A copy of a patra from Devāna Vaṃdhu Rānā and Sardāra Pratimana Rānā to Maṃjita Rāī appointing him as subbā of Phedāp (VS 1837)
ID: E_3420_0008
Edited and
translated by Julia Shrestha
Created: 2024-08-15;
Last modified: 2024-10-31
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Abstract
This letter from Devāna Vaṃdhu Rānā and Sardāra Pratimana Rānā authorizes Maṃjita Rāī to serve as the subbā of Phedāp and outlines his jurisdiction and duties.
Diplomatic edition
[1r]
1(६)1श्रीदुर्गासहाय1स्वस्तिश्रीदेवानवंधुरानाश्रीसर्दारप्रतिमनरानाकस्यपत्रम्2आगेसोभाराईकोनातिअतराईकोछोरोमंजितराईके
3वतन्फेदापहिजोमकवानिकासमयमहाँफेदापअम्वलगरि
4षायाभित्रकोरहतावहतागौवधपंचषट्वाहिकअरूमोदो
5अपुतालीचोरीजारिकोषत्पत्समेतआफ्नाअम्वलभित्रको
6सुवागरिदिञ्यूरूपिञा६०सालवसालसर्कारकोसिर्तो
7दाषिलगर्नुकाजपुग्यापछिमोहरगरिदिउँलाआफ्नाषातिर्ज्मा
8समंभोग्यगरिनून्कोसोझोभैलायाकोटहलरूजुगर
9सर्वथाइतिसम्वत्१८३७आश्विनवदि४रोजशुभम्
Translation
[1r]
(6)1
[May] glorious Durgā help [us].
Hail! [This is] a letter from venerable DevānaVaṃdhu Rānā and venerable SardāraPratimana Rānā.
Āge: To Sombhā Rāī's grandson and Ata Rāī's son, Maṃjita Rāī.
We hereby make [you] subbā of Phedāp (text: Phedāpa), [your] place of origin (vatan), which was brought under a greater Phedāp administrative district (ambala) during the time of the Makwani Sen kings, [and] with the exception of abandoned or unclaimed property (rahatā-vahatā), the killing of cows (text: gauvadha for govadha) and the five heinous crimes (pañcakhata), [give you jurisdiction over] other escheatable property (moro-aputālī) [and] punishment for theft and illicit sexual conduct2 within your district. Submit 60 rupees as the annual government tribute (sirto). After [that] task is fulfilled, we will issue a mohara [to you].3 Enjoy the [fruits of your office], be true to [your] salt (i.e. loyal), and do the work entrusted to [you, remaining] present under all circumstances.
[Mon]day, the 4th of the dark fortnight of Āśvina in the [Vikrama era] year of 1837 (1780 CE).4 Auspiciousness.
Commentary
The present document is a copy of a very early source detailing the duties of a subbā following the Gorkhali conquests of far-eastern Nepal (Pallo Kirāta). In addition to outlining the subbā's authority over land and jurisdiction within his territory, it also stipulates that the subbā was not to judge certain offences, which were instead to be adjudicated in the district state courts (adālata) (cf. Sagant 2008: 436; for a detailed discussion of the Limbu subbā's power, see ibid. Chapter 5). Document E_3420_0007 in the present corpus shows that Maṃjita Rāī also received a nagarā kettledrum, an emblem of his office which he later passed on to his son Mukunda Siṃ Rāī.