Ashoka the Great

And for the following purpose am I having this inscription written: in order that my sons and grandsons may not consider making new conquests; or, if they do conquer, that they may take pleasure in mercy and light punishments; and that they may regard the conquest by piety as the only true conquest.

This progress among the people through Dhamma has been done by two means, by Dhamma regulations and by persuasion. Of these, Dhamma regulation is of little effect, while persuasion has much more effect.

All men are my children. What I desire for my own children, and I desire their welfare and happiness both in this world and the next, that I desire for all men.

I have had banyan trees planted on the roads to give shade to man and beast; I have planted mango groves, and I have had wells dug and rest-houses built at intervals along the roads.

I have had this Dhamma edict written so that my sons and great-grandsons should not think of making new conquests.

The beloved of the gods speaks thus: This Dhamma edict was written twenty-six years after my coronation.

The beloved of the gods does not consider glory and fame to be of great account unless they are achieved through having my subjects respect Dhamma and practice Dhamma.

And for this purpose has this inscription of Dhamma been engraved: that my sons and grandsons may not consider it their duty to conquer a new conquest.

The beloved of the gods, king Piyadasi, honors both ascetics and the householders of all religions, and he honors them with gifts and honors of various kinds.

I consider the promotion of the people's welfare my highest duty, and its exercise is grounded in work and constant application.

For a long time in the past, for many hundreds of years, there had ever been increased killing of living beings, cruelty to living beings, disrespect to relatives, disrespect to Brahmans and ascetics.

This is good - but this I consider of very little consequence: the fact that the people practice Dhamma.

The beloved of the gods, king Piyadasi, desires that all religions should reside everywhere, for all of them desire self-control and purity of heart.

Everywhere in my dominion the Yuktas, the Rajjukas and the Pradesikas shall set out on tour every five years for this very purpose - to instruct people in Dhamma.

And whatever efforts I am making are 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 next world.

The beloved of the gods, king Piyadasi, speaks thus: I have had this Dhamma edict written that it may last long and that my descendants may act in conformity with it.

For this is my rule: government by the law, administration according to the law, gratification of my subjects under the law, and protection through the law.

The beloved of the gods, king Piyadasi, honors men of all religions with gifts and various forms of recognition.

This progress among the people through Dhamma has been done by two means, by Dhamma regulations and by persuasion.

I have had this inscription of Dhamma engraved that men may conform to it and that it may endure for a long time.