Shri Nathji also told the parable of the mahatma and his goat. A woman would pass by the mahatma and say in deriding tones to him:“Mahatmaji, aapki daarrhi acchhi yaa aapki bakri?“Mahatmaji, who is better, your beard or your goat?”The mahatma said to her that he would reply to her question some day. However, much before the mahatma could give her an answer, he died.“Mahatmaji you never answered my question!”Suddenly the mahatma came back to life and said to her:“Daughter! Yesterday I could not answer your question–but today I can! My beard is better. Because now it can do no wrong!”And saying this he fell back again, dead.“Kyaa Aapkaa shaitaan zindaa hai?”“Is your Satan still alive?”He said: “Haan, mujhe to maare dar ke bukhaar charrhaa raihtaa hai! “Yes. I remain in a state of high fever out of fear, all the time!”Indeed while people who walked on the spiritual path gave great emphasis on prayers and meditation and spiritual knowledge and discipline, yet they seldom realised that the greatest step forward in this direction is to recognize one’s own short-comings and to confess them before God.