Ashoka's First Rock Edict at Girnar

Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadasi,
has caused this Dhamma edict to be written.
Here no living beings are to be slaughtered or offered in sacrifice.
Nor should festivals be held, for Beloved-of-the-Gods,
King Piyadasi, sees much to object to in such festivals,
although there are some festivals that
Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadasi, does approve of.

Formerly, in the kitchen of Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadasi,
hundreds of thousands of animals
were killed every day to make curry.
But now with the writing of this Dhamma edict
only three creatures, two peacocks and a deer,
are killed, and the deer not always.
And in time, not even these three creatures will be killed.