(A) 17 Dev[ā]naṃpi[y]e Piyadas[i] lājā hevaṃ āhā
(B) atikamtaṃ aṃtalaṃ no huta-puluv[e] sav[a]ṃ kalaṃ aṭha-k[aṃ]me [v]ā [paṭ]i[veda]nā vā
(C) s[e] ma[may]ā hevaṃ kaṭe
(D) s[a]vaṃ kalaṃ adamanas[a] me 18 olodhanasi gabhāgālas[i] va[cas]i vin[itasi u]y[anasi sava]t[ā paṭive]dakā aṭha[ṃ] janasā .... vedetu [m]e
(E) sa[va]tā [c]ā ja[nas]ā aṭhaṃ kachāmi hakaṃ
(F) yam pi c[ā k]i[chi m]u[kha]t[e ānapayā]mi [ha]kaṃ dā[pakaṃ] v[ā sāvakaṃ] vā ye vā puna mahāmat[e]hi 19 a[tiyāyike ālopite h]o[t]i tā[yeṭh]ā[ye] vivāde n[i]jhati v[ā] saṃtaṃ palis[ā]ye anaṃ[ta]l[i]yenā paṭ[i] ...... viye me sav[a]t[ā] savaṃ kālaṃ
(G) hevaṃ ānapayite m[a]mayā
(H) nathi hi me dose uṭhān[a]sā aṭha-saṃtil[a]nāye cā
(I) kaṭ[a]viya-mute hi me s[a]va-loka-hi[te]
(J) t[asa c]ā [p]u[n]ā es[e] mule uṭh[ane] 20 [a]ṭha-saṃtilanā cā
(K) [na]thi hi kaṃ[ma]talā sava-lo[ka]hitenā
(L) yaṃ ca kichi 5 palakamāmi hakaṃ kiti bhutānaṃ [a]naniyaṃ ye[haṃ hi]da ca [kā]ni sukhāyāmi palata cā svagaṃ ālādhayitu
(M) s[e] etā[y]ethāye iyaṃ dhama-lipi lekhitā cila-ṭhitikyā hotu tathā ca me puta-dāle palakamātu sava-loka-hitā[ye]
(N) 21 dukale c[u] iyaṃ anat[ā] agenā palakam[e]nā
(A) King Devānāṁpriya Priyadarśin speaks thus.
(B) In times past neither the disposal of affairs nor the submission of reports at any time did exist before.
(C) But I have made the following (arrangement).
(D) Reporters have to report to me the affairs of the people at any time (and) anywhere, while I am eating, in the harem, in the inner apartment, at the cowpen, in the palanquin, (and) in the park.
(E) And everywhere I shall dispose of the affairs of the people.
(F) And also, if in the council (of Mahāmātras) a dispute arises, or an amendment is moved, in connexion with any donation or proclamation which I am ordering verbally, or (in connexion with) an emergent matter which has been delegated to the Mahāmātras, it must be reported to me immediately, anywhere, (and) at any time.
(G) Thus I have ordered.
(H) For I am never content in exerting myself and in dispatching business.
(I) For I consider it my duty (to promote) the welfare of all men.
(J) But the root of that (is) this, (viz.) exertion and the dispatch of business.
(K) For no duty is more important than (promoting) the welfare of all men.
(L) And whatever effort I am making, (is made) in order that I may discharge the
(M) Now, for the following purpose has this rescript on morality been caused written, (viz. that) it may be of long duration, and (that) my sons and wives display the same zeal for the welfare of all men.
(N) But it is difficult to accomplish this without great zeal.
