Translation
(A) When king Devānaṁpriya Priyadarśin had been anointed eight years, (the country of) the Kaliṅgas was conquered by (him).
(B) One hundred and fifty thousand in number were the men who were deported thence, one hundred thousand in number were those who were slain there, and many times as many those who died.
(C) After that, now that (the country of) the Kaliṅgas has been taken, Devānaṁpriya (is devoted) to a zealous study of morality, to the love of morality, and to the instruction (of people) in morality.
(D) This is the repentance of Devānaṁpriya on account of his conquest of (the country of) the Kaliṅgas.
(E) For, this is considered very painful and deplorable by Devānaṁpriya, that, while one is conquering an unconquered (country), slaughter, death, and deportation of people (are taking place) there.
(F) But the following is considered even more deplorable than this by Devānaṁpriya.
(G) (To) the Brāhmaṇas or Śramaṇas, or other sects or householders, who are living there, (and) among whom the following are practised : obedience to those who receive high pay, obedience to mother and father, obedience to elders, proper courtesy to friends, acquaintances, companions, and relatives, to slaves and servants; (and) firm devotion,—to these then happen injury or slaughter or deportation of (their) beloved ones.
(H) Or, if there are then incurring misfortune the friends, acquaintances, companions, and relatives of those whose affection (for the latter) is undiminished, although they are (themselves) well provided for, this (misfortune) as well becomes an injury to those (persons) themselves.
(I) This is shared by all men and is considered deplorable by Devānaṁpriya.
(J) And there is no (place where men) are not indeed attached to some sect.
(K) Therefore even the hundredth part or the thousandth part of all those people who were slain, who died, and who were deported at that time in Kalinga, (would) now be considered very deplorable by Devānaṁpriya.
(L) And Devānaṁpriya thinks that even (to one) who should wrong (him), what can be forgiven is to be forgiven.
(M) And even (the inhabitants of) the forests which are (included) in the dominions of Devānāṁpriya, even those he pacifies (and) converts.
(N) And they are told of the power (to punish them) which Devānaṁpriya (possesses) in spite of (his) repentance, in order that they may be ashamed (of their crimes) and may not be killed.
(O) For Devānaṁpriya desires towards all beings abstention from hurting, self-control, (and) impartiality in (case of) violence.
(P) And this conquest is considered the principal one by Devānaṁpriya, viz. the conquest by morality.
(Q) And this (conquest) has been won repeatedly by Devānaṁpriya both here and among all (his) borderers, even as far as at (the distance of) six hundred yōjanas, where the Yōna king named Antiyoka (is ruling), and beyond this Antiyoka, (where) four—4—kings (are ruling), (viz. the king) named Turamaya, (the king) named Antikini, (the king) named Maka, (and the king) named Alikasudara, (and) towards the south, (where) the Coḍas and Pāṇḍyas (are ruling), as far as Tāmraparṇī.
(R) Likewise here in the king’s territory, among the Yonas and Kamboyas, among the Nabhakas and Nabhitis, among the Bhojas and Pitinikas, among the Andhras and Palidas,—everywhere (people) are conforming to Devānaṁpriya’s instruction in morality.
(S) Even those to whom the envoys of Devānaṁpriya do not go, having heard of the duties of morality, the ordinances, (and) the instruction in morality of Devānaṁpriya, are conforming to morality and will conform to (it).
(T) This conquest, which has been won by this everywhere,—a conquest (won) everywhere (and) repeatedly,—causes the feeling of satisfaction.
(U) Satisfaction has been obtained (by me) at the conquest by morality.
(V) But this satisfaction is indeed of little (consequence).
(W) Devānaṁpriya thinks that only the fruits in the other (world) are of great (value).
(X) And for the following purpose has this rescript on morality been written, (viz.) in order that the sons (and) great-grandsons (who) may be (born) to me, should not think that a fresh conquest ought to be made, (that), if a conquest does please them, they should take pleasure in mercy and light punishments, and (that) they should regard the conquest by morality as the only (true) conquest.
(Y) This (conquest bears fruit) in this world (and) in the other world.
(Z) And let there be (to them) pleasure in the abandonment of all (other aims), which is pleasure in morality.
(AA) For this (bears fruit) in this world (and) in the other world.
