An order from Commander-in-Chief Vīra Śamaśera directing Thāpāthalī Guṭhī Bandobasta Aḍḍā to exempt fines and to settle the dues of Vīrarājanārāyaṇa Guṭhī as per the gift deed (VS 1947)
ID: K_0307_0012
Edited and
translated by Nirajan Kafle and Rajan Khatiwoda
Created: 2025-05-02;
Last modified: 2025-12-08
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Abstract
This executive order by Commander-in-Chief Vīra Śamśera grants the Vīrarājanārāyaṇa Guṭhī exemption from fines for delayed accounts caused by office changes, directing that the final accounts (jamākharcā) be accepted and an acquittance (phārakha) issued.Diplomatic edition
[1r]
1श्रीवीरराजनारायण2१1⟪२४⟫1⟪23⟫1[Unknown seal] 1[Unknown seal] 1[Unknown seal] 1थापाथलीगुठीवन्दोवस्तवहिवुझ्नेअड्डाकाहाकिम्कारिंदा
2लेपुर्जिहेरीपाकसालाक्षत्रमास्थापनागरिवक्स्याका¯ ¯१¯
3कागुठीकोदानपत्रवमोजीम्आम्दानीषर्चभयाकोनारानहि
4टिवहिवुझनेअड्डाषारेजहुदाकैलेनगदीतहवील्मावुझा
5उनुकैलेकुमारिचोकमावुझाउनुभंन्याभैवुझाउनालाइवुझी
6नलिदारवुझाउनालाईठेकाननहुदातेसैरह्याकोहोहाल
7वहिवुझनेअड्डामावुझाउनजादालगत्मासहिछापगर्याकोछ
8कीछैनसहिछापनगर्याकोभयासोलगत्मासहिछापनगर्या
9कोमारम्यादभित्रज्माषर्चनबुझायाकोमाजरिवानालाग्छ
10किजरिवानामाफिकोसनदगराइल्याउकिजरिवानाकोरुपै
11य़ाल्याउभनीपक्रीरहेछप्रभुम्यादम्यादमातयारगरीबुझा
12उनेठाउकोठेकानानभैरह्याकोमासोजरिवानालाग्नुपर्ने
13होइनमाफीगरिवक्स्यादानपत्रवमोजीमज्माषर्चवुझाइ
14फारकलिदाहुंभनीपाकसालाकाडिठ्ठाजुजुवीरराइटर
15विष्णुदासलेहाम्राहजुरमाविन्तिपर्दाजाहेरभयोतसर्थ
16हाल्४४सालआषाडवदि५रोजकादिनहामिवाटस्थापनागरिवक्स्या
17काहुनालेसावीकछैनबुझाउनेठाउकोठेकानानभैरह्याका
18 हुनालेजरीवानामाफगरीवक्स्याकोछधीरनारानगुठीकारीतवमोजीमस्याहा
19रपोट्चाहींदैनदानपत्रवमोजीमज्माषर्चवुझीलीजाचीफारकगरिदि
20न्याकामगरइतिसम्वत१९४७सालमितिजेष्ठसुदि८रोज३शुभ्म्¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯
21¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯
Translation
[1r]
Glorious Vīrarājanārāyaṇa ---1
241
23
[Three unknown seals]
We came to know (jāhera hunu) [about the matter under discussion] through a petition submitted by Ḍiṭṭhā Jujuvīra and Rāiṭara (writer) Viṣṇudāsa of the Pākasālā, stating: “The Hākima and kārindās of the Thāpāthalī Guṭhī Bandobasta Aḍḍā, who are responsible for accounting, issued an order, in accordance with the earlier purjī (order), instructing us to submit the accounts (āmdānī kharca) of the Vīrarājanārāyaṇa Guṭhī, established in the premises of the Pākasālā, as per the dānapatra (gift deed). However, since the Nārāyaṇahiti office responsible for accounting had already been abolished, the Thāpāthalī Guṭhī Bandobasta Aḍḍā at one time ordered submission of accounts to the Nagadī Tahabīla Aḍḍā, and at another time to Kumārī coka. Following these instructions, although we attempted to submit the accounts, they were either not accepted or there was no fixed office for submission. Therefore, the accounts have remained pending. Recently, when we went to the revenue office to submit the accounts, we were asked: ‘Is the ledger (lagata) containing this account signed and stamped? If not, you will be fined both for the absence of signature and stamp, and [also] for failing to submit the jamākharca (final accounts) within the deadline. You must either present a sanada (decree) granting exemption from the fine, or else pay the fine.’ In this way the office has caused us difficulties (pakrinu). O Lord! Since the location for submitting accounts by the due deadline has not been fixed, fines should not be imposed. Therefore, if you would kindly grant exemption from the fine, we would, in accordance with the dānapatra, submit the jamākharca and receive a phārakha (acquittance).”
