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A dharma bandejapatra meant to settle a jurisdictional dispute between two tālukadāras in the Aṭhāra Saya Kholā region (VS 1974)

ID: L_1200_0023


Edited and translated by Rajendra Shakya in collaboration with Yogesh Budathoki
Created: 2019-11-25; Last modified: 2021-08-12
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, 2021. Published by the courtesy of the Nile Labrang, Tsum. The copyright of the facsimile remains with Nadine Plachta. 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

The document, a dharma bandejapatra prepared by Subbā Narajaṅga Guruṅa and handed over to Dhorje Dhaṃḍula, outlines their jurisdiction over 20 villages in the Aṭhāra Saya Kholā region, wherein they mutually agree not to interfere in the other’s village affairs.



Diplomatic edition

[1r-part1]

1श्री\­

1श्री­लाठ्‌साहेव­
2१­

[seal with the legend: श्री­नरजङ्ग­७२­]

1साछि­

[table1]

1सहि­
 ले­दुद­घ
 ले­तिल
 चे­
लमजुं­३­गाऊ­तिलच्ये­वस्न्ये­लेफ्टें­टुद­घले­१­1
2[Seal with Tibetan text belonging to Ghopā Ghyālcen Bhoṭe]रुई­गाँऊ­वस्न्ये­:घोपा­घ्यालचेन्‌­भोटे­१­
3[Seal of Ghopā Meta Karma Chirīṅ Bhoṭe]ऐं­वस्न्ये­घोपा­:मेत­कर्म­छिरीङ्‌­भोटे­१­
4[Fingerprint of Ghopā Taṃjin Bhoṭe]ऐं­वस्न्ये­घोपा­तंजिन्‌­भोटे­१­
5[Fingerprint of Naṃgyāla Bhoṭe]ऐं­वस्न्ये­नंग्याल­भोटे­१­
6[Fingerprint of Syārphā Chriṃ]ऐं­वस्न्ये­स्यार्फा­छ्रिं­धर्के­भोटे­१­
7[Fingerprint of Chirīṅa Chekyāpa Bhoṭe]१८­सै­षोला­वी­गाँऊ­वस्न्ये­:छिरीङ­छेक्याप­भोटे­2 १­
8[Seal of Ṣaṃvā Chvoṃve Bhoṭe]ऐ­सामा­गाउँ­वस्न्ये­षंवा­छ्वोंवे­भोटे­१­

1लिषीतम्‌­लमजुं­१०­थर­ऊपल्लो­घनपोषरा­वस्ने­सुव्वा­नरजङ्ग­गुरुं­आग्ये­:तिमी­धोर्जे­ढंडुलको­
2वावु­सुव्वा­छीमी­धोर्जेको­र­•मेरा­वावा­सुव्वा­मनीलाल­गुरुंका­पाला­मेल्‌संग­काम्‌‌­गरी­आ:
3याको­र­•हामी­२­जनाका­पाला­केहि­अमेल­भय़ाको­हो­तापनी­अवप्रान्त­अघिको­ई
4वि­लाग­केही­नली­हाम्रा­जिय़ाभर­तपसिलमा­लेषिय़ाका­वन्दोवस्त­वमोजिं­गर्नु­ग
5रौंला­¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯
6¯ ¯१¯का­षुव़ा­१८­सै­षोला­२०­गाँऊ­अघि­तीम्रा­वावु­छिमी­धोर्जेले­काम्‌­गर्दा­:तिम्रा­वावु
7को­र­मेरा­वावाका­सल्लाले­:सो­२०­गाँऊमध्ये­रुई­गाँऊ­१­मेरा­वावा­सुव्वा­मनीलाल­गुरुं­[?]ई­
8गाँऊको­कुरीय़ामा­समेत्‌­भर्ना­भै­:तालुक्‌दारी­काम्‌­गर्ने­•र­अरु­१९­गाँऊ­तिम्रा­वावुले­कां­
9गर्ने­गरी­आयाकोमा­:६६­सालमा­जम्मै­२०­गाँऊ­तिम्रा­नाऊमा­पट्टा­कवुलिय़ेत्‌­गरी­तीमी
10ले­लियाको­र­•लार्केमा­साविक्‌­सनद­सव़ाल्‌­र­•थीतीमा­तीमीले­खिचोला­गरी­दीदा­:
11६९­साल्मा­मैले­जम्मै­२०­गाँऊको­ठेक्‌­गनी­महसुल­गरी­•ठेक्का­कवोल­गरी­मेरा­नाऊमा­प
12ट्टा­कवुलिय़ेत्‌­भै­:आय़ाकोमा­:७२­सालसम्म­मैले­काम्‌­गरी­७३­सालका­वालीदेषी­सो­:
13२०­गाँऊ­तिम्रा­नाऊमा­लोकाभारा­पट्टा­भय़ाको­छ­तापनी­:अघिदेषि­मेरा­वावा­र­म­समे
14त्‌‌ले­:रैति­सरह­तिरो­तीरी­•सो­रुई­गाँऊको­कुरीय़ामा­भर्ना­भै­तालुक्‌‌दारी­काम्‌­समेत्‌­ग
15री­आय़ाको­हुनाले­७३­साल्का­वालीमा­तिम्रा­नाऊमा­लोकाभारा­पट्टा­कवुलिय़ेत्‌­भय़ा
16को­छ­तापनी­:सो­रुई­गाँऊको­दाम्‌काम्‌‌­मैले­गरी­रैतीवाट­असुल्‌­गर्नुपर्ने­ठेक्‌­सिर्तो­समे
17त्‌­रैतीवाट­असुल­गरी­¯ ¯१¯का­तहविल्मा­वुझाई­रसिद­भर्पाई­लिंऊला­¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯

