Page:History of Zoroastrianism.djvu/200

Rh the righteous. Atar, the genius of fire, leads to this straightest path all those who lie not unto Mithra. Referring to the guilty persons who have undergone punishments for the crime of assaulting other persons, the Vendidad admonishes sinners to walk in the path of righteousness in future. Darius likewise exhorts men not to leave the path which is right.

Zarathushtra was the first among mortals to praise this embodiment of holiness; and King Vishtaspa, by adopting the new faith, helped to open the way for righteousness in this world. The faithful beseech Ahura Mazda to bless them with intelligent men who embrace righteousness. Good thoughts of the mind, good words of the tongue, and good deeds of the hand make man ashavan, or righteous. He obtains purity when he cleanses his own self with them. The friendship of Asha in this world and the next is the most coveted boon for all time. It is easy to understand why Asha is invoked to enter the house of the faithful to smite the wicked Druj. The excellence of religious thoughts, words, and deeds, which is ordained by Ahura Mazda, and nourished by Vohu Manah, is furnished by the righteousness of Asha Vahishta.

Righteousness is the highest riches. Man, we are told, pines for the riches of the earth and often strives to obtain the boon of wealth even by unlawful means. On the contrary, he should rather aspire to a store of righteousness, which is the real and permanent wealth When a man starts on a journey, he takes provisions and stores with him. He takes care to provide himself with more goods than are his actual requirements. How sad it is, then, that he should not furnish himself now, while it is time, with the spiritual stores of righteousness for the great journey which he will have one day to undertake and from which he will never return. In the end cattle are dust; gold and silver are dross; even the body of man mingles with clay. Righteousness alone does not mingle with the dust, but survives the bodily death of man. There comes a day or there comes a