Page:History of Zoroastrianism.djvu/369

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336
SECTS

holds the view that the ordering of results of man's actions is not in man's hands, but rests with Fate.[1]

Under the influence of Fate the wise man fails of his wisdom, and the fool shows intelligence, the hero becomes a coward, and the coward plays the part of a hero, the industrious turn out to be indolent, and the indolent become industrious.[2] When Fate befriends an indolent, ignorant, and wicked man, his sloth becomes like unto diligence, his ignorance unto knowledge, and his wickedness unto righteousness. On the other hand, when Fate frowns upon a wise man and a good man, his wisdom is transformed to foolishness and ignorance, and his knowledge, skill, and worthiness do not help him in the least.[3] Life, wife, and child, power or fortune alike, come all through Fate.[4]

How far Fate affects man's exertions. Replying to the query whether man gets various things through Fate or through his own exertion, Vazurgmitra, the talented premier of Noshirvan, states that both of these are as closely linked together as are man's body and life. As the body falls a ruined tabernacle of clay when life has quitted it, and as life without the body is an intangible wind, so are Fate and exertion indissolubly united with each other.[5] Fate is the efficient cause, and exertion is the means through which man attains everything.[6] It is true that exertion is of no avail when Fate has ordained otherwise Man may toil, and yet may not reap the fruit of his labour. But then, man's exertion in good works, even if not rewarded with fruitful results in this world, will reap a benefit in the next world through the angels Man, therefore, has to depend upon the doings of Fate for the good of this world, but upon his own actions for the spiritual goods to be enjoyed in the world. hereafter.[7]

Through Fate man performs meritorious deeds.[8] Man, it is true, is dependent upon the decree of Fate as regards his earthly possessions, but it is left only to his individual exertion whether

  1. ↑ Ibn Isfandiyar, History of Tabaristan, tr Browne, p 85, 86, London, 1905
  2. ↑ Mkh. 23 5–7.
  3. ↑ Mkh. 51. 5–7.
  4. ↑ Dd. 71. 3; Dk., vol. 12, bk. 6 D. 1, p. 75; Jamaspi, p 122.
  5. ↑ Gs. 56.
  6. ↑ Gs. 57.
  7. ↑ Phl. Vd. 5 8; Mkh. 22 4–6.
  8. ↑ Dk., vol. 9, p. 585.
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