The Antiquities of Orissa v2.c16.s3.t1.1

v2.c16.s3.t1.1

Edict, No. I :—“This is the edict of the beloved of the gods, Rājā Priyadasi ; the putting to death of animals is to be entirely discontinued, and no convivial meeting is to be held, for the beloved of the gods, the Rājā Priyadasi, remarks many faults [**47**] in such assemblies. There is but one assembly, indeed, which is approved of by the Rājā Priyadasi, the beloved of the gods, which is that of the great kitchen of Rājā Priyadasi, the beloved of the gods ; every day hundreds of thousands of animals have been slaughtered for virtuous purposes, but now although this pious edict is proclaimed that animals may be killed for good purposes, and such is the practice, yet as the practice is not determined, these presents are proclaimed that hereafter they shall not be killed.”