|
EPIGRAPHIA INDICA
(VI) And, when I issue an order orally in connection with any donation or proclamation or
when an emergent work presses itself upon the Mahāmātras (and) in case there is, in connection
with that matter, a controversy among ( the Ministers of) the Council or an argumentation[1] (in
the Council in favour of a particular view), the fact must be reported to me immediately at any
place and at any time.
(VII) Thus have I ordered.
(VIII) I am never complacent in regard to (my) exertion and the dispatch of people’s business
(by me).
(IX) I consider it my (only) duty (to promote) the welfare of all men.
(X) But exertion and prompt dispatch of business (lie at) the root of that.
(XI) There is verily no duty which is more (important to me) than promoting the welfare of
all men.
(XII) And whatever effort I make is made in order that I may discharge the debt which I
owe to all living beings, that I may make them happy in this world, and that they may attain
heaven in the world.
(XIII) Therefore this record relating to Dharma has been caused to be written by me
(on stone) for the following (purpose, viz.) that it may last for a long time and that my sons and
grandsons may exert themselves for the welfare of all men.
(XIV) This, indeed, is difficult to accomplish without the utmost exertion.
Rock Edict XIV
[BOULDER A (EASTERN FACE─UPPER RIGHT CORNER)].
1 (I) iyaṁ dha[ṁ]ma-lipi Devānaṁpiyena Piyadasin[ā][2] lājinā
2 li[khā]pitā [|*] (II) athi yeva saṁ[khi]tena[3] athi majhimena athi vitha-
3 [ṭenā] [|*] (III) no hi savatā sa[ve] gha[ṭi]te cha [|*] (IV) mahalake hi vijite bahu cha
4 likhite likhāpayisami[4] ch=eva nikāyaṁ [|*] (V) athi chu heta [pu]na [pu]na la-
5 [pite tasa tasa] aṭhasa mādhuliyāye ena[5] [ja]te(ne) tathā
6 [paṭipajeyā] [|*] (VI) [se siya ata ki]chhi asamati likhite
7 desaṁ vā saṁ[khā][6] saṁkhāyāyā kālanaṁ va[7] ālochayitu
8 lipika[l-āpalā]dhena vā ti [|*]
TRANSLATION
(I) This record relating to Dharma has been caused to be written by king Priyadarśin,
Beloved of the Gods.
(II) (in the series of records) there are, for sooth, (texts written) in a concise form, or in a
medium form, or in an elaborate form.
____________________________________________________
[1] The word nijhati is derived from the verb nijhapayati meaning ‘ to convince ’. The verb is the same as
anunijhapayati in the passage anunayati anunijhapayati in Rock Edict XIII, lines 18-19 (XIII).
[2] According to Chakravarti, the letter looks like na on the rock.
[3] Chakravarti : sukhitena.
[4] Chakravarti : ºsāmi.
[5] Chakravarti : yena.
[6] These two aksharas are redundant.
[7] Chakravarti : vā
|
