In plain words
The path of karma is a footpath you cannot leave; the path of Bhakti is an easy cart track; Jñāna, look into it, is a journey by aeroplane: this word of Sāī is the true path.
Students!
From ancient times many people have argued back and forth, in many ways, over karma, upāsana and Jñāna; unable to decide which is great and which is small, they have gone on wasting their time in confusion. But when the broad-hearted enquire, the forms and names of the three may look different, yet the goal is one.
The ancients came to regard the three, karma, upāsana and Jñāna, as the Triveṇī Saṅgama. Bhakti means the river Yamunā. It is a principle pure, unmoving and selfless. Karma means the river Gaṅgā. Śarīramādyaṃ khalu dharmasādhakaṃ. All these karmas do nothing but teach Jñāna. All the karmas we do with this body, at every moment, must be pure. These two, karma and upāsana, called the Yamunā and the Gaṅgā, are seen outwardly. The working of the two, karma and Bhakti, becomes clear to us through a man's conduct and reflection. But Jñāna is like the Sarasvatī, which flows hidden beneath. The Sarasvatī is not seen. This Jñāna has no form. By custom and tradition alone, Jñāna stays unmanifest. It is only something that wells up from within, not something that is put on show. The influence of all karmas spreads over this very Jñāna. Of this very thing they said that karma is like the flower, upāsana like the fruit just set, and Jñāna like the ripe fruit. Without the flower there is no green fruit. Without the green fruit there is no ripe fruit. Though the stages of the three are different, their goal is one. Their Satya is one. Their aim, too, is one. So without karma there is no upāsana to be had, and without upāsana no Jñāna. Cittasya śuddhayē karmaḥ. These karmas are to be practised for the purity of the citta. All the karmas done with the body; that what reflects with pure Bhakti is Bhakti; that this pure Bhakti itself wins the Jñāna that is perfected; and that the Satya of these three is one: this is what Vedānta has taught all along.