SB 3.29.1, SB 3.29.2, SB 3.29.1–2

In this Twenty-ninth Chapter, the glories of devotional service is elaborately explained, and the influence of time on the conditioned soul is also described. The purpose of describing elaborately about the influence of time is to detach the conditioned soul from his material activities, which are considered to be simply waste of time. Previous chapter the material nature, the spirit and the Supreme Lord or Supersoul are analytically studied. And in this chapter, the principle of bhakti-yoga or devotional service, namely the living entities and the Personality of Godhead, their relationship and to execute function on terms of that eternal relationship is explained. The word yan-mūlam (y-a-n-m-u-l-a-m) expressed in these verses means that bhakti-yoga…, bhakti-yoga or devotional service is the basic principle of all system of philosophy. If there is no aim for attaining devotional service of the Lord, all system of philosophy are considered to be simple mental speculation. Of course, bhakti-yoga without philosophical basis is also more or less mental sentiment. There are two classes of men. One who consider themselves as intellectually advanced, they simply speculate on the matter of the process of meditation, and there are other classes of men who simply go on with sentiments only without any philosophical basis of their proposition. So both these classes of men cannot achieve the highest goal of life, or it will take many, many years to come to the real goal of life. Vedic literature therefore suggests three things-namely that the Supreme Lord, the living entity, their eternal relationship and the goal of life. To follow the principles for executing devotional service is called bhakti, and the ultimate goal to reach to the planet of the Supreme Lord. Full in devotion and love is the ultimate goal of life and to understand the eternal relationship, that living entity is eternally the servitor of the Lord.

Sahkhya philosophy means analytical study of the whole thing, and one has to learn everything by scrutinizing the nature and characteristic of such things. That is very good. This is called acquirement of knowledge. Now, if you are simply engaged in the matter of acquirement of knowledge without reaching to the goal of life or the basic principle of acquiring knowledge, bhakti-yoga, if we give up bhakti-yoga and simply are busy in the matter of analytical study of things as they are, then the result is practically nil. It is stated in the Bhagavatam that it is something like husking the skin of paddy. There is no utilization for beating the skin of the paddy. If paddy is beaten, then the grains, rice, come out. So the basic principle of devotional service to the Lord must be understood scientifically by scientific study of material nature, the living entity and the Supersoul.