Documenta Nepalica

Diplomatic edition

[1r-pt.1]

श्रीदुर्गाज्यू­श्रीमदतिप्रचण्डभुजदण्डेत्यादि­श्रीश्रीश्री­महाराज­जङ्गबहादुर­राणा­जी­सी.­बी.­प्राइम­मिनिष्टर­याण्ड­कम्याण्डर­इनचिफ­१­[royal seal]1स्वस्तिश्रीगिरिराजचक्रचूडामणिनरनारायणेत्यादिविविधविरुदावलीवि
2राजमानमानोन्नतश्रीमन्महारजधिराजश्रीश्रीश्रीमहाराजसुरेन्द्रविक्रमसाह
3वहादूरसम्सेरजङ्गदेवानां­सदा­समरविजयिनाम्­¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
4आगे­जिल्लै­महुत्तरि­वसहिया­मठका­महन्त­रुपलाल­दासके­•मेरा­गुरु­मोहन्‌दास
5ले­मलाई­महन्त्याञीको­तिलककंठि­भला­मिनिस­स्मेत्‌­राषी­दिजानुभयाको­हो­
6सो­महन्त्याञी­मैले­२०­सालमा­चलायाको­थिञा­२१­सालमा­अघि­भयाको­वेहोरा­
7दवाइ­महन्त्याञी­मलाई­दिजानुभयाको­हो­भनि­कासिदासले­झुटो­विन्ति­पा
8रि­रुक्का­दस्षत्‌­गराई­ल्याई­मेरो­महन्त्याञी­जान्या­होईन­भनी­वालादासले­वा
9दि­इजहार­दिय़ा­र­मेरा­गुरु­मोहनदासले­•मलाई­महन्त्याञी­दिदा­•मैले­रुपै
10य़ा­स्मेत्‌­राष्याको­थिञा­र­निज­गुरु­श्वर्गे­हुँदा­पनि­नीज­वालादास­स्मेत्‌­जना­•
11४­ले­महन्त्याञीको­कागज­मलाइ­लेषीदिंदा­मैले­नीज­गुरुको­काजक्रीया­स
12मेत्‌­गरि­महन्त्याञी­चलाइआयाकोमा­वालादासले­जवरदस्ति­गरि­महन्त्या
13ञी­चलाउदा­मैले­---१---­का­हजुरमा­विन्ती­पारि­भयाभरका­वेहोराको­
14रुक्का­दस्षत्‌­गराई­लग्याको­हो­•झुठो­विन्ती­पारि­लग्याको­होईन­भनि­जिल्लै­
15महुत्तरि­वसहीय़ाका­महन्त­कासिदासले­प्रतिवादी­इजहार­दियाका­मुद्दामा­
16इजहार­प्रमाण­अडाले­विचार­गर्याको­ऐन­सव़ालका­रुहले­•येस्­मुद्दामा­गुरु­
17मोहनदास­छँदै­जलेश्वर­भारि­कचहरिमा­अफीसर­पगरिहरु­राषी­•कासि
18दासलाइ­महन्त्याञी­तलाई­भय़ो­भन्दा­रुपैय़ा­स्मेत्‌­राषी­महन्त्याञी­पाय़ा
19का­हुं­ताहापछि­निज­मोहन्दास­षस्दा­•निज­वालादास्­•सुषरामदास्­•रामजिवन्­दा
20स्­•प्राणदास्­स्मेत्‌­वसि­•गोपाल­झा­१­रामवक्त­कोइर­१­भुवनमंडर­१­येति­जना­
21साछी­राषी­•अघी­गुरुले­पनी­•इनै­कासिदासलाइ­दियाको­हो­आज­पनी­हामी­
22४­भाइले­•इनै­कासिदासलाइ­महन्त्याञी­थामीदिनु­भन्न्या­मुद्दाको­२०­साल­
23माघ­शुदी­१४­रोजका­दीन­कागत­लेषीदीयाको­•कागज­नीज­वालादासले­कि
24र्त्या­भन्दा­•सोही­कागजमा­लेषीय़ाका­साछी­स्मेत्‌­रुक्का­दस्षत्‌­गरि­झिकाइ­•जे
25ठा ­सुषरामदास­र­•इनै­माथी­लेषीय़ाका­साछी­जना­३­ले­यो­कागज­कीर्त्या­होई
26न­•सद्दे­हो­•येस्मा­श्रेस्ताले­भाक्‌न­पर्या­भाक्‌छौं­भंन्या­मुद्दाको­वक्‌पत्र­लेषी
27दियापछि­अदालत­वन्दोवस्तका­५६­लंवरका­ऐन­मोतावीक­रोजरोज­हाजीर­भ
28

