(A) 7 atikrataṃ aṃtaraṃ bahuni vaśa-śatani vaṇhito vo praṇaraṃbho vihisa ca bhuta[na]ṃ ñatina asaṃpaṭipati śramaṇa-bramaṇana[ṃ] a[saṃ]paṭipati
(B) [so aja Devana]ṃpriyasa Priyadraśisa [raño] 8 dhrama-caraṇena bheri-ghośa aho dhrama-ghośa vimanana[ṃ] draśanaṃ [a]stina joti-kaṃdhani añani ca divani rupani draśayitu janasa
(C) yadiśaṃ bahuhi vaśa-śatehi na bhuta-pruve tadiśe aja vaṇhite Devanaṃpriyasa Priyadraśisa rāño dhraṃmanuśa[sti]ya anaraṃbho praṇa[naṃ] avihisa bhutanaṃ ñatina[ṃ] saṃpa[ti]pati [bra]maṇa9śramaṇana saṃpaṭipati mata-pituśu vuḍhana[ṃ] suśruśa
(D) e[ta] añaṃ ca bahuvidhaṃ dhrama-caraṇaṃ vaḍhitam
(E) vaḍhiśati ca yo Devanaṃpriyasa Priyadraśisa rāño dhrama-caraṇaṃ ima[ṃ]
(F) putra pi ca kaṃ nataro ca pranatika ca Devanaṃpriya[sa] Priyadraśisa raño pra[va]ḍh[e]saṃti [yo] dhrama-caraṇam ima[ṃ ava]-kapa dhrame śile ca 10 ṭithiti dhramaṃ anuśaśiśamti
(G) eta h[i s]reṭhaṃ k[r]ama(ṃ] yamdhraman[u]śaśana[ṃ]
(H) dhrama-caraṇa[ṃ] pi ca na bhoti aśilasa
(I) so imisa athrasa vaḍhi ahini ca sadhu
(J) etaye aṭhaye ima[ṃ] nipistaṃ imisa aṭhasa vaḍhi yujaṃtu hini ca ma lo[c]e[ś]u
(K) badaya-vaśabhisitena Devanaṃpriyena Priyadraśina raña ñanaṃ hi[da] nipesitam
(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 light, 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, obedience to mother and father, (and) to the aged.
(D) In this and many other ways is the practice of morality promoted.
(E) And this practice of morality will be ever promoted by king Devānāṁpriya Priyadarśin.
(F) And also 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) conception (jñāna) was caused to be written here by king Devānāṁpriya Priyadarśin (when he had been) anointed twelve years.
