Text 5
In 1214 saka, a year of the dragon [1292 A.D.], the Lord Ram
Khamhaeng, chief of the state of Sisachanalai and Sukhothai, who
had planted these sugar-palm trees fourteen years before, commanded
his craftsmen to carve a slab of stone and place it in the
midst of these sugar-palm trees. On the day of the new moon, the
eighth day of the waxing moon, the day of the full moon, and the
eighth day of the waning moon [one of] the monks, theras or mahatheras
goes up and sits on the stone slab to preach the dhamma to
the throng of lay-people who observe the precepts. When it is not
a day for preaching the dhamma, Lord Ram Khamhaeng, chief of
the state of Sisachanalai and Sukhothai, goes up, sits on the stone
slab, and lets the officials, lords and nobles discuss affairs of state
with him. On the day of the new moon and the day of the full
moon, when the white elephant named Ruchasi has been decked
out with howdah and tassled head cloth and with customary gold
on both tusks, Lord Ram Khamhaeng mounts him, rides away to
the forest monastery to pay homage to the leader of the Buddhist
order, and then returns. There is an inscription in the town of
Chaliang, erected beside the [monument] Sirattanathat; there is an
inscription in the cave called Phraram Cave, which is located onAppendix 3: Translation 101
the bank of the river Somphai; and there is an inscription in the
Ratanathan cave. In this sugar-palm grove there are two pavilions,
one named San Phramat, one named Phutthasan. This slab of stone
is Manangsilabat. It is installed here for everyone to see.