Version with DOI and citation guidelines Editorial Principles

A letter from Dhīra Śamśera renewing the annual lokābhāra contract for contractors from Sāmā Gāũ (VS 1924)

ID: L_1200_0029


Edited and translated by Rajendra Shakya in collaboration with Pabitra Bajracharya and Nadine Plachta
Created: 2018-08-16; Last modified: 2023-01-24
For the metadata of the document, click here

Published by Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and Humanities: Documents on the History of Religion and Law of Pre-modern Nepal, Heidelberg, Germany, 2019. Published by the courtesy of the National Archives, Kathmandu. The copyright of the facsimile remains with the Nepal Rashtriya Abhilekhalaya (National Archives, Government of Nepal). All use of the digital facsimiles requires prior written permission by the copyright holder. See Terms of Use.
The accompanying edition, translation/synopsis and/or commentary are available under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License CCby-SA.

Abstract

This letter from Dhīra Śamśera formalizes the annual lokābhāra contract in the name of Nimā Taṃbe Ghyāpo from the Sāmā Gāũ sector of Ruībhoṭ and strictly orders that local products like wax and musk not be sold elsewhere, but deposited into his treasury as part of the lokābhāra payment.



Diplomatic edition

[1r]

1श्री­

1श्री­राज­
2१­

[Seal of Dhīra Śamśera]

1स्वस्ति­श्रीमद्राजकुमारकुमारात्मजपुर्वतर्फकाकम्यांडिङ्‌‌जनरलश्रीधीरसम्सेरजङ्‌गराणाकस्य­पत्र
2म्‌­¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯
3आगे­हाम्रा­जनरलि­षान्गीमा­दरियाको­अठार­सये­षोलामध्ये­सामा­गाउका­मुषिया­निमा­तंवे­
4घ्यापो­रैतान­गैह्रके­[...]१को­१९२५­साल­आश्विन­सुदि­१­रोज­देषि­सालवसाल­आफ्‌
5नाआफ्‌‌ना­गाउगाउमा­दरियाको­वाजवि­सेर्मा­स्याफल­सिर्ति­दरि­चलि­आयाको­रकमकल[...]­
6डडकुंड­मर्‍‍यो­अपुतालि­चाकचकुइ­अमालिले­षान्या­रकमकलम­मारिमेटि­शिवाये­¯ ¯१¯
7अंक­कल्ल्यानधन­धर्माधिकार­पंचषत­रहतावहता­वाहेक­ वाज्वी­मोरु­१८१­अस्मानि­थप­
8मोरु­ १६५||­ज्मा­वेमौजरै­मोहोर्रु­३४६||­र­दापचाको­नुन्‌‌­पाथि­|८|­स्मेत्‌‌­वर्ष­१­को­तिर्नु­ति[...]
9हरुले­आफ्ना­ गाउघरमा­मुषिया­मुषियाका­झगडा­पर्‍‍यो­भन्या­र­अरु­ठुला­ज्यू­जमिनका­कुरा­परिआयामा­मुषियाहरुका­ नाउमा­फिर्‍‍याद­पर्‍‍या
10मा­हेर्चाह­ गर्नालाई­द्वार्‍‍या­वक्स्या­हाम्रा­पट्टा­वेदर्ता­भयाका­रकमकलम­स्मेत­असुल्‌‌­तहसिल्‌‌­गर्नन्‌‌­भनि­तिमिहरुले­विंति­गर्‍‍या­मा[...]
11क­द्वार्‍‍या­पठाई­ वक्सौला­सो­ वमोजिम्‌‌­परि­आयाका­काम[...]­तिमिहरु­स्मेत्‌‌­सवै­सामेल्‌‌­भै­मद्दत­दिनु­फर्मायेसि­जिन्सी­मालहरु­[...]­

[1r-part2]


