Documenta Nepalica

Diplomatic edition

[1r]

1⟪नं­४६७­⟫

1॥स्वस्ति­श्रीगिरिराजेत्यादिश्रीमन्महाराजाधिराजकुमारकुमारात्म
2जश्रीश्रीश्रीमच्चौतरियाफ़तेजंगशाहजीकयोग्येषु­।इतः­बाला
3शंकरका­सहस्त्रशुभाशिषपूर्वक­बिन्तीपत्रम्‌­।अत्र­कुशलं­।तत्र­
4श्रीमतां­कुशलं­वान्छामि­।उप्रांत­।साहेब­मेरे­।आषाढ­सुदी­६­
5रोज­[...]मे­लिषी­अर्जी­बन्देकी­।हजू़र­के­मुलाहेजे़­मे­गुज़री­होगी­।
6बाद­मुलाहेजा़­कर्ने­अर्जी़­के­।बन्दा­हजू़र­के­धर्मद्वार­से­क्रिपापू
7र्वक­।परवरशनामे­का­उम्मैदवार­है­।क्रिपा­कर्के­अर्जी़­मेरी­
8¯ ¯१¯ केचरणे­मे­चढाय­दीजेगा­।ज्य़ादा­अरज़­ये­है­के­तीन­
9बरस­के­अर्से­से­।¯ ¯१¯ मे।मेरे­हाल­की­शुनवाई­नहीँ­होता­है­।
10माफि़क­दस्तूर­के­।मेरी­अर्जी़­का­पहोँचनामा­।अष़बार­की­रसी
11द­।तलब­तनष़ाह­का­रुपया­।¯ ¯१¯ से।मेरे­हालपर­नहीँ­इना
12यत­होता­है­।बिच­इस­सूरत­के­।मेरा­गुज़ारा­किस­तौर­से­होवेगा­
13और­हुर्मत­मेरी­किस­तौर­से­रहेगी­।बन्दा­नाम­मात्र­से­।¯ ¯१¯
14नेपाल­का­।मुलाजि़म­है­।और­सूरत­मेरी­ये­है­के­।घर­मे­रोटी­
15षाने­को­नहीँ­है­।कपडा­लगावने­को­नहीँ­है­।घर­का­माल­अस
16बाब­।बेच­बेचकर­।अपना­गुज़ारा­।कर्त्ता­हूँ­।और­¯ ¯१¯ केहुकुम­
17की­बजा­आवरी­कर्ता­हूँ­।सिवाय­इस्के­।तीन­बरस­के­अर्से­मे­।
18अपनी­औक़ात­से­ज्य़ादा­करज़दार­होगया­हूँ­।अब­हजूर­जैसे­
19ष़ाविँद­और­मुरब्बी­को­छोडकर­।और­किनकी­षि़दमत­मे­अर
20ज़­करूँ­।अब­उम्मैदवार­हूँ­के­।हजूर­भी­।गुर्बा­परवरी­की­।
21नज़र­से­।मेरे­हाल­को­मुलाहेज़ा­कर्के­।रुपया­मेरी­तलब­।
22तनष़ाह­का­।माफि़क­हिसाब­के­।¯ ¯१¯ सेनिकासा­कर्के­।मेरे­हा
23लपर­इनायत­कीजे­।थोडी­बिन्ती­को­बहोत­कर­मंजूर­कीजे
24गा­।और­जोकार­षि़दमत­।मेरे­लायक­।हजू़र­से­हुकुम­मर्जी­
25होवे­।सो­माफि़क­बन्दा­बजालावे­।ज्य़ादा­क्या­बिन्ती­करूँ­।
26हजू़र­सर्वज्ञ­हैँ­।जान­अजान­कुसूर­माफ़­होवे­।सं­१८९९­
27श्रावण­वदी­८­रोज­७­मुकाम­दिल्ली­।शुभम्‌­।शुभम्‌­।शुभम्‌­
28अर्जी़­बालाशंकर­ब्राह्मण­की­।

Translation

[1r]

Śrī 5 Sarkāra (i. e. His Majesty King Rājendra)1

No. 467 2

Hail! This letter (arjī) from here by Bālāśaṃkara, imbued with a thousand auspicious blessings, is [addressed] to the thrice-venerable CautarīyāPhate Jaṅga Śāha,3 born to a prince—the prince [who shines with manifold rows of eulogy, such as ‘The venerable crest-jewel of] the multitude of mountain kings’ [and ‘Naranārāyaṇa’ (an epithet of Viṣṇu), high in honour], the venerable supreme king of great kings.

Tidings here are fine; I wish Your Excellency well-being there.

Uprānta: O my Sāheba! The letter written by your devotee on [...] day, the 6th of the bright fortnight of Āṣāḍa might have reached you for your consideration.

After [Your Excellency] reviews my letter, this devout fellow [hopes to be] a candidate for support from Your Gate of Dharma (i.e. Your Excellency’s Palace). I request you kindly submit this letter of mine to the feet of -1- (i.e. His Majesty, Śrī 5 Sarkāra). The additional request is that for three years, my current situation has not been heard by -1- (i.e. His Majesty, Śrī 5 Sarkāra). As per customs and practices, the acknowledgement of my letter[s], receipts of the [submitted] newspapers, and the salary amount have not been graciously granted to me (mere hālapara) by -1- (His Majesty, Śrī 5 Sarkāra). In this situation, how will I manage to make [my] living? And how will my dignity be maintained? This devotee is merely a servant (mulājima) of -1-'s (i.e. His Majesty, Śrī 5 Sarkāra's) Nepal, in name. My situation (surata) is such that there is no bread to eat at home, no clothes to wear. I am surviving by selling the belongings and valuables of my household. And [still] I carry out (bajā āvarī) the orders of -1- (His Majesty, Śrī 5 Sarkāra). Despite this, in the span of three years, I have become indebted beyond my limits. Now, apart from Your [Excellency], such a master (ṣāvĩda) and kind patron (murabbī), whom else should I present my plea to?

Now, I hope that Your [Excellency], with a compassionate (gurvā paravarī kī) gaze toward the poor, will kindly consider my situation and [arrange] the release (nikāsā) of the amount of my salary in accordance with proper calculations, from -1- (His Majesty, Śrī 5 Sarkāra), and graciously grant favour upon my condition.

Kindly accept this small request with great generosity. Further, [when] orders [regarding] some service worthy of me come from -1- [His Majesty, Śrī 5 Sarkāra], may your devotee duly discharge them. What more can I request? Your Excellency is all-knowing (sarvarjña).

May my wrongdoings be forgiven, whether done knowingly or unknowingly. On Saturday, the 8th day of the dark fortnight of Śrāvaṇa, in the [Vikrama era] year 1899 (1842 CE). From Delhi. Auspiciousness! Auspiciousness! Auspiciousness!

This letter is from Brāhmaṇa Bālāśaṃkara.

Glossary

Bibliography