Only through devotional service can one attain Krishna's personal touch and develop the intimate love that liberates the soul.Listen — Srila Prabhupada Uvaca
Prabhupāda: na sādhayati māṃ yogaḥ na sāìkhyaṃ dharma uddhava na svādhyāyas tapas tyāgaḥ yathā bhaktir mamorjitā [Cc Madhya 20.137] [The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, said: ’My dear Uddhava, neither through aṣṭāìga-yoga [the mystic yoga system to control the senses], nor through impersonal monism or an analytical study of the Absolute Truth, nor through study of the Vedas, nor through austerities, charity or acceptance of sannyāsa can one satisfy Me as much as by developing unalloyed devotional service unto Me.] So if you want God, Kṛṣṇa, then there is no other way except this devotional service. Neither yoga, neither philosophical speculation, neither ritualistic performances, nor study in the Vedic literature, neither penance, austerities... All these formulas which are recommended for transcendental realization, they may help us to advance to a certain extent. But if you want personal touch with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, then you have to adopt this devotional service, Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
There is no other way. So Lord Caitanya, I mean to say, giving evidence from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam... He is giving: bhaktyāham ekayā grāhyaḥ śraddhayātmā priyaḥ sataṃ bhaktiḥ punāti man-niṣṭhā śva-pākān api sambhavāt [Cc Madhya 20.138] [Being very dear to the devotees and sādhus, I am attained through unflinching faith and devotional service. This bhakti-yoga system, which gradually increases attachment for Me, purifies even a human being born among dog-eaters. That is to say, everyone can be elevated to the spiritual platform by the process of bhakti-yoga.] There is another verse in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.
The Lord says... The same chapter in which Lord Kṛṣṇa instructed Uddhava... Uddhava was also one of His cousin-brother in the family. He was a great devotee, Uddhava.
He was more advanced than Arjuna. There are different grades of devotees. The first-class devotees were the gopīs, the damsels of Vṛndāvana. Nobody could be compared with their devotional service.
So next were Uddhava, then Arjuna. There are different grades of devotees also. So Uddhava was also a great devotee of Lord, and he was also instructed similarly, just like Arjuna was instructed. So the Lord says to Uddhava, bhaktyā aham ekayā grāhyaḥ. Ekayā: simply by devotional service, one, this one method...
God is one, and to achieve Him, the process is also one. Just like in your body there are many holes, nine holes, nine holes: these two nostrils, two ear, two eyes, one mouth, and genital and evacuation, these nine holes. So if you want to supply foodstuff within your body, that is the one way: this is the mouth. There is no other way.
You cannot push the foodstuff through ears or eyes or your genital. No. That is not possible. Therefore, similarly, if you want God, then the one way, bhaktyā aham ekayā...