[1r-pt.2]

ये़नौ­र­•१५­दिनसम्म­गैर­पर्यौ­भन्या­•परिबन्धले­मेरो­जीत­हुन्या­भय़ा­पनी­•मेरो­
29हार­गरि­•मेरो­झगडीय़ाको­जीत­गरिदीनु­भंन्या­मुचुल्का­२३­साल­मार्ग­शुदी­
30१४ । १५­रोजका­दीन­लेषी­९­दीनसम्म­कचहरिमा­सामेल­भै­•१०­दीनदेषी­भा
31गी­गय़ाको­आजसम्म­कचहरिमा­सामेल­हुन­नआय़ापछी­•महन्त्याञी­का
32सिदासको­चेला­•रामदास्‌लाइ­दीनु­•आफुले­नपाउन्या­महन्त्याञी­•म­पाउन्या­
33हुँ­भनी­समाय़ा­वावत्‌­•वालादास­भाग्याको­हुनाले­•नीज­अदालत­वन्दोवस्तका­
34५६­लंवरका­ऐनले­जायेदात्‌­गर्नलाइ­•घरद्वार­केही­नहुँदा­•नीज­वाला
35दास्­फेला­पर्याका­दीन­•ज्मानवन्दी­लेषाई­गुठीका­३४­लंवरका­ऐनले­सो
36ही­मठ्का­जगाको­तलसीं­वोटी­कंपनी­रुपैय़ा­३०००­डंड­गरि­•तिर्या­रुपैया­ली­
37नतिर्या­कैद­गरि­•कैद­पुग्यापछी­छोडीदिनु­•महन्त्याञी­मठ्­जित्या­वावत्‌­•रा
38मदास्‌वाट­फुट्कर­गुठीको­जगाका­ऐनले­डंडको­चौथाइ­७५०­जिताउरि­ली­
39नीज­रामदास्‌लाइ­•जगाको­वहाली­चलाइ­दी­•जितापत्रको­रुक्का­दस्षत्‌­हुँदा­
40येस­मुद्दाको­जितापत्र­गर्दा­•तोक्‌मा­इजहारका­रुहले­तोक्­लेषीय़ो­तापनी­•
41रामदास्‌ले­आफ्‌ना­घरायेस्मा­मिल्या­माफीक्­•कागजपत्र­गरि­•राजीनामा­ले
42षी­दीँदा­•घरायस्मा­मील्या­वमोजीमको­वेहोरा­स्मेत्‌­हाली­•नीज­रुपलाल­
43दासका­नाउमा­रुक्का­दस्षत्‌को­जितापत्र­गरि­झगडा­छिनीदीन्या­ठहराइ­जंगी­
44अदालत्­१­लंवरका­डिट्ठा­छन्दलाल­बुर्लाकोटी­विचारि­कपील­मुनी­पाध्या
45ले­२३­साल­मीती­माघ­वदी­२­रोज­२­मा­•साधक्­कौसल्‌मा­जाहेर­गराउदा­
46कौसलवाट­जाँची­वुझी­•अडाले­ठहराइ­ल्याय़ा­वमोजीम्­मुनासिव­ठहरा
47इ­साधक्­हाल्दा­जाहेर­भय़ो­तसर्थ­•सो­साधक्‌मा­हुकुम्­मर्जीको­सदर­ग
48रिवक्स्या­वमोजीम्­•आफुले­नपाउन्या­जील्लै­महुत्तरि­वसहीयाको­महन्त्या
49ञी­मठ­म­पाउन्या­हुँ­भनी­वालादास्‌ले­इजहार­चह्राइ­महन्त­कासिदास्
50सँग­पुर्पक्षे­हुँदैमा­•निज­महन्त­मर्दा­•नीज­महन्तका­चेला­रामदासले­•र­नी
51ज­वालादासले­•अदालत­वन्दोवस्तका­५६­लंवर­ऐन­मोतावीक्­•रोजरो
52ज­हाजीर­भये़नौं­र­१५­दीनसम्म­गैर­पर्यौं­भन्या­•जीत­हुन्या­भय़ा­पनी­हार­ग
53रि­•झगडीय़ाको­जीत­गरिदीनु­भंन्या­मुचुल्का­लेषी­९­दीनसम्म­हाजीर­भै­•
54दसौं­दीनदेषी­भागी­जाँदा­•नीज­वालादास्‌लाइ­•गुठीका­३४­लंवरका­ऐ
55नले­•वालादास्­फेला­पर्याका­दीन­ज्मानवन्दी­लेषाइ­तल्‌सींवोटी­३­हजा
