"I have had this Dhamma edict written so that my sons and grandsons and great-grandsons may follow it and live according to it. And this is for the welfare and happiness of all people."

"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 Dhamma edict was written by me after I had been consecrated twenty-six years. I have caused this Dhamma edict to be inscribed for the following purpose: that it may endure for a long time, and th…"

"For I consider that the greatest happiness is to lead people to the Dhamma."

"The Beloved of the Gods, King Piyadasi, speaks thus: The slaughter, death, and deportation of people is extremely painful to the Beloved of the Gods."