Volume 1 / Story 18

A goat, which was to be sacrificed by a brahmin, shows signs of great joy and of great sorrow. It explains the reason for each emotion.

(This story was told by the Master about Feast for the Dead. At that time, the folks were putting goats, sheep and other animals to death as an offering for the sake of their departed kinsmen. Finding them engaged, the Brethren asked the Master if there was any good when the folks are taking the lives of many living creatures and offering them up as what is called Feast for the Dead.

"No, Brethren," replied the Master;"not even when life is taken with the object of providing a Feast for the Dead does any good. In the bygone days the wise, preaching Truth from mid-air and shewing the evil consequences of the practise, made the whole continent renounce it. But now when their previous existences have become confused in their minds, the practise has sprung up afresh." And, so saying, he told this story of the past.)

A brahmin who was well-versed in the Three Vedas and also a world famous teacher was minded to offer a feast for the Dead. A goat was fetched to him and he gave instructions to his pupils to bathe, feed and groom the goat well before bringing it back to him. The pupils did what was told. On the other hand, the goat becoming conscious of the deeds of its past lives was overjoyed at the thought that on this very day, it would be freed from all it’s misery, and laugh aloud like a smashing of a pot. Then at the thought that the brahmin by slaying it would bear the misery just like what he had gone thru’ in his previous existence, the goat felt a great compassion for the brahmin and wept with a loud voice. Seeing the reactions of the goat, the pupils at once reported it to their Master. When he was told of the matter, he had his pupils brought the goat forward to see him.

Hereupon the animal recalling its past deeds by its power of remembering its former existence, he told the brahmin,"In my past lives, I was a well-versed brahmin like you. I was told to offer a feast for the Dead. I killed a goat for my offering. All thru’ that single killing of a goat, I have had my head cut off five hundred times all but one. This is my five hundreth and last birth; and I laughed aloud when I thought that this very day, I should be freed from my misery. On the other hand, I wept when I thought how whilst I, who for killing a goat had been doomed to lose my head five hundred times. Thus it was out of compassion for you that I wept." After hearing these words, the brahmin assured the goat that it will be freed. But the goat insisted that whether or not the brahmin kills him, the goat still couldn’t escape death today. The brahmin gave his assurance again that he and his pupils will make sure that the goat will be well guarded so as not to let any harm come to it. "Weak is your protection, brahmin, and strong is the force of my evil-doing." said the goat.

Setting the goat at liberty, the brahmin gave orders that no one is allowed to kill this goat and had young men accompanying the animal closely. The moment the goat was set free, it reached out its neck to browse on the leaves of a bush growing near the top of a rock. And that very instant, a thunderbolt struck the rock, rending off a splinter which hit the goat on the outstretched neck and tore off its head. And people came crowding round to witness what had happened on the spot. A Tree-Fairy was present at that time of the incident and by his supernatural powers, he seated himself cross-legged in mid-air and preach the Truth pertaining to the incident with his sweet voice to the crowd. After the Tree-Fairy had passed away, the people resist the killing of animals and spent their lives in charity and good works.

(When the Master had ended his lesson, he showed the connexion and identified the birth by saying,"In those days, I was the Tree-Fairy.")