In the Mahabharata, Narada figures as a religious teacher; and in the "Uttara Kanda" of the Ramayana is a specimen of his teaching. [*+] A Brahman, carrying the dead body of his son, came to the door of Rama's palace at Ayodha; and bewailing his loss, as he himself was unconscious of any fault, he believed it to be owing to some misconduct on the part of the king. Rama summoned his councillors, when the divine sage Narada spoke as follows: "Hear, O king, how the boy's untimely death occurred; and, having heard the truth regarding what ought to be done, do it." The story, briefly told, is as follows: "A presumptuous Sudra, paying no regard to the fact that during the age in which he lived the prerogative of practising self-mortification had not descended to the humble class to which he belonged, had been guilty of seeking to secure a store of religious merit by its exercise. Rama, after considerable search, comes upon a person who was engaged in the manner described by Narada. The Sudra avows his caste, and his desire to conquer for himself the rank of a god, by the self-mortification he was undergoing. Rama instantly cuts off the offender's head; the gods applaud the deed, and, having been encouraged by them to ask a boon, Rama requests that the Brahman's boy may be

resuscitated. He is informed that he was restored to life the very moment that the Sudra was slain."

Narada was the friend and companion of Krishna, and was famed for his musical talents, but, becoming presumptuous on account of them, he emulated the divine strains of Krishna, who severely punished him for his presumption by placing his vina in the paws of a bear, when it emitted sounds far sweeter than those of the minstrelsy of the mortified musician. Krishna played many practical jokes on his friend; on one occasion he went so far as to metamorphose him into a woman. [**]

Great honour is given to Narada because he is said to have revealed to Valmiki the "Ramayana," which opens as follows:--

"To sainted Narad, prince of those
Whose lore in words of wisdom flows,
Whose constant care and chief delights
Were scripture and ascetic rites,
The good Valmiki, first and best
Of hermit saints, these words addressed:
'In all the world, I pray thee, who
Is virtuous, heroic, true?
Firm in his vows, of grateful mind,
To every creature good and kind?
Bounteous and holy, just and wise,
Alone most fair to all men's eyes?
Grant, saint divine, the boon I ask,
For thee, I ween, an easy task,
To whom the power is given to know
If such a man breathes here below.'
Then Narad, clear before whose eye
The present, past, and future lie,
Made ready answer!" [*+]