The voice of Thunder
Three Core Human Values
Here is a story from section 5.2 of the Brihadāranyaka Upanishad (one of the principal Upanishads). Upanishads are the source of the Vedanta philosophy. This story conveys a subtle and profound message using a simple, brief and beautiful narration.
The Story (as told in the Upanishad)
Three groups or classes of children lived with their father Prajāpati. He was also their teacher. The students were also observing the vows and responsibilities of a student, while living with their father. The three classes of students were: (1) gods (celestials), (2) humans, and (3) daemons.
Having spent many years in tutelage of Prajāpati, the students were about to leave the studentship and move on to the next stage in life.
After having successfully fulfilled their responsibilities as students, the gods approached Prajāpati first and asked: “Sir, kindly instruct us”.
This is the time they were about to leave their school and their teacher. So, they were not expecting their teacher to repeat any instructions from the past. Since the gods had approached the teacher as a group, they wanted a message specific to them that they should focus on, meant as a parting message.
To them (gods), the teacher Prajāpati uttered just the one syllable ‘da’ (द). (This Sanskrit syllable is pronounced ‘the’). After a few moments, he asked them, “have you understood the instruction?”
After reflecting on the response, the gods said, “Yes, we have understood. Your instruction to us is ‘dāmyata’ (दाम्यत) — have self-restraint, have self-control, be restrained; for by nature, we are without restraint.”
Prajāpati said, “Yes, you have understood the teaching correctly.”
Now, the humans approached Prajāpati and requested, “Sir, kindly instruct us.” To them too, Prajāpati, uttered the same single syllable ‘da’ (द) and asked them, “have you understood the instruction?”
The humans said, “Yes revered teacher, we have understood. Your instruction to us is ‘datta’ (दत्त) — give liberally, be charitable, be generous; for by nature, we are miserly.”
Prajāpati said, “Yes, you have understood correctly.”
Then, the daemons approached Prajāpati and said, “Sir, kindly instruct us.” To them also, Prajāpati uttered the same one syllable ‘da’ (द) and asked them “have you understood the instruction?”
The daemons said, “Yes, we have understood. Your instruction to us is ‘dayadhvam’ (दयध्वम्) — be compassionate; for by nature, we are unkindly and cause hurt to others.”
Prajāpati said, “Yes, you have understood the teaching correctly.”
That very instruction of Prajāpati is repeated as the heavenly voice, in the form of thunder, ‘da, da, da’ — dāmyata (have self-restraint), datta (be charitable), dayadhvam (be compassionate).
Because the heavenly voice in the form of thunder echoes even today, one should learn and cultivate these three core values:
1. damam (दमम्): self-restraint
2. dānam (दानम्): charity, liberality
3. dayām (दयाम्): compassion
Commentary on the story
The three classes of students
The term Prajāpati literally means Lord of all creatures, creator, or father of all. In this context, he was also the teacher of the three classes of students. What is the idea of gods, humans, and daemons?
Gods are the ones who have a predominance of virtues but are prone to pride, egotism and arrogance. Thus, they are in need of self-restraint. Daemons are the ones who have a predominance of vices and are given to causing harm to others. The humans are the ones who have a mix of virtues and vices and have a tendency to accumulate possessions, are prone to greed and are miserly.
Instructions applicable to each one of us
While in the story the students are depicted as three groups, in fact the instructions address the following three defects in us, humans:
- Lack of sensory and mental restraint
- Accumulation of wealth, greed and miserliness
- Causing harm to others (through mind, speech or action)
How a syllable is able to convey instruction
How is it that the teacher is able to convey instructions using a single syllable? More importantly, the same syllable to three different groups and each is interpreted appropriately by each group.
This is quite easy to understand. Recall the years of growing up. You made some mistake, at home or in school. Either your parents or a teacher had to just look at you, and you knew what they were pointing at. They actually didn’t have to say anything.
Here, even when the teacher used just a syllable, each group knew what the instruction was, as they understood their own shortcoming.
How the same syllable speaks differently to each
This suggests the preparedness of a student for the journey of self-transformation. In other words, only when a student is keen to change or rectify a defect, he/she becomes open to correction from any source and is even able to pick up subtle hints as complete instructions, in accordance with their requirement. When a teacher gives a verbal and well-articulated instruction (in the context of the spiritual path), each of us interprets it according to our own journey, temperament, nature, experiences, etc.
Thunder as a beautiful metaphor
What a simple set of instructions ‘da’, ‘da’, ‘da’ and a beautiful use of the ‘thunder’ metaphor! Even though it tells a very ancient story, the message contained is conveyed to us even today through thunder. In the scriptures, the forces of nature have always been used to reveal very significant lessons for life.
Disciplines for a spiritual seeker
Here are some fundamental points about the spiritual path:
- Happiness does not come from the world or its objects
- Suffering is the result of desires, attachment, likes, and dislikes
- Everything in the world is transient, impermanent
- Key to being at peace is to be the master of the mind and senses
- It is the one Supreme that manifests as the Self in all
To realize these, in pursuit of liberation (which is nothing but attainment of everlasting peace), the following are three critical disciplines:
- have self-control
- be charitable, be generous
- be compassionate
Krishna’s message
In the Bhagavad Gita that is considered to be the essence of the message of the Upanishads, Krishna says (in verse 16.21):
“Three are the gates to hell — lust, greed and anger. These lead to the destruction of one’s self, preventing us from attaining the real goal of human life — liberation. Therefore, one should abandon these.”
We can overcome lust, greed and anger by adhering to the same three virtues: self-restraint, charity, compassion.
These instructions come from the Upanishads
It is very significant to note that this story and the instructions come to us from the Upanishads, as opposed to texts on dharma (codes associated with righteous and moral conduct). Upanishads form the foundation for the philosophy of Vedanta. Thus, in this backdrop, these three instructions have greater relevance and importance for a seeker of spiritual truth and liberation. It is equally relevant as a code of dharma.
The Waste Land by T. S. Eliot
In his poem the Waste Land, regarded as one the most important poems of the 20th century, T. S. Eliot talks about this message of the Upanishad. The concluding section called ‘What the Thunder Said’ echoes the three instructions of Prajāpati.
In conclusion
These three core values of self-restraint, charity and compassion are in fact universally relevant and applicable in all spheres of human endeavour. In fact, in the face of the mighty challenges faced by nations and even by the entire human race, these three virtues come to the rescue.
Let the sound of thunder always remind us of these three human virtues!
