This is an interesting anecdote from upanishads.
When the universe was created, the human beings (manava), the devatas (residents of upper planetary systems) and the danavas (demonic natured residents of lower planets) all went to seek guidance from Brahma, the creator of the material universe.
When the three groups, human beings, the devatas and the demons reached the seat of Brahma, Brahma was in deep samadhi (trance). All three groups sought guidance from him.
Brahma kept quiet and his eyes were closed. Suddenly he uttered a simple sound "Da".
Knowing this to be the instruction from the founding father of this world, the three classes of beings returned to their respective abodes.
1. The devatas interpreted "da" as "damyat" : Control. Control your desires. By nature, the residents of the upper planetary systems are addicted to various pleasures. So they took the lesson as "control your desires."
2. The manusyas, the human beings, they understood "Da" to mean "datta", which means to give/donate. By nature the human beings were greedy, so they understood the lesson to be "give , donate".
3. The demons, the beings who lived in lowest mode of nature, they understood "da" to mean "daya". By nature the demons are cruel, so they took the lesson to mean "daya karo" : be merciful.
So , the same lesson presented by the teacher appeared as three distinct things to the three groups , depending upon their spiritual level.
The same is true of all the Vedic teachings. The same Vedas can guide a true aspirant to Godhead, and the same Vedas can guide a lustful person into long lasting material existence.
The demons can use the same Vedic teachings to attain mystical perfections and to cause harm. The atheistic minded persons can use the same teachings to make material progress.
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