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Śrī-Caitanya-caritāmṛta
paśyanty ātmani cātmānaṁ bhaktyā śruta-gṛhītayā
The words  bhaktyā śruta-gṛhītayā  in this verse are very important, for they indicate that  bhakti  must be based upon the philosophy of the  Upaniṣads  and  Vedānta-sūtra . Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī said:
śruti-smṛti-purāṇādi- pañcarātra-vidhiṁ vinā aikāntikī harer bhaktir utpātāyaiva kalpate
“Devotional service performed without reference to the  Vedas ,  Purāṇas ,  Pañcarātras , etc., must be considered sentimentalism, and it causes nothing but disturbance to society.” There are different grades of  Vaiṣṇavas  ( kaniṣṭha-adhikārī ,  madhyama-adhikārī ,  uttama-adhikārī ), but to be a  madhyama-adhikārī  preacher one must be a learned scholar in  Vedānta-sūtra  and other Vedic literature because when  bhakti-yoga  develops on the basis of  Vedānta  philosophy it is factual and steady. In this connection we may quote the translation and purport of the verse mentioned above ( Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam , 1.2.12):
TRANSLATION
That Absolute Truth is realized by the seriously inquisitive student or sage who is well equipped with knowledge and who has become detached by rendering devotional service and hearing the  Vedānta-śruti .
PURPORT
The Absolute Truth is realized in full by the process of devotional service to the Lord  Vāsudeva  or the Personality of Godhead who is the full-fledged Absolute Truth. Brahman is His transcendental bodily effulgence, and Paramātmā is His partial representation. As such, Brahman or Paramātmā realization of the Absolute Truth is but a partial realization. There are four different types of living beings, the  karmīs , the  jñānīs , the  yogīs  and the devotees. The  karmīs  are materialistic, whereas the  other  three are transcendental. The first-class transcendentalists are the devotees who have realized the Supreme Person. The second-class transcendentalists are those who have partially realized the plenary portion of the absolute person. And the third-class transcendentalists are those who have barely realized the spiritual focus of the absolute person. As stated in the  Bhagavad-gītā  and other Vedic literatures, the Supreme Person is realized by devotional service, which is backed by full knowledge and detachment from the material association. As Brahman and Paramātmā realization are imperfect realizations of the Absolute Truth, so the imperfect realizing Brahman and Paramātmā, i.e., the paths of  jñāna  and  yoga , are also imperfect means of realizing the Absolute Truth. Devotional service, which is based on the foreground of full knowledge combined with detachment from material association fixed up on the aural reception of the  Vedānta-śruti , is the only perfect method of realizing the Absolute Truth by the seriously inquisitive student. Devotional service is not, therefore, meant for the less intelligent class of transcendentalist.