# SB 4.31.12 > किं वा योगेन साङ्ख्येन न्यासस्वाध्याययोरपि । > किं वा श्रेयोभिरन्यैश्च न यत्रात्मप्रदो हरिः ॥१२॥ ## Text > kiṁ vā yogena sāṅkhyena > nyāsa-svādhyāyayor api > kiṁ vā śreyobhir anyaiś ca > na yatrātma-prado hariḥ ## Synonyms *kim*—what is the use; *vā*—or; *yogena*—by mystic *yoga* practice; *sāṅkhyena*—by the study of Sāṅkhya philosophy; *nyāsa*—by accepting *sannyāsa*; *svādhyāyayoḥ*—and by study of Vedic literature; *api*—even; *kim*—what is the use; *vā*—or; *śreyobhiḥ*—by auspicious activities; *anyaiḥ*—other; *ca*—and; *na*—never; *yatra*—where; *ātma*-*pradaḥ*—full satisfaction of self; *hariḥ*—the Supreme Personality of Godhead. ## Translation **Transcendental practices that do not ultimately help one realize the Supreme Personality of Godhead are useless, be they mystic yoga practices, the analytical study of matter, severe austerity, the acceptance of sannyāsa, or the study of Vedic literature. All these may be very important aspects of spiritual advancement, but unless one understands the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, all these processes are useless.** ## Purport In *Caitanya-caritāmṛta* [[cc/madhya/24/109|(Madhya 24.109)]] it is said: > bhakti vinā kevala jñāne 'mukti' nāhi haya > bhakti sādhana kare yei 'prāpta-brahma-laya' Impersonalists do not take to devotional service, but take to other practices, such as the analytical study of the material elements, the discrimination between matter and spirit, and the mystic *yoga* system. These are beneficial only insofar as they are complementary to devotional service. Caitanya Mahāprabhu therefore told Sanātana Gosvāmī that without a touch of devotional service, *jñāna, yoga* and Sāṅkhya philosophy cannot give one the desired results. The impersonalists wish to merge into the Supreme Brahman; however, merging into the Supreme Brahman also requires a touch of devotional service. The Absolute Truth is realized in three phases—impersonal Brahman, Paramātmā and the Supreme Personality of Godhead. All these require a touch of devotional service. Sometimes it is actually seen that these Māyāvādīs also chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā-mantra,* although their motive is to merge into the Brahman effulgence of the Absolute. The *yogīs* also at times take to chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa *mahā-mantra,* but their purpose is different from that of the *bhaktas.* In all processes—*karma, jñāna* or *yoga—bhakti* is required. That is the purport of this verse.