As deva-rishi preached naishkarmya
'Tantram satvatam acasta naishkarmyam karmanam yatah' (SB 1.3.8).
Sage
Narada
नारद
Also known as देवर्षिः · सुरपूजितः · वासवीसुतः · Deva-rishi (the divine sage)
Narada, mind-born son of Brahma, the deva-rishi: inter-celestial messenger, vina-bearing proclaimer of bhakti. SB 1.3.8: the Lord's third avatara; SB 1.5-6: instructs Vyasa to compose the Bhagavata. His own story: a maidservant's son in a former birth; mother's death by snakebite; journey north; meditation under a peepal in a solitary forest; vision of Hari in the heart and its withdrawal; the Lord's voice; entering the Lord at pralaya; rebirth among the rishis; receiving the god-given vina and ever singing Hari-katha.
Śrīmad Bhāgavata Mahāpurāṇa 1.3.8 — Sanskrit Wikisource (pinned oldid=369178)
Son
Student
Brahma
Deity
Narada is the son of Brahma. Source evidence (SB 2.9.40): Narada is Brahma's son and dearest of his heirs: 'tam naradah priyatamo rikthadanam anuvratah' (SB 2.9.40); and Brahma, well pleased, told the Bhagavata 'to his son' (SB 2.9.43). Direction: son -> father. Evidence: EXPLICIT.
Narada is the student of Brahma. Source evidence (SB 2.4.25): Brahma declared to Narada, when he asked, that very thing which Hari Himself had told him: 'etad evatmabhu rajan naradaya viprichchhate veda-garbho 'bhyadhat sakshad yad aha harir atmanah' (SB 2.4.25). Direction: teacher -> disciple. Evidence: EXPLICIT. Additional source (SB 2.7.51): Narada is the student of Brahma. Source evidence (SB 2.7.51): Brahma, having told Narada the whole matter, commanded him to expand it: 'idam bhagavatam nama yan me bhagavatoditam, sangraho 'yam vibhutinam tvam etad vipuli-kuru' (SB 2.7.51). Direction: teacher -> disciple. Evidence: EXPLICIT.
Teacher Vyasa SageNarada is the teacher of Vyasa. Source evidence (SB 1.5.40): Narada instructed Vyasa to compose the Bhagavata: 'prākhyāhi' (SB 1.5.40) — to proclaim Krishna's glories. Evidence: EXPLICIT. Additional source (SB 2.9.44): Narada is the teacher of Vyasa. Source evidence (SB 2.9.44): Narada told this Bhagavata to Vyasa of measureless splendour, who was meditating on the supreme Brahman on the bank of the Sarasvati: 'naradah praha munaye sarasvatyas tate nripa... vyasayamita-tejase' (SB 2.9.44). Direction: teacher -> disciple. Evidence: EXPLICIT.
Teacher Yudhishthira KingNarada is the teacher of Yudhishthira. Source evidence (SB 1.13.41): Narada instructed Yudhishthira to give up grief: from 'ma kancana shuco rajan yad ishvara-vasham jagat' (SB 1.13.41) to the account of Dhritarashtra's yogic end; taking his words to heart, Yudhishthira abandoned sorrow (SB 1.13.60). Direction: instructor -> instructed. Evidence: EXPLICIT.
Former birth: maidservant's son, awakened through serving yogis
'Aham puratita-bhave 'bhavam mune dasyas tu kasyashcana veda-vadinam' (SB 1.5.23).
Hearing Krishna-katha awakened relish and bhakti
'Tatranvaham krishna-kathah pragayatam anugrahena ashrinavam manoharah' (SB 1.5.26).
God-given vina; constant singing of Hari-katha
'Devadattam imam vinam... hari-katham gayamanas caramy aham' (SB 1.6.33).
Narada — avatara of — Krishna
The Lord 'assuming deva-rishihood' expounded the satvata-tantra (SB 1.3.8); the deva-rishi is Narada per the unanimous reading. Evidence: STRONG_CONTEXT.
Narada — taught — Satvata-tantra
Narada expounded the satvata-tantra, the way of naishkarmya: 'tantram satvatam acasta' (SB 1.3.8). Evidence: EXPLICIT.
Narada — knows tattva of — Krishna
The divine sage Narada knows Krishna's most secret glory (SB 1.9.19). Evidence: EXPLICIT.
Mother's death from snakebite; departure northward
'Sarpo 'dashat pada sprishta kripanam kala-choditah' (SB 1.6.9); 'pratishtham disham uttaram' (1.6.10).
Meditation under a peepal; vision of Hari in the heart
'Pippalopastha asritah... hrdy asin me sanair harih' (SB 1.6.16-17).
Withdrawal of the vision; the voice of grace
'Sahasottasthe... napashyam' (SB 1.6.19-20); 'gambhira-slakshnaya vaca' (1.6.21).
Entered the Lord at pralaya; reborn among the rishis
'Vivishe 'ntaraham vibhoh' (SB 1.6.30); 'marici-mishra rsayah pranebhyo 'ham ca jajnire' (1.6.31).
Narada — visited — Vyasa
Narada came to Vyasa's hermitage: 'kṛṣṇasya nārado 'bhyāgād āśramaṁ prāg-udāhṛtam' (SB 1.4.32). Evidence: EXPLICIT.
Narada — questioned — Brahma
Narada asked Brahma for the knowledge that reveals the truth of the Self: 'tad vijanihi yaj jnanam atma-tattva-nidarshanam' (SB 2.5.1), and about its form, support, origin and what lies beyond (SB 2.5.2). Direction: questioner -> answerer. Evidence: EXPLICIT.