Righteousness is its own reward

Righteousness is good. It is best for man in this world and the next. It is happiness here and felicity beyond. He lives his life best upon earth, who lives in righteousness and for righteousness.

Righteousness is the health of the soul. Cleanliness of body, purity of mind, and sanctity of soul bring bodily, mental, and spiritual health to man.

Righteousness is the purity of the soul. Good thoughts, good words, and good deeds feed righteousness. Successful struggle with evil thoughts, evil words, and evil deeds strengthen righteousness. A righteous person is a perfect man, a consummate man, a saint, a god in flesh upon earth.

Greatness has but a short life, it is righteousness alone that lives for ever. No memorial raised to man rises to the eminence that a man of goodness builds for himself in the shape of his righteousness. Not a man of birth, nor a man of wealth, nor a man of fame is great. Immeasurably greater than all in God's eyes is the man of righteousness.

I will cover my soul close with the radiant garb of righteousness, even as I put next to my skin my sudrah and kusti, the sacred shirt and girdle, the visible symbols of my faith. I will wed righteousness. I will make it my own, my nearest and dearest possession. I will hunger and thirst for righteousness, live for righteousness, work for righteousness, fight for righteousness, and die for righteousness, as the righteous of yore have done in their days. I will be righteous not for the fear of hell, but I will be righteous for the sake of righteousness, O Asha Vahishta, thou Best Righteousness.

This page was last updated on Friday, February 11, 2005.