The threefold offspring- of Prajapati — gods, men, and devils (asura)— dwelt with their father Prajapati as students of sacred knowledge (brahviacarya). Having lived the life of a student of sacred knowledge, the gods said: ' Speak to us, Sir/ To them then he spoke this syllable, 'Da.' £ Did you understand? ' ' We did understand/ said they. ' You said to us? ct Restrain yourselves (damyata)? ' ' Yes (Om)! ' said he. « You did understand/

So then the men said to him: 'Speak to us, Sir/ To them then he spoke this syllable, c Da! ' Did you understand?' (dattay ' < Yes (Om) \ ' said he. ' You did understand/

So then the devils said to him: 6 Speak to us, Sir/ To them then he spoke this syllable, ' Da! ' Did you understand? ' ' We did understand/ said they. { You said to us, " Be compassionate (dayadlwanfy" ' ' Yes (Om)! } said he. ' You did understand/ This same thing does the divine voice here, thunder, repeat: Da! Da! Da! that is, restrain yourselves, give, be compas- sionate. One should practise this same triad: self-restraint, giving, compassion.