(A) 1 D[e]vānaṃpriyo Piyadasi rājā evaṃ āha
(B) kalāṇaṃ dukaraṃ
(C) y[o ādikaro] kalāṇ[a]sa so dukaraṃ karoti
(D) 2 ta mayā bahu kalāṇaṃ kataṃ
(E) t[a] mama putā ca potā ca paraṃ ca tena y[a] me [a]pacaṃ āva saṃvaṭa-kapā anuvatisare tathā 3 so sukataṃ kāsati
(F) yo tu eta desaṃ pi hāpesati so [du]kataṃ kāsati
(G) sukaraṃ hi pāpa[ṃ]
(H) atikataṃ aṃtaraṃ 4 na bhūta-pruvaṃ dhaṃma-mahāmātā nāma
(I) ta m[a]yā traidasavāsābhi[s]i[tena] dhaṃm[a]-mahāmātā katā
(J) te sava-pāsaṃḍesu vyāpatā dhāmadhisṭānāya 5 ……… [dha]mma-yutasa ca Yoṇa-K[a]ṃbo[ja] Gaṃdhārānaṃ Risṭika-P[e]teṇikānaṃ ye vā pi a[ṃ]ñ[e ā]parātā
(K) bhatamayesu vā 6 ……… [su]khā[ya dhaṃma]-yutānaṃ apar[i]godhāya vyāpatā te
(L) ba[ṃ]dhana-badhasa paṭividhānāya 7 ……… [p]rajā katābhākāresu vā thairesu vā vyāpatā te
(M) Pāṭalipute ca bāhirasu ca 8 ……… [y]e vā pi me añe ñātikā sarvata vyāpatā te
(N) yo ayaṃ dhaṃmanisrito ti va 9 ……… [t]e [dha]ṃma-mahāmātā
(O) etāya athāya ayaṃ dhaṃma-lipī likhitā 10 ………
(A) King Devānāṁpriya Priyadarśin speaks thus.
(B) It is difficult to perform virtuous deeds.
(C) He who starts performing virtuous deeds accomplishes something difficult.
(D) Now, by me many virtuous deeds have been performed.
(E) Therefore (among) my sons and grandsons, and (among) my descendants (who shall come) after them until the æon of destruction (of the world), those who will conform to this (duty) will perform good deeds.
(F) But he who will neglect even a portion of this (duty) will perform evil deeds.
(G) For sin is easily committed.
(H) In times past (officers) called Mahāmātras of morality (Dharma-mahāmātra) did not exist before.
(I) But Mahāmātras of morality were appointed by me (when I had been) anointed thirteen years.
(J) These are occupied with all sects in establishing morality ……… of those who are devoted to morality (even) among the Yoṇas, Kambojas, and Gandhāras, the Risṭikas and Peteṇikas, and whatever other western borderers (of mine there are).
(K) They are occupied with servants and masters ……… for the ……… happiness of those who are devoted to morality, (and) in freeing (them) from desire (for worldly life).
(L) They are occupied in supporting prisoners 6 (with money) ……… (if one has) children, or with those who are bewitched (i.e. incurably ill ?) or with the aged.
(M) They are occupied everywhere, both in Pāṭaliputra and in the outlying ……… and whatever other relatives of mine (there are).
(N) These Mahāmātras of morality ……… whether one is eager for morality ………
(O) For the following purpose has this rescript on morality been written ………
