Shloka 4

Devanagari script

तत्रैव वसतस्तस्य रावणो नाम राक्षस:

Transliteration

tatraiva vasatas tasya rāvaṇo nāma rākṣasaḥ

Translation

While he was living right there, a rākṣasa named Rāvaṇa appeared (came into the account). The line introduces a disruptive, adharma-leaning force entering the scene, foreshadowing a moral test for the one residing there.

Word by Word

तत्रthere

एवindeed/just

वसतःof (him) dwelling

तस्यof him/of that

रावणःRāvaṇa

नामby name

राक्षसःa demon/Rākṣasa

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

Nārada

Rāvaṇa

rākṣasa

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse functions as a moral signal: when a rākṣasa figure enters a setting where someone is peacefully dwelling, it often marks the arrival of temptation, violence, or disruption—an impending test of restraint, protection of the innocent, and adherence to dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nārada, as narrator, introduces a new character: a rākṣasa named Rāvaṇa. The statement situates Rāvaṇa’s appearance in the same place where 'he' (the previously mentioned person) is residing, setting up the next events of the episode.