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.