(A) 1 Devānaṃpiye Piyad[a]si rājā sava-pāsaṃḍāni ca [pa]vajitāni ca gharastāni ca pūjayati d[ā]nena ca vivādhāya [ca] pūjāya pūjayati ne
(B) 2 na tu tathā dānaṃ va pū[jā] va D[e]vānaṃpiyo maṃñate yathā kīti sāra-vaḍhī asa sa[va pā]saṃḍānaṃ
(C) sār[a]vaḍhī tu bahuvidhā
(D) 3 tasa tu idaṃ mūlaṃ ya vaci-gutī kiṃti ātpa-pāsaṃḍā-pūjā va para-pāsaṃḍa-garahā va no bhave aprakaraṇamhi lahukā va asa 4 tamhi tamhi prakaraṇe
(E) pūjetayā tu eva para-pāsaṃḍā tena tana prakaraṇena
(F) evaṃ karuṃ ātpa-pāsaṃḍaṃ ca vaḍhayati para-pāsaṃḍasa ca upakaroti
(G) 5 tad-aṃñathā karoto ātpa-pāsaḍaṃ ca chaṇati para-pāsaṃḍasa ca pi apakaroti
(H) yo hi koci ātpa-pāsaṃḍaṃ pūjayati para-pāsaṃḍaṃ v[a] garahati 6 savaṃ ātpa-pāsaṃḍa-bhatiyā kiṃti ātpa-pāsaṃḍam dīpayema iti so ca puna tatha karāto ātpa-pāsaṃḍa[ṃ] bāḍhataraṃ upahanāti
(I) ta samavayo eva sādhu 7 kiṃti [a]ñamaṃñasa dhaṃmam sruṇāru ca susuṃsera ca
(J) evam hi D[e]vānaṃpiyasa ichā kiṃti sava-pāsaṃḍā bahu-srutā ca asu kal[ā]ṇāgamā ca [a]su
(K) 8 ye ca tatra tata prasarimā tehi vatavyaṃ
(L) Devānaṃpiyo no tathā dānaṃ va pūjāṃ va maṃñate yathā kiṃti sāra-vaḍhī asa sarva-pāsadānaṃ
(M) bahakā ca etāya 9 atha vyāpatā dhaṃma-mahāmātā ca ithījhakha-mahāmātā ca vaca-bhūmika ca añe ca nikāyā
(N) ayaṃ ca etasa phala ya ātpa-pāsaṃḍā-vaḍhī ca hoti dhaṃmasa ca dīp[a]nā
(A) King Devānaṁpriya Priyadarśin is honouring all sects: both ascetics and householders; both with gifts and with honours of various kinds he is honouring them.
(B) But Devānaṁpriya does not value either gifts or honours so (highly) as (this), (viz.) that a promotion of the essentials of all sects should take place.
(C) But a promotion of the essentials (is possible) in many ways.
(D) But its root is this, viz. guarding (one’s) speech (i. e) that neither praising one’s own sect nor blaming other sect should take place on improper occasions, or (that) it should be moderate in every case.
(E) But other sects ought to be duly honoured in every case.
(F) If one is acting thus, he is both promoting his own sect and benefiting other sects.
(G) If one is acting otherwise than thus, he is both hurting his own sect and wronging other sects as well.
(H) For whosoever praises his own sect or blames other sects;–all (this) out of devotion to his own sect, (i.e.) with the view of glorifying his own sect,–if he is acting thus, he rather injures his own sect very severely.
(I) Therefore concord alone is meritorious, (i.e.) that they should both hear and obey each other's morals.
(J) For this is the desire of Devānaṁpriya, (viz.) that all sects should be full of learning, and should be pure in doctrine.
(K) And those who are attached to their respective (sects) ought to be spoken to 1 (as follows).
(L) Devānaṁpriya does not value either gifts or honours so (highly) as (this), (viz.) that a promotion of the essentials of all sects should take place.
(M) And many (officers) are occupied for this purpose, (viz.) the Mahāmātras of morality, the Mahāmātras controlling women, the inspectors of cowpens, and other classes (of officials).
(N) And this is the fruit of it, (viz.) that both the promotion of one's own sect takes place, and the glorification of morality.
