View source for "The Fable of the Meaning of Thunder"

==Excerpt from Brihadaranyaka Upanishad==

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“Prajapati had three kinds of offspring: gods, men, and demons.  They lived with Prajapati, practicing 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.”

:Then the men 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, ‘Give (datta).’”  

He said: “Yes, you have understood.”

: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.”

:This 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.