1837.] Inscriptions on the columns at Delhi, $c. 1063 



11 By me, who have attained the twenty-seventh year of my inauguration, 

 these animals have been forbid to be killed, — namely, parrots and mainas (gracula 

 religiosa) in the wilderness ; the brahmany duck (anas casaca) ; the goose (rather 

 the mythological and fabulous " hansa'') ; the nandimuka (supposed to be the 

 fabulous " kinnari") ; the golden maina (turdus salica,); the bat, the crane, the 

 blue pigeon, the gallinuli, the sankagamaw^, w£daw£yaka, the gangapuputhaka, 

 the sankagamaw£, the kadhathasayak&, the panaras^, the simar£, the sandik^, the 

 rokapada, the parasate\ the white dove, and the village dove, as well as all quad- 

 rupeds. These, let not the tribe of huntsmen eat. For the same reason, let not 

 8heepand goats which are fed with stored provender, be slaughtered by any one ; 

 and those who are accustomed to receive a portion of the meat (of animals killed) 

 should no longer enter into engagements to have them slaughtered on those 

 terms ; nor should ferocious animals either be destroyed ; neither in sporting or 

 in any other mode, nor even as a merriment, should they be killed : (on the 

 contrary) by one living creature* other living creatures should be cherished. 

 During (all) the three seasons of the year, on the full moon day of their (lunar 

 months) as well as on these three days, the fourteenth, the fifteenth, and the first 

 (of each moiety of the lunar months) (each of) these being days of religious 

 observance, not only the agonies of slaughtering, but selling also should not be 

 allowed. During these days, at least, on the mountain, in the wilderness, and 

 everywhere, even the multitudes of the various species of animals which may be 

 found disabled, should not be killed. During the three seasons, on the eighth, the 

 fourteenth and the fifteenth (of each moiety of the lunar month) being the holy 

 days devoted to deeds of piety, oxen, goats, sheep and pigs, which are ordinarily 

 kept confined, as also the other species which are not kept confined, should not 

 be restrained. Nor should it even be hinted, on the holydays of the four months 

 of each of the seasons, that the stalled oxen even should be kept confined. By 

 me, who have attained the twenty-seventh year of my inauguration, during the 

 course of that period, living creatures have been released from the twenty evils 

 (literally restraints) to which they were subjected." 



The Inscription fronting West. 

 The raja Pa'ndu, who is the delight of the d£wos, has thus said. 

 " Tins inscription on Dhanrno is recorded by me in the twenty-seventh year 

 of my inauguration. My public functionaries intermingle among many hundred 

 thousands of living creatures, as well as human beings. If any one of them, 

 should inflict injuries on the most alien of these beings, what advantage would 

 there be in this my edict ? (On the other hand) should these functionaries 

 follow a line of conduct tending to allay alarm, they would confer prosperity 

 and happiness on the people as well as on the country ; and by such a benevo- 

 lent procedure, they will acquire a knowledge of the condition both of the pros- 

 perous and of the wretched ; and will, at the same time, prove to the people 

 and the country that they have not departed from Dhanmo. Why should they 



» inflict an injury either on a countryman of their own or on an alien ? Should 

 my functionaries act tyrannically, my people, loudly lamenting, will be appealing 

 to me ; and will appear also to have become alienated, (from the effects of orders 

 enforced) by royal authority. Those ministers of mine, who proceed on circuit, 

 so far from inflicting oppressions, should henceforth cherish them, as the infant 

 in arms is cherished by the wet-nurse ; and those experienced circuit ministers, 

 6x2 



