| The context in
which this message has been given is explained in the form of a story. The message
has been given in three words Dana, Daya and Dama meaning charity, compassion and self -
control respectively. Once, the devas, the asuras and the manushyasapproached Prajapati,
the Lord of all created beings for studentship. After completing the student ship, the
devas said Please instruct us." Prajapati uttered the syllable 'Da', He asked them
Have you understood." They replied: " Yes, we have understood." Similarly,
the manushyas asked Prajapati : " Please instruct us." Prajapati uttered the
same syllable 'D a'. They also replied they understood. So also to the asuras the same
syllable 'Da' was uttered. This very thing is
repeated by the heavenly voice through the clouds as I Da, Da, Da.' The Upanishad further
adds that everytime we hear a peal of thunder, we should remember that the heavenly voice
is uttering the three words beginning with the sound 'Da'. This is merely to emphasize the
importance of the message to mankind. Sanatsujatha gave a similar message to
Dhritarashtra. TheHeliodorous column erected by a Greek who calls himself as a Bhagavata
contains the message of the three words ' Dhana, Dharma and Apramada.'
In the scriptures of other nations also a similar pattern of
giving message in three words has been adopted. For example in the New Testament, in St.
Paul's Epistle to the Corinthians, the message is contained in three words, viz. Hope,
Faith and Charity. The Bible says that Charity is the greatest of them all. "If I
speak with the tongues of men, and of angels, and have not charity, am become as sounding
brass or a tinkling cymbal." |