56र­डंड­गरि­•तिर्या­रुपैय़ा­ली­नतीर्या­कैद­गरि­कैद­पुग्यापछी­छाडी­दीन्या
57छन्­•महन्त्याञी­मठ्­जीत्या­वावत्‌­•फुट्कर­गुठी­जगाका­ऐनले­•रामदाससँग­
58जिताउरि­कम्पनी­रुपैय़ा­७५०­ली­•नीज­रामदासका­नाउमा­•जितापत्र­हुनुप
59र्न्या­हो­तापनी­•आफ्ना­ज्यूताभर­महन्त्याञी­चलाउनु­अरु­चेला­नतुल्याउ
60नु­•कारोवारि­मैले­हुनु­तिम्रा­सेषपछी­य़ो­महन्त्याञी­मैले­चलाउनु­भंन्या­
61वेहोराको­तिम्रा­गुरुभाइ­रामदास्‌ले­घरायेस्मा­राजीनामा­लेषी­•तिमीलाई­छा
62डीदीय़ाका­हुनाले­•सो­वमोजीम्­•तिम्रा­जिउताभर­नीज­मठ्को­महन्त्याञी­
63चलाइ­•रामदासलाइ­कारोवारि­तुल्याइ­चलाइ­•महन्त­मोहन्‌दास्‌ले­चर्चिआय़ाव
64मोजीम्­आफ्‌ना­षातीरजामासँग­•महन्त्याञी­जानी­•नीज­वसहीय़ा­मठ्
65को­चलन्­गर्नु­•अरु­चेला­नतुल्याउनु­•तिम्रा­सेषपछी­नीज­रामदासले­महन्त्या
66ञी­हुनु­भनी­जितापत्रको­रुक्का­दस्षत्‌­गरिवक्स्यौँ­भंन्या­वेहोराको­२३­सा
67ल­फागुन­वदी­१३­रोज­१­मा­•मेरा­नाउँमा­रुक्का­दस्षत्‌­भै­•महन्त्याञी­चलन्­
68गर्याको­हो­लालमोहर­भय़ाको­छैन­भनी­तीमीले­---१--­का­हजुरमा­विन्ती­
69गर्याको­वीस्तार­नीज­---१---­र­श्रीमद्राजकुमार­कुमारात्मज­श्रीकम्यान्ड
70र­इनचिफ्­जनरल­रणउद्दीप­सींह­कुव़र­राणावाट­हाम्रा­हजुरमा­विन्ती­पा
71र्दा­जाहेर­भय़ो­तसर्थ­•सो­जीतापत्र­वमोजीम्­•तिम्रा­ज्यूताभर­निज­मठ्को­महन्त्याञी­
72चलाइ­•रामदासलाइ­करोवारि­तुल्याइ­महन्त­मोहन्‌दास्‌ले­•चर्चीआय़ा­
73वमोजीम्­•नीज­वसहीय़ा­मठ्­अस्थानका­तालुक्‌को­जगा­भोगचलन्­गर्नु­
74अरु­चेला­नतुल्याउनु­•तिम्रा­सेषपछी­नीज­रामदासले­महन्त्याञी­हुनु­भनी­
75हामीवाट­पनी­तीमीलाई­नीज­वसहीय़ा­मठ्­अस्थानका­•महन्त्याञीको­ला
76लमोहर­गरिवक्स्यौं­•अस्थानमा­अघीदेषी­दरि­चलीआय़ा­वमोजीमका­
77नित्त्यनैमीत्त्यक­पर्वपर्वका­पुजा­र­धर्मसदावर्त­चलाइ­हाम्रो­जय़­मना
78ई­•आफ्‌ना­षातिरजामासँग­महन्त्याञी­जानी­भोग्य­गर­•इति­सम्वत्­१९­
79२७­साल­मीती­चैत्र­वदी­...­रोज­...­शुभम्­¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯

[1v]

1मार्फत्‌­श्री­३­माहाराज­जंगवाहादुर­राणा­•जिः­सिः­वि­प्राइम­मिनिष्टर­यान्ड­कम्याडर­इनचीफ्­
2हजूर्मा­कम्यांडर­इनचीफ्­जनरल­रण­उद्दीप­सिंह­राणाः­\

Translation

[1r-pt.1]

Venerable Durgā!

