The Antiquities of Orissa v2.c16.s3.t1.5

v2.c16.s3.t1.5

Edict No. V :—“The beloved of the gods king Priyadasi thus proclaims: whoever perverts good to evil will derive evil from good, therefore much good has been done by me, and my sons, and grandsons, and others (will) conform to it for every age. So they who shall imitate them shall enjoy happiness, and those who cause the path to be abandoned shall suffer misfortune. The chief ministers of morality have for an unprecedently long time been tolerant of iniquity, therefore in the tenth year of the inauguration have ministers of morality been made, who are appointed for the purpose of presiding over morals among persons of all the religions for the sake of the augmentation of virtue, and for the happiness of the virtuous among the people of Kamboja, Gandhara, Naristaka, and Pitenika. They shall also be spread among the warriors, the Brahmans, the mendicants, the destitute, and others without any obstruction, for the happiness of the well-disposed in order to loosen the bonds of those who are bound, and liberate those who are confined, through the means of holy wisdom disseminated by [ 50 ] pious teachers, and they will proceed to the outer cities and fastnesses of my brother and sister, and wherever are any other of my kindred: and the ministers of morals, those who are appointed as superintendents of morals, shall, wherever the moral law is established, give encouragement to the charitable and those addicted to virtue. With this intent this edict is written, and let my people obey it.”