All through the night they keep lamps burning, have skilful music, and present offerings.

This is the practice in all the other kingdoms as well.

The Heads of the Vaisya families in them establish in the cities houses for dispensing charity and medicines.

All the poor and destitute in the country, orphans, widowers, and childless men, maimed people and cripples, and all who are diseased, go to those houses, and are provided with every kind of help, and doctors examine their diseases.

They get the food and medicines which their cases require, and are made to feel at ease; and when they are better, they go away of themselves.
When king Asoka destroyed the seven topes, (intending) to make eighty-four thousand,( 9) the first which he made was the great tope, more than three le to the south of this city.