The lives of realised souls show that union with God is possible by following the way of divine love and the incarnations of the Lord have provided opportunities for the devout to express their devotion to Him directly. Devotion takes root when it is realised that God alone is the only support of the entire creation inclusive of the smallest and mightiest forces in it.
Prahlada, endowed with inherent devotion and realisation, speaks of the various ways in which God can be sought and the pick of these is the nine-fold path of Bhakti that encompasses the different attitudes and personalities of people, pointed out Kumari Lakshmi in a discourse. These forms of Bhakti are the means for people to attain salvation.
Sugriva and Arjuna are quoted as examples of devotion through friendship. The rare quality of friendship ennobles by nurturing selflessness and love between friends. The sorrowing Rama who loses Sita finds a true friend in Sugriva and both of them strike a friendship that turns out to be mutually beneficial. In the case of Arjuna, it is held that the unique bond between him and Krishna is a rare phenomenon and the Lord even plays the role of a charioteer to him. But over and above all He reveals His transcendental form to Arjuna and plays the friend, philosopher and guide to him.
Hanuman typifies bhakti through service. Only those who have inherent true love to the Almighty and are devoid of ego sense can get into this groove. Hanuman considers service to Rama as his premier goal and Rama Nama as the highest possession possible. It is said that he even renounces salvation and chooses to stay on earth and propagate and participate in Rama Bhakti along with the generations of devotees through the ages.
