And the Thunder Said DA

Prajapati, the Creator, had three kinds of offspring: gods, men, and demons. They lived with Prajapati as brahmacharins (celibate students) practicing austerities. At the end of their term, the gods requested him saying: 'Please instruct us, Sir.' Prajapati uttered the syllable Da and he asked: 'Have you understood?' The gods replied: 'Yes. You have said to us, control yourselves (Damyata).' Prajapati responded: 'Yes, you have understood.' Then men spoke to him: 'Please instruct us, Sir.' Prajapati uttered the syllable Da and he asked: 'Have you understood?' The men replied: 'We have. You have said give (Datta).' Prajapati responded: 'Yes, you have understood.' Then the demons spoke to him: 'Please instruct us, Sir.' Prajapati uttered the syllable Da and he asked: 'Have you understood?' The demons replied: 'Yes. You have said to us, be compassionate (Dayadhvam).' Prajapati responded: 'Yes, you have understood.' That very thing is repeated by the celestial voice in the form the thunder that speaks to us: 'Da, Da, Da' which means, 'control yourselves,' 'give,' 'be merciful.'In other words, writes Kara, the instruction to comprehending the ultimate mystery begins from an ethical injunction. He who is self-controlled, charitable, and merciful is given proximity to the gods. Ethics takes precedence over epistemology and ontology. 3