Best Path for Bliss and Salvation or Liberation from Re-Birth

The ultimate goal of life is “Bliss in all situation and times” and Moksha (liberation) from the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. In the Hinduism, there are several means and paths for liberation from the cycle of birth and death or re-birth viz. bhakti yoga, Kriya yoga, Spiritual wisdom, Selfless actions etc. Hinduism describes multiple paths to attain this goal, because each soul (Jiva) is different in temperament and spiritual maturity.
Rigveda says, “Ekam Sat Viprah Bahudha Vadanti” – "Truth is one, though the sages know it by many names,". Therefore, no single path is universally declared the "best" for all people in all eras.
The ultimate goal is to become permanently happy and fearless. This is possible only when one is thoughtless or regulate the mind which experiences all types of feelings (pleasures, pains, miseries, sorrows, excitements, ambitions, expectations etc.). In case all the feelings, emotional disturbances or passions are arrested, the mind becomes still or calm bringing unbroken happiness or bliss. This goal can be achieved by four different paths prescribed in the Hinduism.   

The path of Bhakti is more suitable for the person of emotions; the path of Karma for the person of actions; the path of Jnana for the person of high intellect and the path of Dhayana for the focused person. All these four paths are inter-dependent and have goal i.e.

Salvation or Liberation.
However, certain scriptures and traditions emphasize a particular path as most effective, often depending on the time period or the individual's nature:

1. Bhagavad Gita's Emphasis: While the Gita synthesizes all three (Karma, Jnana, and Bhakti), it culminates in the teachings of Bhakti Yoga, declaring it the easiest and most accessible way, especially for an individual who finds the path of knowledge too difficult or action too binding. Lord Krishna advises ultimate surrender and devotion to him. As per Bhagavad Gita (18.66) - Abandon all other paths and surrender completely unto Me; I shall liberate you from all sins — do not grieve (सर्वधर्मान्परित्यज्य मामेकं शरणं व्रज। अहं त्वां सर्वपापेभ्यो मोक्षयिष्यामि मा शुचः॥)
2. Advaita Vedanta's Emphasis: Schools of absolute non-dualism (Advaita) originating from the Upanishads hold that Jnana Yoga (spiritual wisdom) is the direct means to liberation, as ignorance is seen as the root cause of bondage. The other paths are seen as preparatory tools to purify the mind and prepare it for receiving true knowledge.
3. As per Yoga Vasistha, the impure is the cause of birth; the pure liberates one from the birth. Both Work (Self-efforts) and Knowledge (Self-Knowledge) together lead to the supreme goal of liberation. There are four gate-keepers at the entrance to the realm of freedom (Moksha). They are self-spirit, spirit of enquiry, contentment and good company.

All the paths ultimately converge — Karma purifies the mind, Jnana gives wisdom, and Bhakti completes with surrender. As Swami Vivekananda summarized - Karma Yoga prepares, Bhakti Yoga purifies, Raja Yoga perfects, and Jnana Yoga liberates.
 
The various paths to purify the mind, body & wealth and salvation from the re-birth are as under -
 
Charity (Dāna) – Preparatory means to facilitate Salvation
Charity reduces attachment and ego; cultivates compassion and purity of heart — the foundation for higher sadhana (spiritual practice). It includes the offering of wealth, food, service, or knowledge selflessly for the benefit of others.

1. Bhagavad Gita 17.20 – That gift which is given at the proper time, place, and to a worthy person without expectation of return is called sattvic charity. ("दातव्यमिति यद्दानं दीयतेऽनुपकारिणे। देशे काले च पात्रे च तद्दानं सात्त्विकं स्मृतम्॥")

 

1. Manusmriti 4.229 - By charity one purifies wealth; by study, knowledge; by penance, the body.

Devotion (Bhakti Yoga) – the Path of Liberation
Salvation is achieved through intense, loving devotion (bhakti) and complete surrender to a personal form of God (Ishvara / Saguna Brahman) or a chosen deity (Ishta Devata). The Bhagavata Purana (or Shrimad Bhagavatam) prescribes nine forms of devotion. Bhakti transforms the heart. Through divine love, the ego dissolves, leading to union (sayujya) with the Divine. This includes total love, surrender, and devotion to God with mind, heart, and action.

