The Upanishads - Mandhata Global

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Chapter II
The Three Great Disciplines
Prajapati had three kinds of offspring: gods, men and
demons (asuras). They lived with Prajapati, practising
the vows of brahmacharins. After finishing their term,
the gods said to him: "Please instruct us, Sir." To them
he uttered the syllable da and asked: "Have you
understood?" They replied: "We have. You said to us,
„Control yourselves (damyata).‟ He said: "Yes, you have
understood."
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Then the men said to him: "Please instruct us, Sir" To
them he uttered the same syllable da and asked:
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Then the demons said to him: "Please instruct us, Sir."
To them he uttered the same syllable da and asked:
"Have you understood?" They replied: "We have. You
said to us: „Be compassionate (dayadhvam).‟ He said:
"Yes, you have understood." That very thing is repeated
even today by the heavenly voice, in the form of
thunder, as "Da," "Da," "Da," which means: "Control
yourselves," "Give," and "Have compassion." Therefore
one should learn these three: self-control, giving and
mercy.
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