All the above categories can be properly thought of in context.
Not all men are at the stage of pure devotional service to the Lord .
Some have devotional attitudes mixed with many other motives , political or personal , which are naturally reflected in societies religions
Birds of feathers flock together. The Vedas incorperate all these motivated persons and pure persons into four categories and bring connections between them all .
Karma yoga …jnana yoga …astanga yoga and pure Bhakti Yoga..
Each of the four categories have many subdivisions .
The person Bhagavat in disciplic succession and who is extremely well versed in the Vedas , taking into account time place and circumstances will be able to give a thorough analysis of all these topics .
Krishna says in 7th chapter of Bhagavad Gita..
TEXT 16: O best among the Bhāratas, four kinds of pious men begin to render devotional service unto Me – the distressed, the desirer of wealth, the inquisitive, and he who is searching for knowledge of the Absolute.
TEXT 17: Of these, the one who is in full knowledge and who is always engaged in pure devotional service is the best. For I am very dear to him, and he is dear to Me.TEXT 18: All these devotees are undoubtedly magnanimous souls, but he who is situated in knowledge of Me I consider to be just like My own self. Being engaged in My transcendental service, he is sure to attain Me, the highest and most perfect goal.TEXT 19: After many births and deaths, he who is actually in knowledge surrenders unto Me, knowing Me to be the cause of all causes and all that is. Such a great soul is very rare.TEXT 20: Those whose intelligence has been stolen by material desires surrender unto demigods and follow the particular rules and regulations of worship according to their own natures.
It’s is absolutely vital to find a pure representative of God , the person Bhagavat , because he can correctly assess someone who claims purity ….there are many who pose as devotees who are actually demons .
Thus the checks and balances are needed …ie ..Guru , sadhu , Sastra .
The pure teachers , other pure teachers from the past and present, and the scriptures with Sruti and Smriti understandings will help us .
But equally, we should identity and avoid those that will do us harm.
This is what Krishna tells us in Bhagavad Gita.
Chapter 16, Verse 13-15
The demoniac person thinks: So much wealth do I have today, and I will gain more according to my schemes. So much is mine now, and it will increase in the future, more and more. He is my enemy, and I have killed him; and my other enemy will also be killed. I am the lord of everything, I am the enjoyer, I am perfect, powerful and happy. I am the richest man, surrounded by aristocratic relatives. There is none so powerful and happy as I am. I shall perform sacrifices, I shall give some charity, and thus I shall rejoice. In this way, such persons are deluded by ignorance.
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