Thrice Venerable Mahārāja Jaṅga Bahādura Rāṇā G.C.B., Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief, [he who holds] a formidable club in the form of his arms 1

Hail! [A decree] of him who is shining with manifold rows of eulogy [such as] ‘The venerable crest-jewel of the multitude of mountain kings’ and Naranārāyaṇa (an epithet of Kṛṣṇa) etc., high in honour, the venerable supreme king of great kings, the thrice venerable great king, Surendra Vikrama Sāha, the brave swordsman, the divine king always triumphant in war.

To Mahanta Rupalāladāsa, head of Vasahiyā monastery in Mahuttari District

Bālādāsa filed a lawsuit, stating: “My teacher Mohanadāsa conferred upon me the office of mahanta, placing as he did a mahanta’s tilak and kaṇṭhī [on me] and noble men (i.e. the monks) [under me]. I ran [the monastery] as its head till the year [VS 19]20. In the year [VS 19]21 Kāsidāsa made false petition, suppressing previous details and had a rukkā issued that stated: ‘[Mohanadāsa] granted [the office] of mahanta to me’. [Thus] my [claim to] the office of mahanta is not to be dismissed.”

Kāsidāsa, head of Vasahīyā monastery in Mahuttari District, filed a lawsuit as a respondent, as follows: “When my teacher Mohanadāsa granted me the office of head of the monastery, I even gave the money [that is the customary gift]. After my teacher died, four of my teacher’s disciples including Bālādāsa signed a document giving their consent to grant me the office of head of the monastery, but when I [started] occupying the office of head of the monastery, including performing the funerary rites of my teacher, Bālādāsa forcibly seized my office. Therefore, I made petition to ---1--- with all the details and had a rukkā issued, and I did not make petition under false pretences. Regarding the lawsuit [filed by me] as a respondent, it was determined by the Jaleśvara court, after calling officers and [other] authorities (pagari) as witnesses, that when the teacher Mohanadāsa was still alive the office of head of the monastery had been granted to me. I obtained the office of head of the monastery, giving the money [that is the customary gift]. Thereafter, when [my] teacher Mohanadāsa died, Bālādāsa, Sukharāmadāsa, Rāmajīvanadāsa and Prāṇadāsa signed a document [drawn up by the court] regarding my lawsuit on the 14th of the bright fortnight of Māgha in the year [VS 19]20 [and] witnessed by Gopāla Jhā, Rāmavakta Koi and Bhuvana Maṃḍara, stating: “The office of head of the monastery was earlier granted to Kāsidāsa by our teacher; thus today, too, we four agree to grant it to Kāsidāsa.” [However], Bālādāsa claimed that the mentioned document [presented by Kāsidāsa] was forged. When the witnesses to the above document were brought [to court] after a rukkā was issued [summoning them], Sukharāmadāsa (the eldest disciple [of Mohanadāsa]) and the three above-mentioned witnesses gave a written statement to the effect that the document was not forged but is genuine, and that if necessary they were ready to swear solemnly [to that effect]. Thus the court made the following decision in that lawsuit: “Bālādasa agreed to follow [a provision of] the Ain, writing a statement on the 14th and 15th of the bright fortnight of Mārga in the year [VS 19]23 year, as follows:

[1r-pt.2]

‘If we are unable to present ourselves in court on a daily basis and are [still] absent up to the 15th day, then in accordance with section 56 ‘On Court Procedures’, the court shall deem the party opposing me the winner of the lawsuit and me the loser, even if there is the possibility that I would have won the case.’ He presented himself in court for the first 9 days. From the 10th day he remained absent and has never come back to court. Therefore, the office of head of the monastery shall be granted to Rāmadāsa, a disciple of [the late] Kāsidāsa. Since Bālādāsa has no house or property to confiscate in accordance with section 56 ‘On Court Procedures’ for having falsely claimed the office of head of the monastery, he shall be made to write a confession of guilt (jabānabandī) and fined 3,000 Company rupees in accordance with section 34 ‘On Gūṭhī Endowments’ when he is found. If the fine is not paid, he shall be imprisoned. After his prison term is over, he shall be set free. [One] shall take 750 Company rupees, one fourth of the fine, as the victor’s fee, from Rāmadāsa in accordance with miscellaneous articles on the law relating to ‘Guṭhī Land’.”

