Original Text
1 (A) atikātaṁ aṁt[a]raṁ bahūni vāsa-satāni vaḍhito eva prāṇāraṁbho vihiṁsā ca bhūtānaṁ ñātīsu
2 a[s]aṁpratipatī brā[m]haṇa-samanānaṁ asaṁpratīpati (B) ta aja Devānaṁpriyasa Priyadasino rāño
3 dhaṁma-caraṇena [bhe]rī-ghoso aho dhaṁma-ghoso vimāna-darsaṇā ca hasti-da[sa]ṇā ca
4 agi-kh[a]ṁdhāni ca [a]ñāni ca divyāni rūpāni dasayitpā janaṁ (C) yārise bahūhi v[ā]sa-satehi
5 na bhūta-puve tārise aja vaḍhite Devānaṁpriyasa Priyadasino rāño dhaṁmānusasṭiyā anāraṁ-
6 [bh]o prāṇānaṁ avihīsā bhūtānaṁ ñātīnaṁ saṁpaṭipatī bramhaṇa-samaṇānaṁ saṁpaṭipatī mātari pitari
7 [s]usrusā thaira-susrusa (D) esa añe ca bahuvidhe [dha]ṁma-caraṇe va[dhi]te
(E) vaḍhayisati cheva Devānaṁpriyo
8 [Pri*]ya[da]si rājā dhaṁma-[ca]raṇaṁ idaṁ (F) putrā ca [p]otrā ca prapotrā ca Devānaṁpriyasa Priyadasino rāño
9 [pra*]vadhayisaṁti idaṁ [dha]ṁma-caraṇaṁ āva savaṭa-kapā dhaṁmamhi sīlamhi tisṭaṁto [dha]ṁmaṁ anusāsisaṁti
10 (G) [e]sa hi sesṭe kaṁme ya dhaṁmānusāsanaṁ (H) dhaṁma-caraṇe pi na [bha]vati asīlasa (I) [ta] imamhi athamhi
11 [va]dhī ca ahīnī ca sādhu (J) e[t]āya athāya ida[ṁ] lekhāpitaṁ imasa atha[sa] v[a]dhi yujaṁtu hīni c[a]
12 [no] locetavyā (K) dbādasa-vāsābhisitena Devān[a]ṁpriyena Priyadasinā rāñ[ā] idaṁ lekhāpitaṁ
Translation
(A) In times past, for many hundreds of years, there had ever been promoted the killing of animals and the hurting of living beings, discourtesy to relatives, (and) discourtesy to Brāhmaṇas and Śramaṇas.
(B) But now, in consequence of the practice of morality on the part of king Devānaṁpriya Priyadarśin, the sound of drums has become the sound of morality, showing the people representations of aerial chariots, representations of elephants, masses of fire, and other divine figures.
(C) Such as they had not existed before for many hundreds of years, thus there are now promoted, through the instruction in morality on the part of king Devānaṁpriya Priyadarśin, abstention from killing animals, abstention from hurting living beings, courtesy to relatives, courtesy to Brāhmanas and Śramanas, obedience to mother (and) father, (and) obedience to the aged.
(D) In this and many other ways is the practice of morality promoted.
(E) And king Devānaṁpriya Priyadarśin will ever promote this practice of morality.
(F) And the sons, grandsons, and great-grandsons of king Devānaṁpriya Priyadarśin will promote this practice of morality until the æon of destruction (of the world), (and) will instruct (people) in morality, abiding by morality (and) by good conduct.
(G) For this is the best work, viz. instruction in morality.
(H) And the practice of morality is not (possible) for (a person) devoid of good conduct.
(I) Therefore promotion and not neglect of this object is meritorious.
(J) For the following purpose has this been caused to be written, (viz. in order that) they should devote themselves to the promotion of this practice, and that the neglect (of it) should not be approved (by them).
(K) This was caused to be written by king Devānaṁpriya Priyadarśin (when he had been) anointed twelve years.
