78 Translation of an Inscription [No. 1, 



they hereafter be reborn as brothers, and may the sinful consequences 

 which have separated them, be exhausted, so that they will remain 

 together and united always, and that ultimate death shall take them 

 away simultaneously at one and the same day with their wives. 

 May there be no grief, no sorrow then, as now oppresses them, now 

 in the present existence, when the bones of mother and child are 

 buried under a Phra-Chedi, which is erected above them, as a meri- 

 torious work. May mother and child remain united in the next 

 existence. 



And furthermore, there is a person here, called Im, who has restored 

 a venerable Phra (idol), which had fallen in ruins, and lay there all 

 cut to pieces. It had broken its neck ; its hands and feet were lost. 

 He built it up anew, he mended it, he made it handsome and pretty. 

 It was covered with gold, it was surrounded by other Phra, 137 in 

 number. All these figures, great and small, were clothed in a twofold 

 set of garments ; they had their praises written upon them. And 

 after that, meritorious works were performed in the Phra-Chedi, 

 which also had been rebuilt and embellished. For five ordinations 

 the expenses were paid, and a Phra of gold was placed in remembrance. 

 A great deal of money has been expended, the monks have been 

 loaded with presents, a Vihan and a preaching-hall have been 

 adorned, a priest was helped on in his consecrations, a slave was 

 liberated, and all the other works of merits cannot be counted : they 

 are too numerous. How often alms have been given is beyond 

 recollection ; times innumerable presents were brought to the priests. 

 And these priests, after having received their presents, have vouchsafed 

 pardon for all faults committed, have promised indemnity from all 

 misfortunes. I pray to the Lord, that happiness may be in store for 

 me, and that in the coming existence I may enjoy my blissful state, 

 Avithout being pestered by people who are envious of it. May I go 

 through the future existences, free of calamities, full of wisdom and 

 knowledge. May no sickness befall me. May I happily live, joined 

 to my wife and my children, and attain a high and serene age, not 

 knowing mishaps. May the evil consequences of former sins not 

 reach me, may I never be oppressed by poverty. May I remain 

 liberated from hell for ever. May my thoughts, now small and narrow, 

 expand in the next existence, that I may understand the precepts 



