Acts or works which are executed with the desire to obtain results for oneself are known as karma. Acts which are directed toward God without desire for results for oneself are known as bhakti. Good works, in and of themselves, will not be sufficient to bring about realisation of God. However, when performed with the intent to serve God, then He can be realised. Likewise, jnana (cultivation of knowledge), in and of itself, will not reveal God. The cultivation of knowledge aligned with the desire to serve God will bring about realisation of Him. If one proclaims himself to be a Hindu, a Muslim, a Jew or a Christian, these things can be changed. By altering one's mode of dress, language or rituals, a Muslim can become a Christian, etc. However, the essential element which lies at the root of these different faiths is devotion to God. Whether one is a Hindu, a Jew or whatever, to claim to be religious must surely mean that one is a servant of God. This fact cannot be changed.

In Sanskrit this is known as sanatana-dharma. sanatana means "eternal" and dharma, in this context, means "that activity which is intrinsic to one's very existence," just as heat is an intrinsic quality of fire. What is the nature of that activity? That one is eternally serving. Service is not something we can choose to do or not do. Where is the living being who is not serving? One serves one's employer, one's parents, one's children, husband, wife, pets, and even inanimate things such as cars, etc. From birth to death, service is there. The choice which we can make, however, is who or what is to be the object of our service. Krishna is the only true object of service. Krishna is eternally existing and the jivatmas are also eternally existing. The relationship between them is also eternally existing. bhakti, or sanatana-dharma, is the link between God and His devotees. Love of God is independent of caste, colour or creed. Sincerity of heart is the only requirement.