(A) 1 Devinaṃpriyo Piyadasi rājā ev[a]ṃ āha
(B) nāsti etārisaṃ dānaṃ yārisaṃ dhaṃma-dānaṃ dhaṃma-saṃstavo vā dhaṃma-saṃvibhāgo [vā] 2 dhaṃmasaṃbadho va
(C) 2 tata idaṃ bhavati dāsa-bhatakamhi samya-p[r]atipatā mātari pitara sādhu sus[r]uā mita-[sa]stuta-ñātikānaṃ bāmhaṇa-s[r]amaṇa[naṃ] sādhu dā[naṃ] 3 prāṇānaṃ anāraṃbho sādhu
(D) eta vatavyaṃ pitā va putrena va bhāt[ā] va mitasastut[a]-ñāt[i]k[e]na va āva paṭīvesiyehi ida sādhu ida ka[tav]ya[ṃ]
(E) so t[a]thā karu ilokacasa āradho hoti parata ca aṃnaṃtaṃ puiñaṃ bhavati tena dhaṃma-dānena
(A) King Devānāṁpriya Priyadarśin speaks thus.
(B) There is no such gift as the gift of morality, or acquaintance through morality, or the distribution of morality, or 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 Brāhmaṇas and Śramaṇas,(and) abstention from killing animals.12
(D) Concerning this a father, or a son, or a brother, or a friend, an acquaintance, or a relative, (or) even (mere) neighbours, ought to say : ‘This is meritorious. This, ought to be done.’
(E) If one is acting thus, the attainment of (happiness) in this world is (secured), and endless merit is produced in the other (world) by that gift of morality.
(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) 23 Devana[ṃ]priyo Priyadrasi raya evaṃ hahati
(B) nāsti ed[i]śaṃ danaṃ yadiśaṃ dhrama-dana dhrama-saṃstav[e] dh[r]amasaṃvibhago dh[r]amasaṃba[ṃ]dha
(C) tatra etaṃ dasa-bhaṭakanaṃ saṃmma-paṭipati mata-pituśu suśruśa mi[t]ra-saṃstuta-ñatikanaṃ śramaṇa-bramaṇana 24 dana praṇana anara[ṃ]bho
(D) etaṃ vatavo pituna pi putrena pi bhratuna pi [spa]mikena pi mitra-saṃstutana ava prativeśyena [i]ma[ṃ] sadhu imaṃ kaṭavo
(E) so tathā karata[ṃ] ialoka ca a[ra)dhetiparatra ca anataṃ puña prasavati 25 [te]na dhrama-danena
