In the material world the spirit of enjoyment of the living entities by dint of their own actions (karma) gradually fades by the laws of nature, and thus the illusory energy dictates in the ears of the conditioned souls that they should become one with the Lord. This is the last snare of the illusory energy. When the last illusion is also cleared off by the mercy of the Lord, the living entity again becomes reinstated in his original position and thus becomes actually liberated.
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.10.12, Purport
The distance between our self and our gross and subtle bodies gradually diminishes when we chant the holy name, and we soon revive awareness of our original constitutional position. When we are thus self-realized, the Lord’s pure holy name will manifest in our heart, and we will directly see Sri Krishna’s transcendental form.
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura
Amrita-vani 94
Only a very fortunate jiva [within the womb] praises the Lord and is delivered. Not all jivas gain knowledge of the Lord in this way.
Srila Jiva Goswami
Bhakti-sandarbha, Anuccheda 151
All the Vedas, the smriti scriptures, the character of those who know the Vedas, the conduct of saintly persons, and the satisfaction of the self are the roots [proofs] of dharma.
Manu-smriti 2.6
The sacred sounds, sights, and narrations of the spiritual realm are described in the Rig Veda, under which all the demigods have taken shelter. What benefit will persons who do not know this truth get from studying the Rig? Those who have realized this truth, however, revel in their great fortune.
Svetashvatara Upanishad 4.8
The Supreme Personality of Godhead is so kind to the conditioned souls that if they call upon Him by speaking His holy name, even unintentionally or unwillingly, the Lord is inclined to destroy innumerable sinful reactions in their hearts. Therefore, when a devotee who has taken shelter of the Lord’s lotus feet chants the holy name of Krishna with genuine love, the Lord can never give up the heart of such a devotee.
Sri Havir Rishi
Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.2.55
One must conquer the modes of passion and ignorance by developing the mode of goodness, and then one must become detached from the mode of goodness by promoting oneself to the platform of shuddha-sattva. All this can be automatically done if one engages in the service of the spiritual master with faith and devotion. In this way one can conquer the influence of the modes of nature.
Sri Narada Muni
Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.15.25