Accordingly, since [the above-mentioned Vīrarājanārāyaṇa] Guṭhī was [newly] established by us on the 5th of the bright fortnight of Āṣāḍha in [the Vikrama era] year [19]44 (i.e. 1887 CE), no intact record (hālasāvīka) exists, and since the location for submission has not been fixed, we hereby exempt the fine. As per the customs of the Dhāiranārāyaṇa Guṭhī, a syāhā-report is not required. Therefore, accept the final accounts (jamākharcā) in accordance with the dānapatra, inspect them, and issue a phārakha (acquittance).
[Written on] Tuesday, the 8th of the bright fortnight of Jyeṣṭha, Vikrama era 1947 (i.e., 1890 CE).
Auspiciousness.
Commentary
The document highlights the administrative complexities of managing the guṭhī of Śrī Vīrarājanārāyaṇa, established in the Pākasālā premises (see below). Conflicting orders on where to submit accounts—sometimes to the Nagadī Tahabīla Aḍḍā, other times to Kumārīcoka—created delays and confusion, especially after the abolition of the Nārāyaṇahiti Guṭhī office. The Tinadhārā Sanskrit Chātrāvāsa (Tindhara Sanskrit Hostel), more commonly known as Tinadhārā Pākasālā, was founded during the Rāṇā period to promote traditional education. Commissioned by Dhīra Samśera and expanded under Vīra Samśera, it combined a Sanskrit Pāṭhaśālā (school) with a hostel for initiated male students. Situated on the western side of Rānī Pokharī in Kathmandu, the complex also provided accommodations for travelers, reflecting the dual role of such foundations as educational and social institutions. Alongside other initiatives such as the Thapathali Durbar School, Tinadhārā Pākasālā marked the institutionalization of Sanskrit learning within a state-controlled environment (see Kafle and Khatiwoda 2025 for an overview of education in Nepal before the advent of formal schooling).
Over time, the Chātrāvāsa became important not only as a center of Sanskrit scholarship but also as a site of intellectual ferment. By the early twentieth century, Rāṇā rulers such as Deva Samśera sought to broaden access to education, establishing new pāṭhaśālās across the Valley. While many of these schools declined, Tinadhārā Pakaśālā endured, admitting students from diverse backgrounds—though restricted to initiated (vratabandha) but unmarried Upādhyāya Brahmins. Its role as both hostel and school created a resident community of students whose concerns extended beyond the classroom.
This dual character became evident in 1947 CE (2004 VS), when students launched the Jayatu Saṃskṛtam (“Victory to Sanskrit”) Movement. Initially a call for curricular reform to include modern subjects such as history, geography, economics, and political science, it soon broadened into demands for democratic rights and welfare. From 1–15 June 1947, the agitation grew, becoming Nepal’s first organized student movement. Although the Rāṇā regime offered concessions, it ultimately cracked down, arresting and exiling student leaders.
Despite repression, the Jayatu Saṃskṛtam agitation had lasting consequences. Exiled activists connected with broader democratic networks, and the movement revealed the growing incompatibility between autocratic rule and the aspirations of educated youth. Events at Tinadhārā Pakaśālā thus transcended education, contributing to the opposition that culminated in the 1951 Revolution and the fall of the Rāṇā regime. Conceived as a hostel for traditional learning, Tinadhārā Chātrāvāsa evolved into a cradle of political transformation that helped usher in Nepal’s democratic era. For details on Tinadhārā, Sanskrit education, and the Jayatu Saṃskṛtam movement, see Panta 2025: 187–209.