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Major Rock Edict

Ashokan Site

Major Rock Edict XIV (Shahbazgarhi Version)

(A) These rescripts on morality have been caused to be written by king Devānaṁpriya Priyadarśin either in an abridged (form) or at full length. (B) For the whole was not suitable everywhere. (C) For (my) dominions are wide, and much has been written, and I shall cause still (more…

Location
Ashokan site
Date
c. 260–250 BCE
Script
Kharosthi
Language
Prakrit
Type
Major Rock Edict
Coordinates
Coordinates pending

Overview

(A) These rescripts on morality have been caused to be written by king Devānaṁpriya Priyadarśin either in an abridged (form) or at full length. (B) For the whole was not suitable everywhere. (C) For (my) dominions are wide, and much has been written, and I shall cause still (more…

Ashokan Site site view
Ashokan Site

The Inscription

Original Text

13 (A) ayi dhrama-dipi Devanaṁpriyena Priśi[na] raña nipesapita asti vo saṁkṣitena asti yo vistriṭena (B) na hi savatra sasavre gaṭite (C) mahalake hi vijite bahu cha likhite likha[p]eśami ceva (D) asti cu atra puna puna [la]pitaṁ tasa tasa [a]ṭhasa madhuriyaye ye[na] jana tatha
14 paṭipajeyati (E) so siya va atra kice asamataṁ likhitaṁ deśaṁ va saṁkhay[a] karaṇa va aloceti dipikarasa va aparadhena

Translation

(A) These rescripts on morality have been caused to be written by king Devānaṁpriya Priyadarśin either in an abridged (form) or at full length.
(B) For the whole was not suitable everywhere.
(C) For (my) dominions are wide, and much has been written, and I shall cause still (more) to be written.
(D) But (some) of this has been stated again and again because of the charm of certain topics, (and) in order that men should act accordingly.
(E) But some of this may have been written incompletely, either on account of the locality, or because (my) motive was not liked, or by the fault of the writer.