(A) 1 [Devāna]ṃ[pi]y[asa vaca]nena Tosaliyaṃ ma[hā]mata [naga]la[v]i[yo]hālak[ā] 2 [va]taviya
(B) [aṃ kichi dakha]mi hakam taṃ ichāmi k[i]ṃ[t]i kaṃ[mana pa]ṭi[pāda y]ehaṃ 3 duvālate ca ālabheham
(C) esa ca me mokhya-mata duva[la etasi aṭha]si aṃ tuph[esu] 4 anusathi
(D) tuphe hi bahūsu pāna-sahasesuṃ ā[yata] p[a]na[yaṃ ga]ch[e]ma su munisānam
(E) save 5 munise pajā mama
(F) ath[ā] pajāye ichāmi h[a]ka[m kiṃti sa]ve[na hi]ta-sukhena hidalo[kika]6palalokike[na] y[ūjev]ū [t]i [tathā .... muni]sesu pi [i]chāmi [ha]ka[ṃ]
(G) no ca pāpunātha āv[a]-ga-7[m]u[k]e [iyaṃ aṭhe]
(H) [k]e[cha] v[a] eka-puli[se] .... nāti e[ta]ṃ se pi desaṃ no savaṃ
(I) de[kha]t[a hi t]u[phe] etaṃ 8 suvi[hi]tā pi
(J) [n]itiyaṃ eka-pulise [pi athi] y[e] baṃdhanaṃ vā p[a]likilesaṃ vā papunati
(K) tata hoti 9 akasmā tena badhana[ṃ]tik[a] aṃne ca ...... hu jane da[v]iye dukhīyati
(L) tata ichitaviye 10 tuphehi kiṃti m[a]jhath paṭipādayema ti
(M) imeh[i] cu [jāteh]i no saṃpaṭipajati isāya āsulopena 11 ni[ṭhū]liyena tūlanā[ya] anāvūtiya ālasiyena k[i]lamathena
(N) se ichitaviye kitiṃ ete 12 [jātā no] huvevu ma[m]ā ti
(O) etasa ca sava[sa] mūle anāsulope a[tū]l[a]nā ca
(P) niti[ya]ṃ e kilaṃte siyā 13 [na] te uga[cha] saṃcalitaviy[e] tu va[ṭ]ita[v]iy[e] etaviye vā
(Q) hevaṃmeva e da[kheya] t[u]phāk[a] tena vataviye 14 ānaṃne dekhata hevaṃ ca hev[a]ṃ ca [D]evānaṃpiyasa anusathi
(R) se mah[a-pha]le [e] t[a]sa [saṃpa]tipada 15 mahā-apāye asaṃpaṭipati
(S) [vi]pat[i]pādayamīne hi etaṃ nathi svagasa [ā]l[a]dhi no lāj[ā]la[dh]i
(T) 16 duā[ha]le hi i[ma]sa kaṃm[asa] m[e] kute man[o]-atileke
(U) sa[ṃ]paṭipajam[ī]n[e] cu [etaṃ] svaga[ṃ] 17 ālādha[yi]sa[tha mama ca ā]naniyaṃ ehatha
(V) 18 iyaṃ ca l[i]p[i] t[i]sana[kha]tena so[ta]viy[ā]
(W) aṃta[l]ā [p]i ca [t]ī[s]e[na kha]nasi kha[nas]i ekena pi sotaviya
(X) hevaṃ ca kalaṃtaṃ tuphe 19 caghatha saṃpa[ṭi]pād[a]y[i]tave
(Y) [e]t[a]ye athāye 13 iya[ṃ l]i[p]i likhit[a h]ida ena 20 nagala-vi[y]o[hā]lakā sas[v]ataṃ samayaṃ yūjevū t[i] ...... [na]sa akasmā [pa]libodhe va 21 (a) k(a) smā paliki[l]e[s]e va no siya ti
(Z) etāye ca aṭhāye haka[ṃ] .... mate p[a]ṃcasu paṃcasu [va]se22su [n]i[khā]may[i]sāmi e akhakhase a[caṃ]ḍ[e] s[a]khinālaṃbhe hosati etaṃ aṭhaṃ jānitu . . . . . . [ta]thā 23 kala[ṃ]ti atha mama anusathī ti
(AA) Ujenite pi cu kumāle etāye v[a] aṭhāye [ni]khāma[yisa] . . . . . . 24 hedisameva vagaṃ no ca atikāmayisati tiṃni vasāni
(BB) hemeva T[a]kha[s]ilāte pi
(CC) [a]dā ...... 25 te mahāmātā nikhamisaṃti anusayānaṃ tadā ahāpayitu atane kaṃmaṃ etaṃ pi jānisaṃti 26 taṃ pi ta[th]ā kalaṃti lājine anusathī
(A) At the word of Devānāṁpriya, the Mahāmātras at Tosali, (who are) the judicial officers of the city, have to be told (thus).
(B) Whatever I recognize (to be right), that I strive to carry out by deeds, and to accomplish by (various) means.
(C) And this is considered by me the principal means for this object, viz. (to give) instruction to you.
(D) For you are occupied with many thousands of men, with the object of gaining the affection of men.
(E) All men are my children.
(F) As on behalf of (my own) children I desire that they may be provided with complete welfare and happiness in this world and in the other world, the same I desire also on behalf of [all]men.
