1837.] on the Columns of Delhi, Allahabad, Betiah, %c. 585 



Translation of the West inscription. 



Thus spake king Piyadasi, beloved of the gods. In the twenty- 

 seventh year of my anointment, I have caused to be promul- 

 gated the following religious edict. My devotees, in very many 

 hundred thousand souls, having (now) attained unto knowledge ; 

 I have ordained (the following) fines and punishments for their 

 transgressions. Wherever devotees shall abide around, (or circum- 

 ambulate) the holy fig-tree for the performance of pious duties, the 

 benefit and pleasure of the country and its inhabitants shall be 

 (in making) offerings : and according to their generosity or otherwise 



Transcript of the Inscription on the West compartment. 

 Line, 



1 Devinampiya piyadasi Ldja hevam dhd. Saddavisati vasa 



2 abhisitename iyam dhammalipi likhdpitd. Lajakdme 1 



3 bahusu pdna sata sahasesujanasi dyatd 2, tesam ye abhihdreva 



4 dandeva atapatiya me kate 3. Kinti rajakd asvatha abhitd 4 



5 kammdni pavataye vu (ti) 5 : janasajanapadasd hitasukham upadahevu (ti) 6 



1- ^^3TT ^ ranjakdme my devotees or disciples ; from j^ to have the affec- 

 tions engaged by any object : — Had the d been long the preferable reading would 

 have been rdjakd, assemblies of princes or rulers, quasi courtiers or rulers. 



2 * "^inrirfHT *r?P3^i^r ST^T ^T?7?rT is tn e pandits reading, making rajakd 

 in the vocative — ' oh devotees who are come in many souls, in hundreds of 

 thousands of people :' — but in this reading janasi which is found alike in all the 

 texts must be placed in the 7th case plural, janesu. ^Tiff^ffcf "^^jm" jndaasm in 

 dyatvd (Pali janasi dyatd) * having come into this knowledge' is, I think, prefer- 

 able ; and is accordingly adopted. In Pali janasi and June are both used. 



3 - W ^ ^fa^TCFT ^TO" ^f?f TrrcT^ J? ST**! ' of them ' the following con- 

 fiscations (fines) or punishments for neglect of duty ' by me (are) made' (ordain- 

 ed). — Abhihbra, confiscation or seizing in presence of the owner. Atipdta, 

 transgression or omission of duty. 



4 * ^fl^TO ^ftfrp ' around the aswattha' holy fig-tree or (ficus religiosa), If 

 the i be long, the word would signify, ' without fear, fearless.' 



6- ^WWfTT ^T^^TR", ' circumambulations must be practised' — or efiijTft! 

 ' pious acts,' will be closer to the original. To the termination evu the other lats 

 add ti in this and the following instances. The former agrees with the vernacular 

 hove * let be,' the latter with the Sanskrit ^f^ffT ' * s to be.' The former is perhaps 

 derived from the Sanskrit future participlelar termination taviye or aviye. 



6 ' **T«i*ST *J*R"3^H f%rf^^f ^<T^J VRfa— ' of tne vil l a S e and itiS inhabitants 

 (including animals^ the benefit and pleasure, a small present or offerings (\*fir^J 

 a nazar), shall be.' 