[1r-part2]


18लार्केमा­मेरा­वावाका­पाला­र­मेरा­पालामा­समेत्‌­साविक्‌­थीती­सनद­वमोजिं­अघि­
19जुन्‌­रीत्‌संग­काम्‌­गरी­आय़ाको­हुं­अवप्रान्त­पनी­सोहि­वमोजिम्‌­गरुंला­:तेस्मा­सद
20र­मोफ्‌सल्मा­:ऊजुरवाजुर­षर्षिचोला­कौनै­कुरा­तिमीले­नगर्नु­¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯
21सर्कारले­वक्‌‌सन्‌‌ज्यालसम्म­:सो­१८­सै­षोला­२०­गाँऊको­तालुक्‌दारी­काम्‌­:हाम्रा­वावाहरु:
22का­पाला­जस्तो­गरी­रुई­गाँऊ­१­को­काम्‌­मैले­गर्ने­र­१९­गाँऊको­काम्‌­तिमीले­गर्ने­:तेस्मा­रु
23ई­गाँऊमा­तीमीले­षिचोला­नगर्ने­र­१९­गाँऊपट्टि­मैले­षिचोला­गर्ने­छैन­¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯
24हामि­२­जना­वाहेक्‌­अरु­कसैले­सो­२०­गाँऊको­तालुकदारी­काम्मा­:ठेक्का­कवोल­गरी­ली­
25यो­वा­:षिचोला­गर्‍‍यो­भन्या­:हामी­२­जनाका­सल्लावाट­सदर­मोफसल्मा­:जे­जसो­ग
26र्नु­पर्छ­सो­गर्नु­:गरौंला­¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯
27१८­सै­षोलापटी­र­३­गाँऊ­लार्केपट्टि­समेत्‌­:सर्कारवाट­दुनिञाँको­थीतीमा­:नञाँ­रैरकम्‌­:
28आयो­भन्या­हामी­२­जनाका­सल्लावाट­सदर­मोफसल्मा­जे­जसो­गर्नु­पर्छ­गरी­दुनिञाँ
29को­:साविक्‌­‌थिती­रहने­ऊद्देग­गर्नु­:हामी­२­जनाले­दुनिञाँको­साविक्‌­थीतीमा­घटीवढी­
30नगर्नु­गर्ने­छैन­:¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯
31हामी­२­जनाको­जिय़ाभर­हाम्रा­वावाहरुका­पालाको­धर्म­थामी­मन्‌‌मा­रीसईवी­र­
32फट्टाहाहरुको­कुरा­सुनी­कौनै­कुरामा­पनी­धर्म­जानेर­विरुद­पर्ने­कांकुरा­नगरी­मा
33थि­लेषीय़ाका­धर्ममा­रहनु­:रहौंला­:भनी­फट्‌के­पट्टीका­साछिहरुका­रोहवरमा­ध
34र्म­वन्देजका­कागज­लेषि­तीमी­सुव्वा­धोर्जे­ढंडुल­षुनुलाई­दीञ्यौं­सम्वत्‌­१९७४­साल­
34भाद्र­गते­२३­रोज­६­शुभं­¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯

1सही­सु:­सेर­
2वाहादुर­था
3पा­छेत्री­

1लेषका­साछी­सुवेदार­सेर­वाहादुर­थापा­
2छेत्री­लमजुं­पामचोक्‌­वस्न्ये­¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯

Translation

[1r-part1]

[In the left margin:]

Witness[es]

[table1]

1Signature: Le[phṭena] Duda Ghale, TilaceLephṭenaDuda Ghale, resident of Tilacye village in Lamajuṅa (Lamjung)-31
2[Seal with Tibetan text belonging to Ghopā Ghyālcen Bhoṭe]Ghopā Ghyālacen Bhoṭe, resident of Rui village1
3[Seal of Ghopā Meta Karma Chirīṅ Bhoṭe]Ghopā Meta Karma Chirīṅ Bhoṭe, resident of the same1
4[Fingerprint of Ghopā Taṃjin Bhoṭe]Ghopā Taṃjin Bhoṭe, resident of the same1
5[Fingerprint of Naṃgyāla Bhoṭe]Naṃgyāla Bhoṭe, resident of the same1
6[Fingerprint of Syārphā Chriṃ]Syārphā Chriṃ (Chirīṃ?) Dharke Bhoṭe, resident of the same1
7[Fingerprint of Chirīṅa Chekyāpa Bhoṭe]Chirīṅa Chekyāpa Bhoṭe, resident of Bi[hi] village of 18 (i.e. Aṭhāra) Saya Kholā1
8[Seal of Ṣaṃvā Chvoṃve Bhoṭe]Ṣaṃvā Chvoṃve Bhoṭe, resident of Sāmā village of the same1

Śrī

Śrī Lāṭha Sāheba3
 1

[Seal with the legend: Śrī Narajaṅga 72]

Likhitam [by] SubbāNarajaṅga Guruṅa, resident of Upper Ghanapokharā of 10 thara (i.e. Daśathara) in Lamajuṅa

Āge: During the time of Chīmī Dhorje (the father of you Dhorje Dhaