Narada

The Ramayana begins with Valmiki asking Narada whether any man alive possesses every virtue. Narada names Rama and narrates his life in brief, from the bow of Shiva to the reign in Ayodhya. This summary, called the Samkshepa Ramayana, is recited on its own as a prayer.

Narada appears again in the Uttara Kanda, urging Ravana to fight Yama, and explaining to Rama the cause of a brahmin boy's untimely death.