Verse 59

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 59:

प्रमाणैस् तत्-सद्-आचारैस् तद्-अभ्यासैर् निरन्तरम्
बोधयन्न् आत्मनात्मानं भक्तिम् अप्य् उत्तमां लभेत्

pramāṇais tat-sad-ācārais tad-abhyāsair nirantaram
bodhayann ātmanātmānaṃ bhaktim apy uttamāṃ labhet

tad-abhyāsaiḥ—through the sādhaka’s repeated practice; tat-sad-ācāraiḥ—in accordance with the pure standards of bhakti that have been previously established by the examples of sādhu-bhaktas; pramāṇaiḥ—and with the evidence given in all śāstras that teach the philosophical conclusions of pure bhakti; nirantaram—incessantly; bodhayan—realizing; ātmānam—oneself; ātmanā api—through one’s own self (in the form of a purified jīva who has taken shelter of Śrī Bhagavān); labhet—one can attain; uttamām bhaktim—pure devotion.

“One may attain incessant realization of one’s constitutional identity by continuously observing the codes of appropriate behavior, and by practicing the sādhana-bhajana prescribed by the authentic scriptures. Understanding oneself to be under the shelter of Bhagavān, one may offer oneself fully at His lotus feet. A sādhaka who does so attains uttama-bhakti.” (59)

Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī’s Ṭīkā commentary (bhāvānuvāda):

[Sanskrit text for commentary available]

Sādhana-bhakti is the only method to attain prema-bhakti. Therefore the subject of sādhana-bhakti is being described in this verse beginning pramāṇais tat. The term sat or sādhu refers to the great transcendentally realized personalities who conduct themselves perfectly in accordance with the precepts of śuddhabhakti, and with the etiquette prescribed by authentic devotional scriptures such as the Vedas, Purāṇas, Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. When the sādhaka-bhakta continuously practices the limbs of bhakti—such as śravaṇa, kīrtana and smaraṇa—in accordance with the standards set by such realized personalities, he realizes within his heart that he is a pure spirit soul under the shelter of Bhagavān. Śuddha-bhakti is actually rāgānuga-bhakti; that is, bhakti following the moods of Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s eternal associates in Goloka who are by nature deeply attached to Him. One who engages in the uninterrupted cultivation of this śuddhabhakti attains within his pure heart a transcendental manifestation of his eternal spiritual form as a servant of Bhagavān, by the mercy of a pure devotee or by the direct mercy of Bhagavān Himself. Subsequently he achieves the highest stage of premabhakti.

A lucid analysis of this occurrence can also be found in the prayers by the Vedas personified in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.87.20):

स्व-कृत-पुरेष्व् अमीष्व् अबहिर्-अन्तर-संवरणं
तव पुरुषं वदन्त्य् अखिल-शक्ति-धृतोऽंश-कृतम्
इति नृ-गतिं विविच्य कवयो निगमावपनं
भवत उपासतेऽङ्घ्रिम् अभवम् भुवि विश्वसिताः

sva-kṛta-pureṣv amīṣv abahir-antara-saṃvaraṇaṃ
  tava puruṣaṃ vadanty akhila-śakti-dhṛto'ṃśa-kṛtam
iti nṛ-gatiṃ vivicya kavayo nigamāvapanaṃ
  bhavata upāsate'ṅghrim abhavam bhuvi viśvasitāḥ

The living entities are internally and externally controllers of their bodies and populate the entire universe. They are not independent, but are fragmentary parts (vibhinnāṃśa) of Your energy. Those who attain a true understanding, and who are in knowledge of the desired goal of the greatly realized souls, utterly reject the fruitive activities mentioned in the Vedas. With complete faith they cultivate unalloyed, transcendental bhakti in the form of worshiping You without the slightest expectation of material remuneration. In this way, although they remain in the world, they easily cross over the insurmountable ocean of material existence and come to You by engaging in the loving service of Your lotus feet. Your divine lotus feet are the only cure for the fear experienced in the endless chain of birth and death.

Purport by Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura (tātparya):

The word pramāṇa (reliable evidence) refers to the bhakti-śāstras such as the Vedas, Upaniṣads, Purāṇas, Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. The word sadācāra should be understood to indicate the behavior of Vaiṣṇavas who are practicing pure bhakti, and whose activities are based on deep, spontaneous attachment to Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Tad-abhyāsa denotes the process of acquiring a clear understanding of the ten fundamental principles (daśa-mūla-tattva) described in bhakti-śāstra, and then, as prescribed by the śāstra, receiving harināma, which is the embodiment of Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s names, form, qualities and pastimes. After that one should continuously cultivate the practice of chanting harināma throughout the day and night. This is the meaning of abhyāsa. Thus, this verse stresses that it is absolutely necessary to adopt the process of spiritual cultivation in accordance with the instructions of śāstra, and under the guidance of sādhus. Cultivating the practice of chanting harināma along with appropriate conduct dispels the ten kinds of offenses against the holy name. Abhyāsa means to follow the uninterrupted and offenseless cultivation of harināma practiced by śuddha-bhaktas. If one practices in this way, the desired result, namely prema-bhakti, will manifest in the heart.