Original Text
14 (A) Devanaṁpriyo Priyadraśi raya eva ahati (B) atikrataṁ aṁtara na bhuta-pruvaṁ sava[ṁ] kala[ṁ] aṭha-kramaṁ va paṭivedana va (C) ta[ṁ] maya eva[ṁ] kiṭa[ṁ] (D) savraṁ kalaṁ aśamanasa me orodhanaspi grabhagaraspi vracaspi vinitaspi uyanaspi savatra paṭivedaka aṭhaṁ janasa paṭivedetu me (E) savatra ca ja[na]sa aṭh[r]a karomi (F) ya[ṁ] pi ca ki[ci] mukhato aṇapayati a[haṁ] dapa[ka] va śravaka va ye va p[a]na mahamatrana a[ca]yika a[ro]pitaṁ bhoti taye aṭhaye viva[de] nijha[t]i va sataṁ pariṣaye anaṁtariyena praṭivedetavo me
15 (E) savatra ca aṭhaṁ janasa karomi a[haṁ] (F) yaṁ ca kici mukhato aṇapemi ahaṁ dapaka[ṁ] va śravaka va ye va pana mahamatranam acayi[k]am aropita[ṁ] bhoti t[a]ye aṭhaye [v]ivade sa[ṁ]taṁ nijati va pariṣaye anamtariyena paṭivedetavo me savatra savaṁ kala[ṁ] (G) eva aṇapita[ṁ] maya (H) [na]sti hi me toṣo uṭhanas[i] aṭha-sa[ṁ]tiraṇaye [ca] (I) kaṭava-mataṁ hi me sava-loka-hitaṁ (J) ta[sa cha] mulaṁ etra uthanaṁ aṭha-samtiraṇa ca (K) na[sti] hi k[r]amatara[ṁ]
16 sava-loka-hite[na] (L) yaṁ ca kici parak[r]amami kiti bhutanaṁ anaṇiyaṁ v[r]aceyaṁ ia ca ṣa sukhayami paratra ca spagraṁ aradhetu (M) etaye aṭhaye ayi dhrama nipista chira-thitika bhotu tatha ca me putra nataro parakramaṁtu sava-lo[ka-hita]ye (N) [du]kara tu [kh]o imaṁ añat[r]a agre parakramena
Translation
(A) King Devānaṁpriya Priyadarśin speaks thus.
(B) In times past neither the disposal of affairs nor the submission of reports at any time did exist before.
(C) But I have made the following (arrangement).
(D) Reporters have to report to me the affairs of the people at any time (and) anywhere, while I am eating, in the harem, in the inner apartment, at the cowpen, in the palanquin, (and) in the park.
(E) And everywhere I am disposing of the affairs of the people.
(F) And also, if in the council (of Mahāmātras) a dispute arises, or an amendment is moved, in connexion with any donation or proclamation which I am ordering verbally, or (in connexion with) an emergent matter which has been delegated to the Mahāmātras, it must be reported to me immediately, anywhere, (and) at any time.
(G) Thus I have ordered.
(H) For I am never content in exerting myself and in dispatching business.
(I) For I consider it my duty (to promote) the welfare of all men.
(J) And the root of that (consists) in this, (viz.) exertion and the dispatch of business.
(K) For no duty is more important than (promoting) the welfare of all men.
(L) And whatever effort I am making, (is made) in order that I may discharge the debt (which I owe) to living beings, (that) I may make them happy in this (world), and (that) they may attain heaven in the other (world).
(M) For the following purpose has this [rescript on] morality been written, (viz. that) it may be of long duration, and (that) my sons (and) grandsons may display the same zeal for the welfare of all men.
(N) But it is indeed difficult to accomplish this without great zeal.