12हियामा­लेषिगया­मुताविक्‌‌­गाउका­दरभाउले­दिनु­भंन्या­गरि­लोकाभार­गरिवक्स्याको­छ­गाउघर­वसि­रस्ति­चलाई­वस्ति­वसाई­
13अवाद­ गुल्‌‌जार­गरि­रैति­राजि­राषि­जाञि­गर्नु­विजाञि­विदुत­नगर्नु­अंन्याय­गरि­रकमकलम­वढाई­दुख­नदिनु­डंडकुंड­गर्दा­मु
14षिया­गाउघर­सवै­वसि­षतमा­षत­अनुसार­अैन­वमोजिम्‌‌­गर्नु­अंन्यायमा­रकम्‌‌कलम­वढाइ­दुष­दि­लियो­भनी­कोहि­रैति­ कराउना­
15आयो­भन्या­जस्‌‌ले­अंन्याय­गर्‍याका­ठहर्ला­ उस्‌लाई­अैन­वमोजिम्‌‌­यतावाट­गयाका­द्वार्‍‍याले­सजाय­गर्ला­आफुआफुले­ठेक्‌‌­कवु
16लि­लियाको­दामकाम­र­दापचाको­नुन्‌‌­मुषिया­रयेतले­षसोषास्‌‌­उठाई­मुषिया­मार्फत­तपसिल्‌‌­वमोजिम्‌‌का­किस्ताकिस्तामा­
17हाम्रा­तहविल्‌‌मा­वुझाई­रसिद­लिनु­साल­तमाम­भयापछि­रसिद­कव़ज­ल्याई­वासिल­वाकि­वुझाई­फार्षति­लिजानु­किस्तामा­रुपै[...]­
18नवुझाई­फारक्‌‌­लिनु­सकेनौ­भन्या­किस्ता­षिलााफ्‌‌­सुत­स्मेत­र­दापचाको­नुन्‌‌का­असन्‌‌को­विक्रि­वुझाउनु­पर्ला­षत­अनुसार­आ[...]
19दानि­गर्‍‍याको­ज्मा­राषि­ज्माले­भर्ना­दिदा­नपुगन्या­भयामा­मुषिया­रैतान­सवैले­दामासाहिका­हिसापले­उठाई­सालवसाल­कवु
20ल­वमोजिम्‌‌­चुक्ति­गरी­वुझाउनु­हामिवाट­जिन्सी­माल्‌‌­फर्मायसि­भै­आयाको­माल्‌‌­चलान­गर्दा­अघि­चलि­आयाका­अडाअडावा
21ट­चलाईदिनु­सो­हामिसंग­दाषिल्‌‌­भयाका­जिन्सी­मालका­मोल्‌‌­मोजरा­पाउला­आफ्नाआफ्ना­गाउमा­भयाको­मैन­कस्तुरि­अने
22त्र­नवेचनु­जो­भयाको­ञाहा­दाषिल­गरी­मिन्हा­लिनु­ञाहा­दाषिल्‌‌­नगरि­अनेत्र­वेच्याको­ठहर्‍‍यो­भन्या­तिमिहरुले­अैन­वमोजि[...]­
23वुझाउनु­पर्ला­भनी­लोकाभारको­पट्टागरी­वक्स्यौं­आफ्ना­षातिरजमासंग­लोकाभार­जानि­वस्न्या­काम­गर­¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯
24किस्तावंदि­तपसिल्­

[table]

मोहुडा­किस्ता­माघ­मैन्हा­¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯
नगदि­मोहर्रु­रु­¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯१३७||­
नुन्‌‌­पानि­¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯|८|­
चुक्ती­किस्ता­आश्वीन­मैन्हामा­मोहर्रु­¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯२०९­

29ईति­सम्वत्‌‌­१९२४­साल्‌‌­मिति­चैत्र­सुदि­३­रोज­१­शुभ्म्­¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯

[Unknown Seal]

[Unknown Seal]

Translation

[1r]

Śrī

Śrī Rāja- 1

[Seal of Dhīra Śamśera]

Hail! A letter from Commanding General of the Eastern Front Dhīra Śamśera Jaṅga Rāṇā, a prince born of a prince

Āge: To Nimā Taṃbe Ghyāpo, the mukhiyā, and all of the ryots (raitāna) and so forth of the Sāmā Gāũ sector within the Aṭhāra Saya Kholā region, which has been registered as [my] khānagī of [my] generalship

We have formalized a lokābhāra [lease contract] under the following terms:

"Except for Śrī rāja-aṅka1 , kalyānadhana, dharmādhikārapañcakhata and arrearages (rahatā bahatā)2 , [all other liabilities] – the scheduled sermā, syāphala and sirto [revenue], [and also] registered customary taxes and levies, and daṇḍakuṇḍa, maryo aputālī, cākacakui, along with rakamakalama enjoyed by the amāli, [all of which] have been imposed on each individual locality of the aforementioned Sāmā Gāũ on a yearly basis, shall [now] receive a complete exemption from the first of the bright fortnight of Āśvina in the [Vikrama] era year 1925 (1868 CE) [onwards]. You shall [therefore] submit a total of 346 mohararupaiyā̃s and 2 sukās, which includes the scheduled [tax] of 181 mohararupaiyā̃s and an additional asmānī levy of 165 mohararupaiyā̃s and 2 sukās, along with 8 pāthīs of salt from Dāpcā for [a period of] one year.

"We shall send a dvāre in accordance with your request since you made a supplication to us with the following details:

'If you send a dvāre to look into and adjudicate (lit. take care of) disputes among mukhiyās that arise in our villages and households, and [also] cases concerning other serious issues regarding life and land along with cases involving lawsuits against mukhiyās, then he can also collect due amounts that were not included (lit. registered) in our paṭṭā.'

