A Study into the Role of Work and Agriculture in Ardavirafnameh from the Viewpoint of Otherworldly Reward and Punishment

Work, agriculture and production took on great importance in Zoroastrianism. Some sections of Ardavirafnameh, one of the religious books of this religion, deal with the reward for the righteous and punishment for the sinful who have been negligent in work, production and agriculture or who have not endeavored in doing so. Men deserve punishment or reward according to their deeds, as it is pointed out in this religious text. Pointing out the otherworldly reward or punishment in the material world, Ardavirafnameh attempts to make known material incumbent on its people such as agriculture and business. This issue was vitally important in politics and it was of great help to the Sasans. Probably the content of Ardavirafnameh, is an indication of the cultural and political Sasan vantage point. Aside from dealing with the importance work and agriculture in Zoroastrianism, this paper answers the question as to how a text like Ardavirafnameh can explicitly talk about production, agriculture and work in imposing the right punishment for man`s deeds.