeful state and enter sleep state, where even his body, mind, intelligence, ego, etc. disappear, not to speak of the world of matter and energy.

What is present in such a sleep? Can you identify and give a name to describe it? Because no object, including the body, is felt in sleep, it cannot be its subject. Subject is the opposite of object. No object being there, the subject becomes irrelevant, a non-presence. If at all, it is an experience, a knowledge, not coming under the subject-object range of wakeful state. How to describe it then?

This is how Janaka derides every concept and proposition. No scriptures have any relevance to consciousness. Even Self, as different from the body, which is not felt there, becomes irrelevant. Where is mind then, a wakeful content? Contentment is a mental condition. Mind not being there, can contentment be? Likewise, no desirelessness also is possible, relevant.