night, when the master leaves his cattle, when the cattle leave their master, and the soul leaves the body.[1] But righteousness, which is the greatest and the best of all riches, accompanies the soul after death.[2] Riches and fortune one cannot have for oneself, nor can one maintain form and beauty of body forever at will; but everyone can embrace righteousness and make it his own in this world.[3] The best man is the righteous man. He is not heroic who is not heroic in righteousness, he is not valiant who is not valiant in righteousness.[4] Life in departing leaves the richest empty in the midst of his abundance, if he lacks righteousness.
The world of righteousness, as against the world of wickedness. The universe is divided into two hostile camps. The righteous form a distinct world by themselves, and they are the favourite ones of Ahura Mazda. The men who have chosen to naturalize themselves as citizens of the Kingdom of Wickedness form a separate world of their own. The texts in the Later Avesta speak of the ashaono sti, 'the world of the righteous man,' as opposed to the drvato sti, 'the world of the wicked fiend.' The sorcerers and the wicked destroy the world of righteousness.[5] It is the faithful that work for the furtherance of the one, and for the destruction of the other.[6] The man that is holy rejoices in the prosperity of the former, just as he exults in the adversity of the latter.[7] He who does not gladden a righteous person who comes within his gates has no lasting or true joy. To be charitable to such a one is to attain paradise.[8] But again, he rejoices not who helps a wicked person that clamours for help. To help such an evil one is equivalent to hindering righteousness, inasmuch as he is wicked who is a source of goodness to the wicked.[9] A gift bestowed upon a righteous man is the best of all libations,[10] but not so when it is made to a wicked one. Refusing food to a demon-worshipper or a wicked one does not make one guilty.[11] The faithful pray that a righteous king may rule over them, but that a wicked one may be baffled and defeated.[12]
