There are many theories and doctrines of Bhakti such as the Narada Bhakti Sutra to illustrate the bhakti bhava. Stated in simple terms, this bhava is reflected as the worship of God at all times without any other expectation of worldly gains, and is the highest virtue to be practised. The main message of the Bhagavata Purana reinforces this truth and shows that more than jnana and other sadanas it is bhakti that leads to salvation, pointed out Sri Ramanujam in a discourse.
Narada is at his best discussing bhakti and allied topics that establish a strong bond between the bhakta and the Lord. Narada gives solace to a distraught Vyasa when the latter feels a void even after the compiling the Vedas, composing the Puranas and the Mahabharata, etc. Narada advises Vyasa to write about the auspicious qualities of the Lord as an antidote for his low spirits. In the Bhagavata Purana, the stories of Dhruva, Prahlada and others are presented as told by Narada himself who is a guru for all devotees. The Lord’s infinite glories and the excellences of the bhaktas who have attained Him through selfless worship are highlighted. God’s incarnations are shown as the explicit result of His love for His bhaktas.
For instance, when the celestial beings seek His help to bring Hiranyakasipu under control, the Lord assures them that His incarnation would take place as a response to a true bhakta. The Narasimha avatar taken by the Lord is described in the Bhagavata Purana thus: “In order to make true the words of His devotee that the Lord is very much present in the particular pillar as well and also to demonstrate that He is all-pervasive at all times without any reservations , the Lord emerges in the form of Narasimha from that pillar.” Prahlada, embodies Satvika bhakti.
