256 Inscription in the old character on the [March, 



passion may shine forth blended into one system, and be conspicuous in 

 undistinguishing charity ! Unto no one can be repentance and peace of 

 mind until he hath attained supreme knowledge, perfect faith which 

 surmounteth all obstacles, and perpetual assent. 



Eighth Tablet. 

 In ancient times, festivals for the amusement of sovereigns consisted 

 of gambling, hunting the deer (or antelope) and other exhilarating plea- 

 sures of the same nature. But the heaven-beloved king Pi y Adas I 

 having attained the tenth year of his anointment, for the happiness of 

 the wise by him hath a festival of religion (been substituted) :— and this 

 same consisteth in visits to brahmans and sramans, and in almsgiving, 

 and in visits to the reverend and aged; and the liberal distribution of 

 gold, the contemplation of the universe and its inhabitants, obeying the 

 precepts of religion, and setting religion before all other things, are the 

 expedients (he employs for amusement) and these will become an enjoy- 

 ment without alloy to the heaven-beloved king Piyadasi in another 

 existence. 



Chhando, ^^; opinion : ^Tjp, passion, taste. 



Ekadesam, of one country, or ^grr^jj of One kind, but such a word does not exist. 

 Vidala (Cuttack) fef^??T expanded— t&sule (Girnar) isdoubtful in the second syllable. 

 Katam natd,— ^fTTfeTI} supreme wisdom. 



Dadhabhuti, -^^f^ great, faith or devotion ; tdrini, ^jf^x^ that transports. 

 Niclui , fiffjT always — The Cuttack version omits the two foregoing qualifications, 

 and retains only bddham, ^j^f assent. 



Notes to the Eighth Tablet. 



Rdjdno vihdrayatd, the plural rdjdno seems liere to be joined by samas with 

 f^?K ^?T^T: although contrary I believe to rule, to express that such amusements 

 were common to all rajas :— the Cuttack text has the singular noun. 



Neyaka, I have translated gambling, from tjj^j waste, ssjpsj^ ; but perhaps it 

 should be adjectively applied as extravagant or destructive, to hunting. 



E/umagavyd, from^; a deer ? ^ji^j (properly ^st^j in the feminine, for th» 

 Cuttack text is right in using mag amy am in the neuter) the chase. 



Abhiramakdni, pleasureable : — also, abhiramani for ^jfVf^jaTPT * ahun punso, 

 ^Vf^"*? V^[\, the 5a should be carried on. 



Abhisito sanio, — in Sanskrit ^^ being : as the ablative absolute. 



Thairdnam vadhdnam, here we have the parallel to the Pali thero in Ijr^TTf a £ e( *« 



HirannapatividMno—^ffffgf^fj-^f' } repaying with interest. 



Dhamma paripuva, xfTKW^ placing before all else. 



Tadopaya, r^Tf]^ means, expedient for this. 



A'jhayorati, pleasure without fear, is replaced in the Cuttack text with abhirdme- 

 imply enjoyment. 



Bhdge arine, in another ^jjr ? fortune, or life. 



