i>88 Interpretation of the inscriptions [July, 



and punishments for the transgressions of my devotees appointed. 

 Much to be desired is such renown ! According to the measure of the 

 offence (the destruction of viyo or happiness ?) shall be the measure of 

 the punishment, but (the offender) shall not be put to death by me. 

 Banishment (shall be) the punishment of those malefactors deserving 

 of imprisonment and execution. Of those who commit murder on the 

 highroad (dacoits ?) even none whether of the poor or of the rich shall 

 be injured (tortured) on my three especial days (?). Those guilty of 



13 asvatha santam avimand kamdni pavatayevuti 17 : Etena me rajakdnan 



14 abhihdreva dandevd atapatiye kate 18. Ichhdtaviyehi esd k'iti 19 / 



15 viyohara samatdcha siya danda sumatdcha ; ava ite pichame avuti 20. 



16 Baydhana badhdna muhisdnam tirita dan$ana 21 ; pata vadhdnam tinne divas&ni me 



17 y&te 22 dinnendti kdvakdni nirlpayitahanti 23 ; jivitaye tdnam 24 



17. ^^TTp, ^"^fWff ^RW. 4 around the holy tree cheerful.' qf^r[ 

 srerJ^J ^f'rr, ' shall they be iu the performance of pious acts.' 



18. A new subject: ^Sf *T T^fT*Tf €mU *TT <^T *TT ^finO"^ 

 sjpyf;, ' in this (edict) confiscations (or fines) and punishments for the transgres- 

 sions (or non-fulfilment) of my devotees are appointed.' 



19. A curiously introduced parenthesis, •^f^rr^rrfe j^ <sf^ffl:, * much to be 

 desired is such glory !' 



20. feijr^, destroying viyo, happiness or ' well' (as we say ' let well alone') 



^jTO rfj xf *jfn? ^7TO?fT "^ ' according as the measure of the offence 



may be so the measure of punishment,' — something is wanting to make the next 

 word intelligible avaite, &c. as if ^J^ TTT^lfa ^ $ ^*T?f=fT, ' but they shall not 

 be put to death by me.' 



21. -^a*«T ^fT^i ^"sP^T^f Irishes' •!■— ' of men deserving of imprisonment or 

 execution, pilgrimage (is) the punishment (awarded) ?' This, the only inter- 

 pretation consonant with the scrupulous care of life among the Buddhists, is 

 supported by the genitive case of rnunisdndm : — yet a closer adherence to the letter 

 of the text may be found in ^f^ff ^^if, « the adjudged punishment.' If by "^g, 

 pilgrimage, be intended, ' banishment,' there is no such disproportion being the 

 punishment awarded as might be at first supposed. It is in the eyes of natives 

 the heaviest infliction. 



22. The general meaning of this sentence can easily be gathered, but its 

 construction is in some parts doubtful, the words WTW ( or T^) ^TTTT 