1. Bhagavad Gita 9.22 – Those who think of Me alone with unwavering devotion — I take care of their needs and preserve what they have (अनन्याश्चिन्तयन्तो मां ये जनाः पर्युपासते... योगक्षेमं वहाम्यहम्॥)
2. Bhagavad Gita 18.65 - Always think of Me, be devoted to Me, worship Me, and offer homage to Me. Thus, you will come to Me without fail.
3. Bhagavata Purana 1.2.6 - The supreme duty for all mankind is that by which one develops pure, causeless devotion to the Supreme Lord (स वै पुंसां परो धर्मो यतो भक्तिरधोक्षजे.).

 
Kriya Yoga / Raja Yoga – the Path of Liberation
Moksha is achieved through the disciplined control of the mind and senses, leading to the superconscious state of Samadhi (absorption). The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali systematically outlines this path, known as Ashtanga Yoga (eight-limbed yoga) which includes Yama (External Discipline), Niyama (Internal Discipline), physical postures (asana), breath control (pranayama), Concentration (Dharana), meditation (dhyana) and Samadhi.
Through meditation and control of prana, one stills the fluctuations of the mind (citta-vṛtti-nirodhaḥ) and realizes the Self.  A systematic discipline of body, mind, and breath leading to inner stillness and direct realization.

1. Patanjali Yoga Sutra 2.1 - Kriya Yoga consists of austerity (tapaḥ), self-study (svādhyāya), and surrender to God (Īśvara praṇidhāna) (तपःस्वाध्यायेश्वरप्रणिधानानि क्रियायोगः॥)
2. Bhagavad Gita 6.15 - meditating constantly, the yogi attains peace and liberation (युञ्जन्नेवं सदा योगी आत्मानं रहसि स्थितः.)

Austerity or Penance – Preparatory means to facilitate Salvation
Tapa burns karmic impurities (mala), preparing the mind for higher realization. Voluntary endurance of hardship for spiritual purification and control of senses.

1. Bhagavad Gita 17.14–17: describes three kinds of tapas — of body, speech, and mind - Worship of the divine, the wise, and purity is bodily austerity (देवद्विजगुरुप्राज्ञपूजनं शौचमार्जवम्... शरीरं तप उच्यते॥).

 

1. Kathopanishad 1.2.23 - Though tapas purify, final realization requires divine grace and knowledge (नायमात्मा तपसा न लभ्यः.)

Spiritual Wisdom (Jnana Yoga) – the Path of Liberation
Liberation is attained through the realization of the true nature of reality, primarily the unity of the individual soul (Atman) with the ultimate reality (Brahman). It requires intellectual discrimination (Viveka) and detachment (vairagya) to dispel the ignorance (avidya) that causes bondage. In the Upanishads and the Advaita Vedanta school of philosophy are fundamentally based on the tenets of Jnana Yoga.
 
Through discrimination (viveka) and realization (ātma-jñāna), ignorance (avidyā), the root cause of bondage is destroyed. The path of self-inquiry and realization of the oneness of Ātman (Self) and Brahman (Supreme Consciousness).

1. Bhagavad Gita 4.39 - The faithful and devoted gain knowledge, and through knowledge, they quickly attain supreme peace (श्रद्धावान् लभते ज्ञानं.)
2. Mundaka Upanishad 3.2.9 - When one sees the Supreme, the knot of the heart is cut, all doubts are resolved, and karma is destroyed (भिद्यते हृदयग्रन्थिः... तस्मिन् दृष्टे परावरे॥)

Selfless Action (Karma Yoga) – the Path of Liberation
Liberation is achieved through selfless performance of one's duty (dharma) without attachment to the results or rewards. Actions are performed as a sacrifice or offering to the Divine. In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna instructs Arjuna on the necessity of action (karma) but emphasizes Nishkama Karma, or desireless action. Gita quote: "You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of action. Never consider yourself the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty." (Bhagavad Gita 2.47)
 
It prescribes - Purifies the mind by removing ego and desire, turning work into worship. Performing one’s duty without attachment to the fruits, dedicating all actions to God.

1. Bhagavad Gita 2.47 - You have a right to action alone, never to its fruits (कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन.)
2. Bhagavad Gita 3.19 - Always perform your duty without attachment; by such action one attains the Supreme (तस्मादसक्तः सततं कार्यं कर्म समाचर.)