The Goat That Laughed and Wept

Long ago in another lifetime a brahmin (Vedic priest) decided to offer a feast for the dead and brought a goat to sacrifice. He asked some of his students, young brahmacaris (celibate priests in training), to take the goat to the river, bathe it, feed it, put a garland of flowers around its neck, and then bring it for the sacrifice.

When the boys reached the river and began grooming the goat, the animal began to laugh in a sharp, bitter way. Then, just as unnervingly, it began to weep. The young students, amazed, asked the goat, “Why did you laugh like that and begin crying?”

“When we return to your teacher,” said the goat, “ask me again.” When they returned to the brahmin the students told him what had happened and he asked the goat for an explanation.

“In times past, Brahmin, “the goat said, “I was a brahmin like you who offered a goat as a sacrifice for the dead. The karmic result of that was to be reborn as a goat 499 times. I laughed today because it is my last time suffering this fate, the 500th time, and after my death I will be free of the bad result of my murderous karma. On the other hand, you are likely to suffer a fate similar to mine, which is why I cried.”

“In that case,” said the horrified brahmin, “I will not kill you!”

“That is good,” said the goat, “but will not protect me from my Karma. Either way, today I will die.”

The Brahmin swore that he would protect the goat and assigned students to guard the goat. As they were taking the goat out to eat, a thunderstorm broke out. Lightning struck nearby, splitting a rock and scattering the fragments in all directions. One of them cut off the goat's head…


What is meant to happen will not be escaped…>