Original Text
12 (A) atikrataṁ ata[raṁ] bahuni vaṣa-śa[ta]ni vadhite vo praṇaraṁ[bh]e vihi[sa] ca bhutanaṁ ñatina asapa[ṭ]ipati śrama[ṇa]-bramaṇana asa[ṁ]paṭipati 13 (B) se aja [De]vanapriyasa Priyadraśine rajine dhrama-[ca]ra[ṇe]na bheri-ghoṣe aho dhama-ghoṣe vimana-draśana asti[ne] agi-kaṁdhan[i] aña[ni ca] di[vani] rupani draśeti janasa 14 (C) [a]diśe bahuhi vaṣa-śa[tehi] na [hu]ta-pr[u]ve tadiśe [a]ja vaḍhite [De]vana-priyasa Priyadraśine rajine dhramanuśastiya anarabhe praṇana avihisa bhutana ñatina 15 saṁpațipati bamaņa-śramaņana sa[ṁ]paṭipati mata-pituṣu suśru[ṣa] vudhrana [su]śruṣa (D) eṣe añ[e] ca bahuvidhe dhrama-caraṇe vadhrite (E) vadhrayiśati yeva Devanapriye 16 Priyadraśi raja dhama-[ca]raņa ima[ṁ] (F) [putra] pi ca ka natare ca paṇatika De[va]napriyasa Priyadaśine rajine pavadhayiśamti yo dhrama-caraņa imaṁ [a]va-kapaṁ dhrame śile ca 17 [ci] ṭhitu dhra[maṁ] anu[śa]śiśaṁti (G) eṣe hi sreṭhe a[ṁ] dhramanuśaśana (H) dhrama-[ca]ra[ṇe] pi [ca] na hoti aśi[la]sa (I) se imasa athrasa vadhri ahi[ni ca] sadhu (J) etaye 18 athraye i[yaṁ] li[khi]te e[ta]sa [athra]sa vadhra yu[jaṁ]tu hini ca ma [alo]cay[i]su (K) duva[da]śa-vaṣabhisitena Devanapriyena Priya-draśina rajina iya[ṁ] likhapite 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 śrama[ṇa] and bramaṇana. (B) But now, in consequences of the practice of morality on the part of king [De]vanapriyasa Priyadraśine, the sound of drums has become the sound of morality, showing the people representations of aerial chariots, elephants, masses of light, and other divine figures. (C) Such as they had not existed before for many hundreds years, thus there are now promoted, through the instruction in morality on the part of king [De]vana-priyasa Priyadraśine, abstention from killing animals, abstention from hurting living beings, courtesy to relatives, courtesy to bamaṇa and śramaṇana, obedience to mother and father (and) to the aged. (D) In this and many other ways is the practice of morality promoted. (E) And this practice of morality will be ever promoted by king Devanapriye Priyadraśi . (F) And also the sons, grandsons, and great-grandsons of king De[va]napriyasa Priyadaśine will ever promote this practice of morality until the end of the world (and) will instruct (people) in morality, abiding by morality and by good conduct. (G) For this best work, viz. instruction of morality. (H) And 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 this 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 conception was caused to be written here by king Devanapriyena Priya-draśina (when he had been) anointed twelve years.