(A) 1 D[e]vānaṃpriyo Piyadasi rājā evaṃ āha
(B) kalāṇaṃ dukaraṃ
(C) y[o ādikaro] kalāṇ[a]sa so dukaraṃ karoti
(D) 2 ta mayā bahu kalāṇaṃ kataṃ
(E) t[a] mama putā ca potā ca paraṃ ca tena y[a] me [a]pacaṃ āva saṃvaṭa-kapā anuvatisare tathā 3 so sukataṃ kāsati
(F) yo tu eta desaṃ pi hāpesati so [du]kataṃ kāsati
(G) sukaraṃ hi pāpa[ṃ]
(H) atikataṃ aṃtaraṃ 4 na bhūta-pruvaṃ dhaṃma-mahāmātā nāma
(I) ta m[a]yā traidasavāsābhi[s]i[tena] dhaṃm[a]mahāmātā katā
(J) te sava-pāsaṃḍesu vyāpatā dhāmadhisṭānāya 5 .......... [dha]ṃma-yutasa ca Yoṇa-K[a]ṃbo[ja]-Gaṃdhārānaṃ Risṭika-P[e]teṇikānaṃ ye vā pi a[ṃ]ñ[e ā]parātā
(K) bhatamayesu vā 6 .......... [su]khā[ya dhaṃma]-yutānaṃ apar[i]godhaya vyāpatā te
(L) ba[ṃ]dhana-badhasa paṭividhānāya 7 .......... [p]rajā katābhākāresu vā thairesu vā vyāpatā te
(M) Pāṭalipute ca bāhirasu ca 8 .......... [y]e vā pi me añe ñātikā sarvata vyāpatā te
(N) yo ayaṃ dhaṃmanisrito ti va 9 .......... [t]e [dha]ṃma-mahāmātā
(O) etāya athāya ayaṃ dhaṃma-lipī likhitā 10 ..........
(A) King Devānāṁpriya Priyadarśin speaks thus.
(B) It is difficult to perform virtuous deeds.
(C) He who starts performing virtuous deeds accomplishes something difficult.
(D) Now, by me many virtuous deeds have been performed.
(E) Therefore (among) my sons and grandsons, and (among) my descendants (who shall come) after them until the æon of destruction (of the world), those who will conform to this (duty) will perform good deeds.
(F) But he who will neglect even a portion of this (duty) will perform evil deeds.
(G) For sin is easily committed.
(H) In times past (officers) called Mahāmātras of morality (Dharma-mahāmātra) did not exist before.
(I) But Mahāmātras of morality were appointed by me (when I had been) anointed thirteen years.
(J) These are occupied with all sects in establishing morality ……… of those who are devoted to morality (even) among the Yoṇas, Kambojas, and Gandhāras, the Risṭikas and Peteṇikas, and whatever other western borderers (of mine there are).
(K) They are occupied with servants and masters ……… for the ……… happiness of those who are devoted to morality, (and) in freeing (them) from desire (for worldly life).
(L) They are occupied in supporting prisoners 6 (with money) ……… (if one has) children, or with those who are bewitched (i.e. incurably ill ?) or with the aged.
(M) They are occupied everywhere, both in Pāṭaliputra and in the outlying ……… and whatever other relatives of mine (there are).