"Accordingly, all of you shall participate in and assist any work that needs to be carried out. When [there are orders] in writing for certain items, make the purchase at the current rate in the village and dispatch (lit. give) them.

“Inhabit the [surrounding] countryside and keep the ryots well disposed by overseeing affairs, founding settlements and making crops flourish (ābāda guljāra garī). Do not cause injury and oppression. Do not cause suffering by imposing excess levies. Sit together, [you] the mukhiyā and all [the people] from the individual localities, and rule on fines and penalties in accordance with the Ain, depending upon the crimes committed. If any ryot comes to complain that [they] have suffered due to imposition of excess levies, then the dvāre, who has gone [to your village] from here (i.e. the capital) shall punish, in accordance with the Ain, anyone who is proven to have caused injustice.

“The mukhiyās and ryots shall scrupulously collect [revenue] that each of you has promised to submit in accordance with the lease contract, [including] salt from Dāpcā; as mentioned in the details [below], each village's instalment is to be submitted by the mukhiyās to our treasury, and a receipt [for it] obtained. Once the [fiscal] year ends, bring [all] the receipts and kabacas, submit the ledger (vāsila bā̃kī) and leave only after obtaining a phārakhatī. If [any of you] is unable to obtain a phārakhatī due to the non-submission of an instalment, you will have to pay interest on the instalment as well, and the market rate of Asana 3 for the salt from Dāpcā.

“If, when [the contractual amount] is submitted, the combined revenue from fines imposed [on offenders] according to the faults [they] have committed represents a shortfall [in the total amount agreed to be paid in the contract], then everyone, the mukhiyā [and] ryots, must contribute proportionally [to make up for the shortfall] and pay [the amount due] according to the annual contract.

“When dispatching items required by us, do so from the government office (aḍḍā) that was previously used. The price of the items deposited into our [treasury] shall be deducted [from the contractual amount due]. Do not sell elsewhere the wax and musk available in your village. Deposit all available [wax and musk] here [into our treasury] and get the reduction. If they are proven to have been sold elsewhere instead of being delivered to our treasury, then you [all] shall have to pay in accordance with the Ain."

[Tend the land] with content, considering [it] as a lokābhāra [lease contract].

Tapasila of the instalments:

[table]

Muhuḍā4 instalment [for] the month of Māgha- - -
Mohararupaiyā̃s in cash137 mohararupaiyā̃s 2 sukās
Salt in pāthī8 pāthīs
Instalment to be cleared in the month of Āśvina209 mohararupaiyā̃s

Sunday, the 3rd of the bright fortnight of Caitra in the [Vikrama] era year 1924 (1868 CE). Auspiciousness.

[Two unknown seals]


Commentary

This is one in a series of documents that formalize the renewal of the annual lokābhāra contract. Another document (L_0923_0004), issued on the same day as this one, formalizes a similar annual lokābhāra contract for Chāvā Gāũ of Ruibhoṭa within the Aṭhāra Saya Kholā region. Both mention certain exemptions to come into effect six months after they were issued.

The ranks, functions and jurisdiction of many posts set up in the Rāṇā administration are not always very clear. The posts of mukhiyā, dvāre and amālī, for all their difference, share a function: the collection of revenue. The mukhiyā mentioned in the document was presumably appointed at the local level. There were mukhiyās in the district and central administration as well. Among the three named posts, it is clear from the present document that dvāres ranked above mukhiyās within the local administration, as it states in two instances that (a) the dvāres sent from the centre would address issues arising from any petition is filed against the latter when there are arguments among them or other important work is left unattended; and (b) dvāres would punish any mukhiyā learnt to have acted unjustly to the ryots by imposing excess levies.


Notes

1. The phrase Śrī rāja is inserted from the space above. []

2. See Regmi Research Series, Year 13, No. 4 (Regmi 1981: 56). []

3. Asana was and still is one of the main markets of Kathmandu. []

4. There were altogether four muhuḍās, commonly known as gaũḍā in the Rāṇā administration. Gaũḍā literally means 'a narrow pass'. But it is also used to refer to a hill station or to a castle or fort. In the legal context, however, gaũḍās were judicial offices established in certain districts to serve as appellate courts, though they also heard and decided original cases (Adhikari 1979: 16). They fell under the Iṭācapalī court network. The four gaũḍās were Dhanakuṭāgaũḍā, Ilāmagaũḍā, Ḍoṭīgaũḍā and Pālpāgaũḍā (Vaidya and Manandhar 2053: 219). The document does not specify the name of the muhuḍā here. []