Original Text
1 (A) a[t]ikaṁtaṁ aṁtalaṁ bahūni vasa-satāni vaḍhite va pānālaṁbhe . . . . . . . . . .
2 (B) se aja Devānaṁpiyasa Piyadasine lājine dhaṁma-calanena bhe[l]i . . . . . . . . . .
3 divi[y]āni lūpāni drasayitu munisānaṁ (C) ādise bahūhi vasa-sate . . . . . . . . . .
4 dhaṁmānusathiyā anālaṁbhe pānānaṁ avihisā bhūtānaṁ nātisu [saṁpa] . . . . . . . . . .
5 (D) esa aṁne ca bahuvidhe dhaṁma-chalane vaḍhite (E) va[ḍhay]i . . . . . . . . . .
6 Piyadasine lājine pavaḍhayi[sa]ṁ[t]i [y]e[va] dhaṁma-cha[la] . . . . . . . . . .
7 (H) dhaṁma-chalane pi cu no ho[t]i . . . . . . . . . .
8 [hī]ni ca mā aloc[ay]i . . . . . . . . . .
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 Śramaṇas and Brāhmaṇas.
(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, 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 Dēvānāṁpriya Priyadarśin, abstention from killing animals, abstention from hurting living beings, courtesy to relatives, courtesy to Śramaṇas and Brāhmaṇas, 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) But also the sons, grandsons, and great-grandsons of king Dēvānāṁpriya Priyadarśin will ever 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) But the practice of morality also 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 written, (viz. in order that) they should devote themselves to the promotion of this practice, and that they should not approve the neglect (of it).
(K) This has been written here by king Dēvānāṁpriya Priyadarśin (when he had been) anointed twelve years.
Dhauli