(A) 1 atikātaṃ aṃt[a]raṃ bahūni vāsa-satāni vaḍhito eva praṇāraṃbho vihiṃsa ca bhūtānāṃ ñātīsu 2 a[s]aṃpratipatī brā[m]haṇa-sramaṇānāṃ asaṃpratīpatī
(B) ta aja Devānaṃpriyasa Priyadasino rāño 3 dhaṃma-caraṇena [bhe]rī-ghoso aho dhaṃma-ghoso vimāna-darsaṇā ca hastida[sa]ṇā ca 4 agi-kh[a]ṃdhāni ca [a]ñāni ca divyāni rūpāni dasayitpā janaṁ
(C) yārise bahūhi v[āsa]satehi 5 na bhūta-puve tarise aja vaḍhite Devānaṃpriyasa Priyadasino rāño dhaṃmānusasṭiyā anāraṃ6[bh]o prāṇānaṃ avihāsā bhūtānaṃ ñātīnaṃ saṃpaṭipatī bramhaṇa-sarnaṇānaṃ saṃpaṭipatī mātari pitari 7 [s]usrusā thaira-susrusā
(D) esa añe ca bahuvidhe [dha]ṃma-caraṇe va[ḍhi]te
(E) vaḍhayisati ceva Devānaṃpriyo 8 [Pri*]ya[da]si rājā dhaṃma-[ca]raṇaṃ idaṃ
(F) putrā ca [p]otrā ca prapotrā ca Devānaṃpriyasa Priyadasino rāño 9 [pra*]vadhayisaṃti idaṃ [dha]ṃma-caraṇaṃ ava savaṭa-kapā dhaṃmamhi sīlamhi tisṭaṃto [dha]ṃmaṃ anusāsisaṃti
(G) 10 [e]sa hi sesṭe kaṃme ya dhaṃmānusāsanaṃ
(H) dhamma-caraṇe pi na [bha]vati asīlasa
(I) [ta] imamhi athamhi 11 [va]dhī ca ahīnī ca sādhu
(J) e[t]āya athāya ida[ṃ] lekhāpitaṃ imasa atha[sa] v[a]dhi yujaṃtu hīni c[a] 12 [no] locetavyā
(K) dbādasa-vāsābhisitena Devān[a]ṃpriyena Priyadasinā rāñ[ā] idam lekhapitam
(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 Brāhmaṇas and Śramaṇas.
(B) But now, in consequence of the practice of morality on the part of king Devānāṁpriya Priyadarśin, the sound of drums has become the sound of morality, showing the people representations of aerial chariots, representations of elephants, masses of fire, 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 Devānāṁpriya Priyadarsin, abstention from killing animals, abstention from hurting living beings, courtesy to relatives, courtesy to Brāhmaṇas and Śramaṇas, obedience to mother (and) father, (and) obedience to the aged.
(D) In this and many other ways is the practice of morality promoted.
(E) And king Devānāṁpriya Priyadarśin will ever promote this practice of morality.
(F) And the sons, grandsons, and great-grandsons of king Devānāṁpriya Priyadarśin will 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 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 caused to be written, (viz. in order that) they should devote themselves to the promotion of this practice, and that the neglect (of it) should not be approved (by them).
(K) This was caused to be written by king Devānāṁpriya Priyadarśin (when he had been) anointed twelve years.
