Original Text
1 (A) Devanaṁpriyo Priyadraśi raya savra-praṣaṁḍani pravrajita[ni] grahathani ca pujeti danena vividhaye ca pujaye (B) no cu tatha [da]na va puja va
2 Devanaṁpriyo mañati yatha kiti sa[la]-vaḍhi siya savra-praṣaṁḍanaṁ (C) sala-vaḍhi tu bahuvidha (D) tasa tu iyo mula yaṁ vaca-guti
3 kiti ata-praṣaṁḍa-puja va pa[ra]-paṣaṁḍa-garana va no siya [a]pakaraṇasi lahuka va siya tasi tasi prakara[ṇ]e (E) pujetaviya va cu para-praṣa[ṁ]-
4 [ḍa] tena tena akarena (F) e[v]aṁ karataṁ ata-p[r]aṣaṁḍaṁ vaḍheti para-praṣaṁḍaṁsa pi ca upakaroti (G) tada añatha ka[ra]min[o] ata-p[raṣaṁḍa]
5 kshaṇati para-[pra]ṣaḍasa ca apakaroti (H) yo hi kaci ata-praṣaṁḍaṁ pujeti [para]-p[r]aṣaḍa[ṁ] garahati savre ata-praṣaṁḍa-bhatiya va kiti
6 ata-praṣaṁḍaṁ dipayami ti so ca puna tatha karaṁtaṁ so ca puna tatha karataṁ ba[ḍhata]raṁ upahaṁti ata-praṣaṁḍaṁ (I) so sayamo vo sadhu kiti añamañasa dhramo
7 śruṇeyu ca suśruṣeyu ca ti (J) evaṁ hi Devanaṁpriyasa icha kiti savra-praṣaṁḍa bahu-śruta c[a] kal[aṇa]gama ca siyasu (K) ye ca tatra tatra
8 prasana teṣa[ṁ] vatavo (L) Devanaṁpriy[o] na [tatha da]na[m va] p[u]ja va mañati ya[tha] kiti sala-vaḍhi siyati savra-praṣaṁḍanaṁ (M) bahuka ca etaye a[ṭha] . .
9 vap[a]ṭa dh[ra]ma-ma[ha]matra i[stridhi]yakṣa-ma[ha]matra [vra]ca-bhumika añe ca nikaye (N) imaṁ ca etisa [pha]laṁ yaṁ ata-paṣada-vaḍhi [bh]o[ti]
10 dhramasa ca di[pana]
Translation
(A) King Devānāṁpriya Priyadarśin is honouring all sects : (both) ascetics and householders, with gifts and with honours of various kinds.
(B) But Dēvānāṁpriya does not value either gifts or honours so (highly) as (this), (viz.) that a promotion of the essentials of all sects should take place.
(C) But the promotion of the essentials (is possible) in many ways.
(D) But its root is this, viz. guarding (one’s) speech, (i. e.) that neither praising one’s own sect nor blaming other sects should take place on improper occasions, or (that) it should be moderate in every case.
(E) But other sects ought to be duly honoured in every way.
(F) If one is acting thus, he is promoting his own sect and is benefiting other sects as well.
(G) If one is acting otherwise than thus, he is hurting his own sect and wronging other sects.
(H) For whosoever praises his own sect (or) blames other sects,—all (this) out of pure devotion to his own sect, (i. e.) with the view of glorifying his own sect,—if he is acting thus, he rather injures his own sect very severely.
(I) Therefore self-control alone is meritorious, (i. e.) that they should both hear and obey each other’s morals.
(J) For this is the desire of Devānāṁpriya, (viz.) that all sects should be both full of learning and pure in doctrine.
(K) And those who are attached to their respective (sects), ought to be spoken to (as follows).
(L) Devānāṁpriya does not value either gifts or honours so (highly) as (this), (viz.) that a promotion of the essentials of all sects should take place.
(M) And many (officers) are occupied for this purpose, (viz.) the Mahāmātras of morality, the Mahāmātras controlling women, the inspectors of cowpens, and other classes (of officials).
(N) And this is the fruit of it, (viz.) that the promotion of one’s own sect takes place, and the glorification of morality.
