Original Text
7 (A) atikrataṁ aṁtaraṁ bahuni vaṣa-śatani vaḍhito vo praṇaraṁbho vihisa ca bhuta[na]ṁ ñatina asaṁpaṭipati śramaṇa-bramaṇana[ṁ] a[saṁ]paṭipati (B) [so aja Devana]ṁpriyasa Priyadraśisa [raño]
8 dhrama-caraṇena bheri-ghoṣa aho dhrama-ghoṣa vimanana[ṁ] draśanaṁ [a]stina joti-kaṁdhani añani ca divani rupani draśayitu janasa (C) yadiśaṁ bahuhi vaṣa-śatehi na bhuta-pruve tadiśe aja vaḍhite Devanaṁpriyasa Priyadraśisa raño dhraṁmanuśa[sti]ya anaraṁbho praṇa[naṁ] avihisa bhutanaṁ ñatina[ṁ] sampa[ṭi]pati [bra]maṇa-
9 śramaṇana saṁpaṭipati mata-pituṣu vuḍhana[ṁ] suśruṣa (D) e[ta] añaṁ ca bahuvidhaṁ dhrama-caraṇaṁ vaḍhitaṁ (E) vaḍhiśati ca yo Devanaṁpriyasa Priyadraśisa raño dhrama-caraṇaṁ ima[ṁ] (F) putra pi ca kam nataro ca pranatika ca Devanaṁpriya[sa] Priyadraśisa raño pra[va]dh[e]śaṁti [yo] dhrama-charaṇam ima[ṁ ava]-kapa dhrame śile ca
10 tiṭhiti dhramaṁ anuśaśiśaṁti (G) eta h[i s]reṭham k[r]ama[ṁ] yaṁ dhraman[u]śaśana[ṁ] (H) dhrama-caraṇa[ṁ] pi ca na bhoti aśilasa (I) so imisa athrasa vaḍhi ahini ca sadhu (J) etaye aṭhaye ima[ṁ] nipistaṁ imisa aṭhasa vaḍhi yujaṁtu hini ca ma lo[c]e[ṣ]u (K) badaya-vaṣabhisitena Devanaṁpriyena Priyadraśisa raña ñanaṁ hi[da] nipesitaṁ
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 light, 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 Brāhmaṇas and Śramaṇas, 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 Devānampriya Priyadarśin.
(F) And also the sons, grandsons, and great-grandsons of king Devānaṁpriya 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) 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 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) conception (jñāna) was caused to be written here by king Devānaṁpriya Priyadarśin (when he had been) anointed twelve years.