Rāmadāsa was granted the land and a rukkā certifying his victory was issued to him, but he signed on household paper his resignation from the office of head of the monastery and made an agreement with Rūpalāladāsa, giving this office to the latter. Therefore, Ḍiṭṭhā Chandalāla Burlākoṭī and Vicārī Kapīla Munī Pādhyā of Army Court No. 1 came to the decision that it would be appropriate to dissolve the lawsuit by issuing a rukkā under the name of Rupalāladāsa to certify his victory. They forwarded the decision to the Council on Monday, the 2nd of the dark fortnight of Māgha in the year [VS 19]23.

The Council investigated, deemed the decision of the lower court appropriate and forwarded it [higher up] for review. The Council’s decision was endorsed. When the court proceedings were going on regarding the lawsuit filed by Bālādāsa against Kāsidāsa in order to obtain the office of head of Vasahiyā monastery in Mahuttari District, which Bāladāsa would [in the end] not obtain, the head of the monastery, Kāsidāsa, died. Rāmadāsa (a disciple of Kāsidāsa) and Bālādāsa signed a document in accordance with section 56 on ‘Court Procedures’ stating that in the case where [either of the two] did not present himself in the court on a daily basis and remained absent for 15 days, the one who was absent would concede defeat and acknowledge the other as victor in the case, even if he [himself] had been likely to win the case. After that agreement, Bālādāsa presented himself in the court for the first 9 days. On the 10th day he fled. Therefore, Bālādāsa shall be fined 3,000 Company rupees in accordance with section 34 on ‘Guṭhī Endowments’ when found. If he does not pay that fine, he shall be imprisoned; when the prison term is over, he shall be set free. Rāmadāsa shall be made to pay 750 company rupees as a victor’s fee in accordance with the miscellaneous Ain on ‘Guṭhī Land’. Thereupon a favourable written judgement is to be issued under Rāmadāsa's name. Your (i.e., Rūpalāladāsa's) classmate (gurubhāi) Rāmadāsa signed a waiver stating: “You (i.e., Rūpalāladāsa) shall occupy the office of head of the monastery as long as you live, but you shall not have any disciple, while I shall manage [the monastery’s] secular affairs. I (i.e., Rāmadāsa) will assume the office of head of the monastery after your death.”

It came to be known to us through ---1--- (i.e., Prime Minister Jaṅga Bahādura Rāṇā) and the venerable Commander-in-Chief General Raṇa Uddīpa Siṃha, a prince born of a prince, that you made a petition stating: “A rukkā but not a lālamohara was issued under my name on Sunday, the 13th dark fortnight of Phāguna in the year [VS 19]23 stating: ‘You (i.e., Rūpalāladāsa) shall make Rāmadāsa the [executive] manager of the monastery and enjoy the office of head of it as Mohanadāsa did. You shall not have any disciple. Rāmadāsa shall be the head of the monastery after your death’.”

Therefore we, too, hereby issue a lālamohara to you regarding the office of head of Vasahīyā monastery, [with the following details]: “In accordance with the details written down in the favourable judgement, you (i.e., Rūpalāladāsa) shall make Rāmadāsa the [executive] manager of the monastery and enjoy the office of head of it as long as you live, as Mohanadāsa did. You shall also enjoy the detached land possessed by Vasahīyā monastery, but you shall not have any disciple. Rāmadāsa shall be head of the monastery after your death. You shall continue on with the daily and casual worship, rituals, festivals and dharmasadāvartta as they have been fixed and passed down by tradition. Celebrate our victories and enjoy the office of head the monastery.

On (...), the (...) dark fortnight of Caitra in the year [VS 19]27. Auspiciousness.

[1v]

Forwarded by Commander-in-Chief General Raṇa Uddīpa Siṃha Rāṇā to the Thrice Venerable Great King, Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief Jaṅga Bahādura Rāṇā G.C.B.