The Parable of “DA” and the Three Cardinal Virtues

 

The Parable of “DA” and the Three Cardinal Virtues

From the Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad

It is said that once, at the beginning of creation, the threefold offspring of Prajāpati—the gods (deva), men (manuṣya), and demons (asura)—lived with their father Prajāpati as brahmacārins (students of sacred knowledge).

After completing their period of study, the gods approached their father and said, “O revered Father, please instruct us.”

To them, Prajāpati uttered a single syllable: “DA.”

Then Prajāpati asked them, “Did you understand what I said?”

“We did understand,” they replied. “You told us: Damayata—restrain yourselves. Since the word damayata begins with the syllable da, we take it to mean ‘practise self-control.’”

Prajāpati was pleased with their answer and said, “Yes—Om—you have understood.”

(Note: Among the Aryans, it was customary to affirm by saying Om; thus, here it signifies ‘yes’.)

Next came the men. They too approached Prajāpati and said, “O Father, please instruct us.” To them also, Prajāpati spoke the syllable “DA.”

He then asked them, “Did you understand what I said?”

“We did understand,” they replied. “You told us: Datta—give. Since the word datta begins with the syllable da, we take it to mean ‘be generous; give to others.’”

Prajāpati was pleased and said, “Yes—Om—you have understood.”

Finally, the demons (asuras) came to Prajāpati and said, “O Father, please instruct us.” To them too, he uttered the same syllable: “DA.”

Prajāpati then asked, “Did you understand what I said?”

“We did understand,” they replied. “You told us: Dayadhvam—be compassionate. Since dayadhvam begins with the syllable da, we take it to mean ‘show compassion.’”

Prajāpati was pleased with their response as well and said, “Yes—Om—you have understood.”

In this way, Prajāpati imparted to each group the moral discipline it most needed:

• The gods required self-restraint (dama), for their divinity depends on their ability to master their powers.

• Men required charity (dāna), the noble act of giving to the poor and the needy.

• The demons required compassion (dayā), since cruelty was their natural tendency.

The Upaniṣad adds that even today the divine voice of thunder (parjanya) repeats this same syllable: “Da! Da! Da!”—reminding humanity of the threefold command:

Restrain yourself, give, and be compassionate.

Thus, one should always practise this sacred triad of virtues:
Self-restraint (dama), Charity (dāna), and Compassion (dayā)—
the three DAs, which together constitute the essence of moral perfection.

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Source: Parables and Dialogues from the Upanishads by Swami Satya Prakash.
Reproduced by Dr. Vivek Arya.