(A) 1 Devānaṃpiyo Priyadasi rājā yaso va kīti va na mahāthāvah[ā] mañate añata tadātpano dighāya ca me [ja]no 2 dhaṃma-susru[ṃ]sā susrustā dhaṃma-vutaṃ ca anuvidhiyatāṃ
(B) etakāya Devānaṃpiyo Piyadasi rājā yaso va kīti va i[cha]ti
3 (C) ya[ṃ] tu kic[i] parik[a]mate Devānaṃ Priyadasi rājā ta savaṃ pāratrikāya kiṃti sakale a[pa]parisrave asa
(D) esa tu parisave ya apuṃñaṃ
(E) 4 dukaraṃ tu kho etaṃ cudakena va janena usaṭena va añatra agena parāk[r]amena savaṃ paricajitpā
(F) et[a] t[u] kho usaṭena dukaraṃ
(A) King Devānāṁpriya Priyadarśin does not think that either glory or fame conveys much advantage, except (on account of his aim that) in the present time, and in the distant (future), men may (be induced) by him to practise obedience to morality, and that they may conform to the duties of morality.
(B) On this (account) king Devānāṁpriya Priyadarśin is desiring glory and fame.
(C) But whatever effort king Devānāṁpriya Priyadarśin is making, all that (is) for the sake of (merit) in the other (world), (and) in order that all (men) may run little danger.
(D) But the danger is this, viz. demerit.
(E) But it is indeed difficult either for a lowly person or for a high one to accomplish this without great zeal (and without) laying aside every (other aim).10
(F) But among these (two) it is indeed (more) difficult to accomplish for a high (person).