(N) These Mahāmātras of morality ……… whether one is eager for morality ………
(O) For the following purpose has this rescript on morality been written ………
(A) 13 Devānaṃpiye Piyadasi lājā ahā
(B) kayāne dukale
(C) e ādikale kay[ā]nasā se dukalaṃ kaleti
(D) se mamayā bahu kayāne kaṭ[e]
(E) t[ā ma]m[ā putā] c[ā] nat[āle cā] 14 palaṃ [cā] tehi [ye] apatiye [m]e āva-kapaṃ tathā anuvaṭisa[ṃ]ti s[e] s[u]kataṃ kachaṃ[t]i
(F) e cu het[ā] desaṃ pi hāpa[y]i[sat]i s[e] dukaṭam kachati
(G) p[ā]pe hi nāmā supadālaye
(H) se atikamtam aṃtalam no huta-puluva dhaṃ[ma]-mahāmatā nāma
(I) t[e]dasa-vasābh[i]sitena mamayā dhaṃmamahāmāt[ā ka]ṭ[ā]
(J) [te] sav[a]-pāsam[ḍe]su viyā[pa]ṭā 15 dhaṃ[m]ādhithā[nāye c]ā dhaṃma-vaḍhiya hi[da]-sukhāye vā dhamm[a]-yutas[ā] Yona-Kaṃb[o]ja-Gaṃdhālānaṃ e vā [pi] aṃne apalaṃtā
(K) bhaṭamayesu baṃbhanibhesu anathesu [v]udhesu hida-sukhāye dhaṃma-yutāye apalibodhāye viyapaṭā te
(L) baṃdha[na-badha]sā paṭividhānāy[e] apalibodhāye mokh[ā]ye cā eyaṃ anubadh[ā] pajāva ti v[ā] 16 [kaṭābhikā]le ti vā m[ah]ā[la]ke ti v[ā] viy[ā]paṭā te
(M) hid[ā] bā[h]ilesu cā naga[l]esu s[a]ves[u olodha]n[esu] bhā[tina]ṃ ca ne bh[agi]ni[nā] e vā [pi] aṃn[e] nātikye savatā viyā[pa]ṭā
(N) e iyaṃ dhaṃma-nisite ti vā dāna-suyute ti [v]ā sav[a]tā v[i]jtas[i] mamā [dha]ṃma-yutasi viyāpaṭā te dhaṃmam[a]hām[a]ta
(0) etāye aṭhāye 17 [i]yaṃ dhaṃma-lipi lekhitā ci[la]-thitikyā hotu [tathā] ca me [pa]jā [a]nuva[ta]tu
(A) 11 Devanapriyo Priyadraśi raya eva[ṃ] hahati
(B) ka[la]na[ṃ] dukara[ṃ]
(C) [yo] a[dikaro kala]ṇasa so du[ka]raṃ karoti
(D) so maya bahu kalaṃ ki[ṭ]raṃ
(E) taṃ maa putra ca nataro ca para[ṃ] ca [tena y]e me apaca vrakśaṃti ava-kapaṃ tatha ye an[u]vaṭisaṃti te s[u]kiṭa[ṃ] kaśaṃti
(F) yo cu ato .. kaṃ pi hapeśadi so dukataṃ kaśati
(G) pāpaṃ h[i] sukaraṃ
(H) sa atikrataṃ atara no bhuta-pruva dhraṃma-ma[ha]ma[tra] nama
(I) so todaśa-vaśabhisitena 12 maya dhrama-mahamatra kiṭa
(J) te savra-praśarṃḍeś[u] vapaṭa dhraṃmadhithanaye ca dhrama-vaḍhiya hida-sukhaye ca dhrama-yutasa Yona-Kaṃboya-Gaṃdharanaṃ Raṭhikanaṃ Pitinikanaṃ ye va pi aparaṃta
(K) bhaṭamayeśu bramaṇibheśu anatheśu vuḍheśu [hita]sukhaye [dhraṃ]ma-yutasa apalig[o]dha vap[a]ṭa te
(L) 13 badhana-badhasa paṭividhanay[e] apalibodhaye mo[kśaye] ayi anuba .. prajava kiṭabhikaro va mahalake va viyapaṭa [t]e
(M) ia bhahireśu ca nagareśu savreśu orodhaneśu bhratuna ca me spasan ca ye va pi aṃñe ñatika savatra viyapuṭa
(N) y[e] ayaṃ dh[r]amaniśite ti va dhrama[dhitha]ne ti va dana-s[a]yute ti va savata vijite maa dhramayu[ta]si viyapaṭa te dhrama-mahamatra
(O) eta ye aṭhaye [a]yi dhrama-dipi nipista c[i]ra-thitika bhot[u] ta[tha] ca [m]e 18 p[r]aja anuvatatu
