Original Text
1 (A) [aya] dhrama-dipi Devanapriasa raño likhapitu (B) hida no kic[i] jive ara[bhitu p]rayuhotave (C) no pi c[a] sama[ja] kaṭava (D) ba[hu]ka [hi] doṣa sa[maya]spi Devaṇapriy[e] Priadraśi ray[a da]khati
2 (E) [a]sti pi cu ekatia samaye sasu-mate Devanapiasa Priadraśisa raño (F) pura mahana[sas]i [Devana]pr[i]asa Priadraśisa raño anudivaso bahuni pra[ṇa]-śata-sahasani [arabhi]yis[u] supaṭhay[e] (G) s[o i]dani yada aya
3 dhrama-dipi likhita tada trayo vo praṇa haṁñaṁt[i] majura duv[i] 2 mrugo 1 so pi mrugo no dhruva[ṁ] (H) eta pi praṇa trayo paca na arabhiśaṁti
Translation
(A) This rescript on morality has been caused to be written by king Devānaṁpriya.
(B) Here no living being must be killed and sacrificed.
(C) And also no festival meetings must be held.
(D) For king Devānaṁpriya Priyadarśin sees much evil in festival meetings.
(E) But there are also some festival meetings which are considered meritorious by king Devānaṁpriya Priyadarśin.
(F) Formerly in the kitchen of king Devānampriya Priyadarśin many hundred thousands of animals were killed daily for the sake of curry.
(G) But now, when this rescript on morality is written, then only three animals are being killed (daily), (viz.) two—2—peacocks (and) 1 deer, (but) even this deer not regularly.
(H) Even these three animals shall not be killed in future.
