(A) 29 Devānaṃp[i]ye Piyadaśi [l]ājā hevaṃ hā
(B) nathi h[e]ḍiśe dāne adiśa dha[ṃ]ma-dāne | dhama-śav[i]bhage | dhaṃma-śaṃbadh[e] |
(C) ta[ta] eśe dāśa-bhaṭakaśi | śamyā-paṭipati mātā-pitiśu | śuśuśā | mita-śaṃthutanātikyānaṃ samanā-[ba]ṃbhanānā [da]ne 30 pānānaṃ anāl[aṃ]bhe
(D) eśe vatav[i]ye pi[t]inā pi pute[na] pi bha[t]inā pi ś[a]vām[i]kyena pi mita-śaṃthutānā avā p[a]ṭiveśiyen[ā] iy[a]ṃ śādhu iyaṃ kaṭaviye
(E) [ś]e tathā kala[ṃta] hidalokikiye ca kaṃ āladhe hoti palata c[ā] anata punā paśavati tenā dhaṃma-dānenā
(A) King Devānāṁpriya Priyadarśin speaks thus.
(B) There is no such gift as the gift of morality, the distribution of morality, (and) kinship through morality.
(C) Herein the following (are comprised), (viz.) proper courtesy to slaves and servants, obedience to mother and father, liberality to friends, acquaintances, and relatives, to Śramaṇas and Brāhmaṇas, (and) abstention from killing animals.
(D) Concerning this a father, or a son, or a brother, or a master, (or) a friend or an acquaintance, (or) even a (mere) neighbour, ought to say:–‘This is meritorious. This ought to be done’.
(E) If one is acting thus, (happiness) in this world is attained, and endless merit is produced in the other (world) by that gift of morality.
