(A) 9 atika[ṃ]taṃ a[ṃ]ta[la]ṃ bahuni vasa-satāni v[adh]it[e] vā pā[nā]laṃbhe vi[h]isā cā bhutānaṃ nātina asaṃ[pa]ṭip[a]ti samana-b[aṃ]bhanānaṃ asaṃpaṭipatī
(B) s[e] ajā Devānaṃpiyasā Piyadasine lājine dhaṃm[a]cal[an]enā bheli-ghose aho dhaṃma-ghose vimana-dasan[ā] 10 [ha]thini agi-kaṃdh[ā]ni aṃnāni cā divyāni lupāni dasayitu jana[sa]
(C) [ā]disā ba[h]u[hi v]asa-[sa]tehi nā huta-puluve tādise ajā vaḍhite Devānaṃpiyasā Piyadasine [l]ājine dhaṃmanusathiye a[n]ālaṃbhe pānānaṃ avihisā bhutānaṃ nāti[naṃ] 11 saṃpaṭipatī baṃbha[na-sa]manānaṃ saṃpaṭipatī mātā-pitisu sususā
(D) ese ca aṃne cā ba[h]uvidhe dhaṃma-calane vadh[i]te
(E) vadhiyisati cevā Devānaṃpiy[e] Piyadasi lāja ima[ṃ] dha[ṃ]ma-calanaṃ
(F) putā ca kaṃ natāle cā panātikyā c[ā] Devānaṃpiyasā Piyadasine lājine 12 [pa]v[a]ḍhayisaṃt[i c]ev[a] dhaṃma-calanaṃ i[maṃ] āva-kapa[ṃ] dhaṃmasi s[ī]lasi cā ciṭhit[u] dhaṃmaṃ anusāsisaṃti
(G) ese hi seṭhe kaṃm[aṃ] aṃ dhaṃmānusāsanaṃ
(H) dhaṃma-calane pi cā no hoti asilasā
(I) se im[a]s[ā a]thasā v[a]dhi ahini cā sādhu
(J) etāye [a]thāye iyaṃ likhite 13 imas[ā] a[tha]s[ā] vadhi yujaṃtu hini c[ā] mā alocayisu
(K) duv[ā]ḍas[a]-vas[ā]bhisitenā Dev[ā]naṃp[i]yen[ā] Piyadaśinā lājinā lekhitā
(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 Śramaṇas and Brāhmaṇas.
(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, 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 Priyadarśin, abstention from killing animals, abstention from hurting living beings, courtesy to relatives, courtesy to Brāhmaṇas and Śramaṇas, (and) obedience to mother and father.
(D) Both in this and in 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 ever 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 also 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 written, (viz. in order that) they should devote themselves to the promotion of this practice, and that they should not approve the neglect (of it).
(K) (This rescript) was caused to be written by king Devānāṁpriya Priyadarśin (when he had been) anointed twelve years.
