History and Doctrines of the Ajivikas: A Vanished Indian Religion c23.s5.5

c23.s5.5

From the ultimate and absolute point of view the decision whether or not to resist the caresses of the devas is not in the ascetic's hands. His rebirth as a serpent, or his salvation, are determined by Niyati. The passage suggests that, within the period of 8,400,000 mahākappas during which it passed through saṃsāra, the soul was thought to be destined to perform several cycles in regular order, passing through the rigidly fixed series of births, only at the last moment to yield to the devas, fall back, and repeat the dreary process. At the very end of its destined span it would resist, and be freed from birth and death.