________________
16
MAURYA DYNASTY.
Edict XIII. .. must be given. All his (epics) men have been killed, which certainly is a very cruel act. But in the Ralingas obtained thereafter the practice of religious virtue has grown very active ... the killing, putting to death, or being carried away of men; therefore the ruling of the Vedas and the Angas is good. God. ... reverence to mother and father, sympathy for friends, acquaintances, assistants, men of the same caste, servants... that one of a caste should suffer some misery is on account of the fault of others, and they should therefore help hin and bear a share in his misfortunc;... wbere men have no faith in one or other persuasion, and so long as they remain in doubt . .. nor which is possible; in the dominion of Devânâmpriya all forests are is little trespassed upon as possible and are thus protected.... the preservation, self control and pacification of all beings. ... tending and gentleness ... the Yavan king and the four Yavan kings and Turmaya (Ptolemy), Antakâna (Antigonas) and Maga (Magas). thus in all foreign countries and everywhere is the religious injunction of Devânâmpriya followed, where even . iii glory and glory of virtue are also similar ; no joy exceeds the joy consequent on the victory of righteousness. ... believes nothing to be conqucred, for conquest and renown are ever within reach... in this world and the next .... thc worship of the Sweta,* the securing of the happiness of all.
Edict XIV. King Devinàmpriya Priyadaráin has caused this righteous edict to be written, here concisely, there in moderate compass, in a third place again at full length. Thus is everytlıing expressed cverywhere, known to the great. Much has he caused to be written and shall cause again to write. Repetitions occur also, in a certain measure on account of the agreeableness of various points, in order that the people should in that way be persuaded to understand and follow them. If sometimes the one or other is written incompletely or not in order, it is because care has not been taken to make a good transcript, or the copyist (i. e. the stonc-cngraver) is at fault.
Perhaps the Lord Buddha.
20
Ahol Shrutgyanam