Bhakta - Definition

आश्रय आलम्बन कृष्ण भक्ताः

Definition of bhakta

tad-bhāva-bhāvita-svāntāḥ kṛṣṇa-bhaktā itīritāḥ ||2.1.273||

Those in whose hearts is manifested the spiritual attraction (bhāva) can be called devotees of Kṛṣṇa."

te sādhakāś ca siddhāś ca dvi-vidhāḥ parikīrtitāḥ ||2.1.275||

"The devotees are said to be of two types: practitioners (sādhakas) and perfected (siddhas)."

tatra sādhakāḥ -
utpanna-ratayaḥ samyaṅ nairvighnyam anupāgatāḥ |
kṛṣṇa-sākṣāt-kṛtau yogyāḥ sādhakāḥ parikīrtitāḥ ||2.1.276||

"Practitioners (sādhakas) are those who have developed affection for Kṛṣṇa
but have not completely extinguished the anarthas (material habits),
and who are qualified to see Kṛṣṇa directly."

yathaikādaśe (11.2.46) -
īśvare tad-adhīneṣu bāliśeṣu dviṣatsu ca |
prema-maitrī-kṛpopekṣā yaḥ karoti sa madhyamaḥ ||2.1.277|

An example from the Eleventh Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam [11.2.46]:
"An intermediate or second-class devotee, called madhyama-adhikārī,

• offers his love to the Supreme Lord,
• is a sincere friend to the devotees of the Lord,
• shows mercy to ignorant people who are innocent and
• disregards those who are envious."

yathā vā -
siktāpy aśru-jalotkareṇa bhagavad-vārtā-nadī-janmanā
tiṣṭhaty eva bhavāgni-hetir iti te dhīmann alaṁ cintayā |
hṛd-vyomany amṛta-spṛhā-hara-kṛpā-vṛṣṭeḥ sphuṭaṁ lakṣate
nediṣṭaḥ pṛthu-roma-tāṇḍava-bharāt kṛṣṇāmbudhasyodgamaḥ ||2.1.278||

Another example:
"Do not worry that after you have been drenched in tears arising from the river of the pastimes of the Lord, you will remain in the flame of suffering in the material world.
When all the hairs on your limbs dance, then you will see very near, rising in the sky of your heart, the cloud of Kṛṣṇa's form, full of the shower of mercy that destroys the desire for liberation."