The inscription was discovered in ruins of an ancient monastery belonging to the Jētavanārāma group, north of the Kūṭṭam-pokuṇa in Anurādhapura. It consists of 14 lines of Sanskrit prose engraved on a granite slab. It seems to be the second portion of a text. The first part must have been written on another slab, which has not been found. The inscription records rules for the guidance of monks and laymen living in within the precincts of the vihāra or in its lands. No date is given in the inscription but, according to Wickremasinghe, it is probably from the first half of the 9th century A.D.
[Lines 1, 2] And a single śrāmṇēra shall be stationed in each of the three villages. There, the allowance of food for each person [shall be] doubled; [but] not that for robes: so likewise [shall it be] in regard to the two doing repairs at the Vihāra (monastery). Whatever place they are attached to, there they themselves shall allow no dilapidation.
[Lines 3–7] According to regulation, five [kinds of] cakes [or curries], half a prastha of coagulated milk [and] twenty portions (pālikā) of ghee [each] measuring a prastha [shall be allowed]. The three monks (bhikṣu) who live with two novices (śrāmṇēra) in Lahasikā monastery, having well looked after [the two villages] Lahasikā [and] Urulgōṇu and the villages set apart for the renewal of [monks’] robes, having caused the revenue of all these [villages] to be brought into the Vihāra established by the respective householders, and having at the end of [every] year, with the help of accountants and those engaged in work, shown to the monks authorised by the Church (Saṅgha) the whole income and expenditure, as well as the balance [in hand], [these three monks] shall live in this Vihāra at their will, together with virtuous attendants. [Lines 7–10] Whoever are dishonest in this place, shall restore whatever property [they have appropriated]. And the Saṅgha shall most surely receive it. In this manner, the monks living in Hunālā monastery [shall observe] exactly the same [rule] in [respect of the villages] Ambila-grāma, Hunālā and Ulavannarīkhaṇṭi-grāma. Exactly the same [shall be the practice] in the two [villages] Kirā and Pallāya. Likewise in Sunagrāma, the monks shall do exactly as aforeside. To those who do not do that, the above-mentioned culpability [shall attach]. And the matter shall be investigated by the Elders (Thēra) themselves who keep the register. [Lines 10–13] [This Vihāra shall, moreover, be] a dwelling-place for such only of those ordained at another Vihāra in this country as have given up the food and raiment of that Vihāra and do not attend to the monastic duties connected therewith; [and] not for others. To those who own even as much as a foot of the soil of this Island, neither food nor raiment [shall be allowed by the monastery]. [This Vihāra] shall not be inhabited by [any] one leading an improper life, or by one who (supports a woman). [The case is] otherwise in regard to [his] mother and father. [Lines 13–15] [This Vihāra] shall not be inhabited (by one who sends) betel-leaves and so forth to the royal household either for the sake of gain or out of regard, or by one who renders assistance to another monastery. It shall also not be inhabited by those who live . . . . . with monks who are not absolved from [the obligation of being under] the protection [of senior monks], or by such a giver of protection (niśraya) as does not remove the offence committed by those living with him under his tutelage, or by a pupil who commits an offence. [Lines 15–19] It shall not be inhabited by one who, after taking orders [somewhere else] and after throwing off the yellow robe in this country, has assumed it again, or by one who does . . . . . under the pretext of it being his own child : so much the less [this Vihāra shall be a dwelling-place of those engaged in] agriculture, commerce, and so forth. It shall not be inhabited by one who commits any offence against society or against the Buddhist religion, or by one who has been expelled from another monastery, or by one who does not take up work as it arises, or by one who brings about the destruction of offerings (or meritorious works). Even when the functions of the Order are stayed, a hindrance to offerings shall not be made. And he who receives a large (viaticum) shall not increase the [quantity of] rice and so forth [allowed to him].
[Lines 19–25] In the case of a quarrel also between one [monk] and another, the one who speaks unjustly shall not reside [in this monastery] . . . . . also shall not reside. Moreover [this Vihāra] shall not be inhabited (by those brothers), whether monks (bhikṣu) or novices (śrāmṇēra), whose relatives (live) in the villages and so forth belonging to this monastery. It shall not be inhabited also by those [superintendents of work?], whose sons and so forth are named by the astrologer after the householders of the villages and so forth belonging to their monastery or to the monastery here. If in any village they [i.e. the authorities] cause those [householders] who have undergone lawful punishment [for crimes] to return [to their homes], . . . . . neither the vārikās nor those engaged in work shall take possession from [these] householders of their fields, &c., except on account of a fresh offence of theirs. Thus the Order (Saṅgha) and the householders shall protect those living everywhere in [these] villages.
[Lines 25–30] [There shall be] clever stone-cutters and skilful carpenters in the village devoted to the work of [temple] renewal. They all . . . . . . . shall be experts in their [respective] work. To each of them shall be given a field of one and a half kiri [in sowing extent] for their maintenance . . . . . an enclosed piece of ground. And one hēna (or a plot of dry land) shall be granted to each of them for the purpose of sowing fine grain. Means of subsistence of the [same] extent [as is] given to one of these, shall be granted to the officer who superintends work. Moreover, when thus conferring maintenance on the latter person, his work and so forth shall [first] be ascertained, and the name of him [thus] settled [with a livelihood], as well as his respective duties, shall be recorded in the register. Those of the five castes who work within the precincts of the monastery shall receive [their] work after it has been apportioned; and they alone shall be answerable for its correctness. The limit [of time] for the completion of work is two months and fives days. [Lines 31–34] Blame [shall be attributed] to the superintendents, the vārikās and the labourers who do not perform it according to arrangement. Those who do not avoid blame, [and] do not do [the work] or cause it to be done [as arranged], shall be deprived of their share. Further, to the parivahaṇa who is efficient in the protection [of the monastery] both inside and outside, there shall be granted, free of dispute, a field of one kiri [in sowing extent], from each village separately. [This grant shall be made only] to the most efficient [parivahaṇa, and] not to another. [There shall reside] twenty-five monks from each of the four great fraternities (nikāyās), thus [making] one hundred residents [in all]. [Of these, there shall be] forty monks who are versed in the Śāstra. [They shall be] those who have received tutelage void of any sectarian difference . . . . [Lines 35–38] From amongst all these [monks], those whose conversation is coarse, who speak not the truth, and they also who commit wrong acts, shall not dwell [in this Vihāra]; much less monks who carry clubs or weapons [of any kind]. If there be a deficiency [in the number] of monks of any of the sects, this [deficiency] shall be made good by other sects with the sanction of the one [deficient]. From amongst the monks of that sect, . . . . . . . . . . . shall be expelled, and [in their stead] monks from other sects shall be appointed. Just the same sects . . . . . . shall not be done . . . The monks shall be informed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .