Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati

sri sri guru-gauranga-gandharvika-giridharebhyo namah

jagate uccatara srenir manava-ganer madhye para laukika
visvasa rajye bharmana koribar tinati patha ache, taha
karma, jnano o bhakti name prasiddha baddha dasaya jiver
anitya bhoga maya phala praptir anusthanake karma margo,
nasvarata tyagakoriya pradesika anitya phala tyaga koriya
nirbheda brahmanusandhanake jnana marga evam karma
jnanatita prakrtir atita sevya vastu krsner anukula
anusilana ke bhakti marga bole
bhakti marge sadhana o sadhya bhede sadhana bhava o
prema bhaktir adhisthana rtaya dekhite paoya jay. sadhya
bhava samuha o premake sadhana jatiya anusilana jnana
korile je utpata upasthite hoy, sei asuvidhar hasta hoite
unmukta haoyar nama anartha nivritti. sri gauranga sundarer
apurva parama camatkara mayi lila o sei lilar parikara
gosvami ganer anusthandai ei prabandher akara sthana

"Amongst the higher classes of people in society, there are three main paths for traveling through the kingdom of various beliefs regarding transcendence, These are known as the paths of karma (performance of materially furtive activity), jnana (cultivation of transcendental knowledge), and bhakti (purely surrendered devotional service. First, the path of karma-marga involves the arrangements for obtaining temporary worldly benefits, which are enjoyed by souls trapped in the bondage of the materially conditioned platform of life. Second, the jnana-marga involves renouncing impermanent material things as well as the impermanent distractions related to patriotic interests and such; one then searches after the undifferentiated spiritual reality of impersonal brahma. And the third path involves positive activity that is transcendental to karma, jnana and matter altogether - it is the way of cultivating actions favorable for serving the object most worthy of service, Sri Krsna. This is called bhakti-marga, the path of pure devotion.

"It is seen that there are three distinct developmental stages extending from sadhana (devotional practice) to sadhya ( the goal of such worship); these are first the sadhana itself, then the awakening of bhava (estatic emotion) and finally prema-bhakti (eternal devotional service performed in pure love). While cultivating the aspects of knowledge relating to the goal of worship, as well as the varieties of ecstatic emotions and methods of pure loving service, troubles invariably arise. The process by which these unwanted impediments are removed is called anartha-nivritti. The conceptions expressed in the astonishing pastimes of Sri Gauranga-sundara as well as in the opinions established by the Gosvamis, who are the Lord's eternal associates in these pastimes."