(A) 1 Devānaṃpiyo Piyadasi r[ā]jā evam āha
(B) dbādasa-vāsābhisitena mayā idaṃ āñ[a]pitaṃ
(C) 2 sarvata vijite mama yutā ca rājūke ca prādesike ca paṃcasu paṃcasu vāsesu anusaṃ3y[ā]na[ṃ n]iyātu etāyeva athāya imāya dhaṃmānusasṭiya yathā añā 4 ya pi kaṃmāy[a]
(D) [s]ādhu matari ca pitari ca susrūsā mitra-saṃstuta-ñātīnaṃ bāmhaṇa 5 samaṇānaṃ sādh[u d]ānaṃ prāṇānaṁ sādhu anāraṃbho apa-vyayatā apa-bhāḍatā sādhu
(E) 6 parisā pi yute āñapayisati gaṇanāyaṃ hetuto ca vyaṃjanato ca
(A) King Devānāṃpriya Priyadarśin speaks thus.
(B) (When I had been) anointed twelve years, the following was ordered by me.
(C) Everywhere in my dominions the Yuktas, the Rājūka, and the Prādeśika shall set out on a complete tour (throughout their charges) every five years for this very purpose, (viz.) for the following instruction in morality as well as for other business.
(D) ‘Meritorious is obedience to mother and father. Liberality to friends, acquaintances, and relatives, to Brāhmaṇas and Śramaṇas is meritorious. Abstention from killing animals is meritorious. Moderation in expenditure (and) moderation in possessions are meritorious.’
(E) The council (of Mahāmātras) also shall order the Yuktas to register (these rules) both with (the addition of) reasons and according to the letter.