Verse 2.1.79

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 2.1.79:

एवं स पूर्ववन् मन्त्रं तं जपन् निर्जने निजम् ।
देवं साक्षाद् इवेक्षेत सतां सङ्ग-प्रभावतः ॥ ७९ ॥

evaṃ sa pūrvavan mantraṃ taṃ japan nirjane nijam |
devaṃ sākṣād ivekṣeta satāṃ saṅga-prabhāvataḥ || 79 ||

evam–thus; saḥ–he; pūrva-vat–as before; mantram–the divine sound vibration; tam–that; japan–chanting; nirjane–in seclusion; nijam–his own; devam–Lord; sākṣāt–directly; iva–as if; īkṣeta–he would perceive; satām–of the saints; saṅga–of the association; prabhāvataḥ–by the influence.

Thus the brāhmaṇa made up his mind and began to chant his mantra as before, sitting in a secluded place. By the influence of saintly association, he was now able to chant the mantra with a pure heart, and while chanting he began to behold the Deity of the mantra as if He were personally present.

Commentary: Dig-darśinī-ṭīkā with Bhāvānuvāda

(By Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī himself including a deep purport of that commentary)

Śrī Parīkṣit says, “In this way, the brāhmaṇa decided not to abandon Śrī Madana-gopāla-deva’s illustrious ten-syllable mantra, which is supreme among mantras.” Alternatively, it is understood that he was fully absorbed in rapt meditation on Śrī Nanda-kiśora, the unlimited and indescribable crest jewel of all worshipable personalities. This purified his heart and he began to see his worshipable Deity as if the Lord were present in person.

Śrī Uttarā-devī might ask, “How was this possible, since he chanted his mantra without faith (śraddhā)?” In reply, Śrī Parīkṣit speaks the line beginning with satām, saying, “This was possible only by the influence of saintly association, or sādhu-saṅga.”