Realization of God cannot be achieved without ecstatic love for Him.
The Supreme Lord tests His disciples in His own unique ways. And the test becomes harder as the disciple reaches higher levels of realization. Some superficial performers get out-tracked molding themselves into atheists. But the real and refined karma-sanyasi’s get embraced by the Lord.
Selfless devotion is the end of all knowledge and the realization of the presence of Divine in the life-breath is the end of all natal ignorance.
The intelligent student, after studying vedic texts, is solely intent on acquiring wisdom and realization.