History and Doctrines of the Ajivikas: A Vanished Indian Religion c22.s1.13

c22.s1.13

The Jaina commentators give us a better impression than do the Buddhist and Jaina Prākrit texts of the *niyativādin*’s powers of logical argument. Thus Śīlāṅka in his commentary to the *Sūtrakṛtāṅga*, quotes the arguments of the *niyativādins*, who, although not expressly identified with them, must surely have been Ājīvikas. “If happiness is experienced as a result of human activity there should be no difference in the reward (of equal exertion), nor should there be lack of reward when equal effort is exerted, whether by servants, merchants, or, peasants etc. Yet it is often seen that even when no means of livelihood such as service, etc., is followed, rich reward is obtained. So nothing is achieved by human effort.”¹ This is another example of the argument used by Mahāvīra against Saddālaputta, the argument from human experience; but here it is employed by the Ājīvika against his opponents. The successes and failures of men of equal ability prove that their happiness does not depend on their own powers. Man is not an effective factor in the universal process.