2$2 Inscription in old character on the [Marc**, 



Translation of the Fifth Tablet. 



Thus spake the heaven-beloved king Piyadasi : — 



" Prosperity (cometh) through adversity, and truly each man (to ob- 

 tain) prosperity causeth himself present difficulty — therefore by me 

 (nevertheless) has much prosperity been brought about and therefore 

 shall my sons, and my grandsons and my latest posterity, as long as the 

 very hills endure, pursue the same conduct ; and so shall each meet 

 his reward ! — While he, on the other hand, who shall neglect such 

 conduct, — shall meet his punishment in the midst of the wicked [in the 

 nethermost regions of hell.] 



" For a very long period of time there have been no ministers of religi- 

 on properly so called. By myself, then, in this tenth year of mine 

 anointment, are ministers of religion appointed*: who, intermingling 

 among all unbelievers (may overwhelm them) with the inundation of 

 religion, and with the abundance of the sacred doctrines. Through 

 Kamfbocha, ganj dhdra, nardstika, PeteniJca, and elsewhere finding 

 their way unto the uttermost limits of the barbarian countries, for the be- 

 nefit and pleasure of (all classes) ... and for restraining the passions of 

 the faithful, and for the regeneration of those bound in the fetters (of 



sin?) are they appointed. Intermingling equally among the 



dreaded, and among the respected — both in Pdtaliputa and in foreign 

 places, teaching better things shall they everywhere penetrate ; so that 

 they even who (oppose the faith shall at length become) ministers of it." 



Notes to the Fifth Tablet. 



The opening sentence in this tablet has evidently a close relation with that on the 

 pillars beginning with the 17th line of the north side at Delhi, and as it presents no 

 small difficulty to the translator, it may be as well to insert here the pillar version 

 for comparison with the other two. 



Kaydnameva dekhati iyam me kaydne kateti: nominct pdpakam dekhati, iyam me 

 p&paka kateti. 



The Girnar reading of kaldnam confirms my pandit's assumption that kaydnam 

 should be rendered by the Sanskrit kalydnam, happiness, prosperity, rather than by 

 kshaya, kshayini, waste prodigality, as adopted by the Hon'ble Mr. Turnour, 

 which would I imagine form khaya, khayini in P&li, and indeed we have this very 

 word in another part of the inscription. The word naturally contrasting with 

 kalyanam is duhkh (^:*sf) affliction, or dushkaram (<r:5^*) evil, trouble, wicked: 

 this latter might be softened in Pali to dukham, or dukam, as we find in the two 

 texts. We must not confound it with the second word dekhati of the pillars which 

 is the verb drishyati "^l^ffr ' appears.' But in the pillars the contrast is made by 

 pdpam, or pdpakam* wickedness.' Were the two new texts complete we might easily 

 explain them, at present we can only conjecture. Thus the pandit gives it in Sanskrit: 



mmw "%*%*.rn ^rre^ ^<3jtw ^ "^?< ^tTf?r TOjror "*re smsw^RTT: 



* The Cuttack version differs so much in the latter part of this edict that a 

 separate translation is necessary from the point here marked. 