(G) And you do not learn how far this (my) object reaches.
(H) Some single person only learns this, (and) even he (only) a portion, (but) not the whole.
(I) Now you must pay attention to this, although you are well provided for.
(J) It happens in the administration (of justice) that a single person suffers either imprisonment or harsh treatment.
(K) In this case (an order) cancelling the imprisonment is (obtained) by him accidentally, while [many] other people continue to suffer.
(L) In this case you must strive to deal (with all of them) impartially.
(M) But one fails to act (thus) on account of the following dispositions: envy, anger, cruelty, hurry, want of practice, laziness, (and) fatigue.
(N) (You) must strive for this, that these dispositions may not arise to you.
(O) And the root of all this is the absence of anger and the avoidance of hurry.
(P) He who is fatigued in the administration (of justice); will not rise; but one ought to move, to walk, and to advance.
(Q) He who will pay attention to this, must tell you: ‘See that (you) discharge the debt (which you owe to the king); such and such is the instruction of Devānāṁpriya.’
(R) The observance of this produces great fruit, (but its) non-observance (becomes) a great evil.
(S) For if one fails to observe this, there will be neither attainment of heaven nor satisfaction of the king.
(T) For how (could) my mind be pleased if one badly fulfils this duty?
(U) But if (you) observe this, you will attain heaven, and you will discharge the debt (which you owe) to me.
(V) And this edict must be listened to (by all on (every day of) the constellation Tishya.
(W) And it may be listened to even by a single (person) also on frequent (other) occasions between (the days of) Tishya.
(X) And if (you) act thus, you will be able to fulfil (this duty).
(Y) For the following purpose has this rescript been written here, (viz.) in order that the judicial officers of the city may strive at all times (for this), (that] neither undeserved fettering nor undeserved harsh treatment are happening to [men].
(Z) And for the following purpose I shall send out every five years [a Mahāmātra] who will be neither harsh nor fierce, (but) of gentle actions, (viz. in order to ascertain) whether (the judicial officers), paying attention to this object, ..... are acting thus, as my instruction (implies).
(AA) But from Ujjayinī also the prince (governor) will send out for the same purpose ….. a person of the same description, and he will not allow (more than) three years to pass (without such a deputation).
(BB) In the same way (an officer will be deputed) from Takshaśilā also.
(CC) When ..... these Mahāmātras will set out on tour, then, without neglecting their own duties, they will ascertain this as well, (viz.) whether (the]udicial officers) are carrying out this also thus, as the instruction of the king (implies).
(A) Devānāṁpriya speaks thus. (B) The Mahāmātras at Samāpa, (who are) the judicial officers of the city, have to be told this.
(C) Whatever I recognize (to be right), that I strive to carry out by deeds, and to accomplish by (various) means.
(D) And this is considered by me the principal means, viz. (to give) instruction to you.
(E) For you are occupied with many thousands of men, with the object of gaining the affection of men.
(F) All men are my children.
(G) As on behalf of (my own) children I desire that they may be provided by me with complete welfare and happiness in this world and in the other world, even so is my desire on behalf of all men. .
(H) But you do not learn this, (viz.) how far this (my) object reaches.
(I) Some single person (only) learns (this), (and) even he (only) a portion, (but) not the whole.
(J) Now you must also pay attention (to this), although you are in prosperous circumstances.
(K) It happens frequently that a single person undergoes imprisonment and suffers harsh treatment.
(L) In this case (an order) cancelling the imprisonment is (obtained) by him accidentally, while many other people (continue to) suffer.
(M) In this case you must strive to deal (with all of them) impartially.
(N) One fails to act (thus) on account of the following dispositions: envy, anger, cruelty, hurry, want of practice, laziness, (and) fatigue.
(O) (You) must strive for this, that these dispositions may not arise in you.
(P) But the root of all is this: the absence of anger and the avoidance of hurry.
(Q) Whoever is fatigued in the administration {of]ustice), will [not] move and rise; but one ought to move, to walk, and to advance in the administration (of justice).
(R) He who will pay attention to this, must exhort (you) to discharge (your) debt (to the king), (by telling you) : ‘Such and such is the instruction of Devānāṁpriya.’
(S) If one observes - this, great gain results, (but its) non-observance becomes a great evil.
(T) If one fails to observe (this), (there will be) neither attainment of heaven nor satisfaction of the king.
(U) How (could) my mind be pleased if one fulfils this duty badly?
(V) If (you) observe this, you will discharge the debt (which you owe) to me, and you will attain heaven.
(W) And this rescript must be listened to (by all) on every (day of) Tishya.
(X) It may be listened to even by a single (person) also on (other) occasions between (the days of Tishya).
(Y) . . . . . . . . . . you will be able to . . . . . . . . . .
(Z) And for the following purpose has this rescript been written, (viz.) in order that the Mahāmātras (who are) city-judges may strive at all times for this, that to men [undeserved imprisonment or harsh treatment] ..........
(AA) ......... I shall send out every five years on a complete tour (throughout his charge) a Mahāmātra who is neither fierce nor harsh ..........
(BB) .......... also the prince (governor) [will send out] . . . . . . . . . .
(CC) .......... from [Takshasi]la.
(DD) When, at the word [of the king], they will set out on tour, (then), [without neglecting] their own duties, {they will ascertain 3 whether the]udicial officers) are carrying out this also just, as ..........
