The threefold descendants of Pra^apati, gods, men, and Asuras (evil spirits), dwelt as Brahma^a- rins (students) with their father Pra^apati. Having finished their studentship the gods said: ‘Tell us (something), Sir,’ He told them the syllable Da. Then he said: ‘ Did you understand?’ They said: ‘We did understand. You told us “Damyata,” Be subdued.’ ‘Yes,’ he said, ‘you have understood.’
Translated by F. Max MüllerFrom an unproofread scan of the printed edition; spelling and line breaks may carry OCR errors.
atha hainam asurā ūcur bravītu no bhavān iti | tebhyo haitad evākṣaram uvāca da iti | vyajñāsiṣṭā3 iti | vyajñāsiṣmeti hocuḥ | dayadhvam iti na āttheti | om iti hovāca vyajñāsiṣṭeti | tad etad evaiṣā daivī vāg anuvadati stanayitnur da da da iti | damyata datta dayadhvam iti | tad etat trayaṃ śikṣed damam dānam dayām iti
Then the Asuras said to him: ‘Tell us something, Sir.’ He told them the same syllable Da. Then he said: ‘ Did you understand?’ They said: ‘We did understand. You told us, “Dayadham,” Be merciful.’ ‘Yes,’ he said, ‘you have understood.’ The divine voice of thunder repeats the same, Da Da Da, that is, Be subdued, Give, Be merciful. Therefore let that triad be taught, Subduing, Giving, and Mercy.
Translated by F. Max MüllerFrom an unproofread scan of the printed edition; spelling and line breaks may carry OCR errors.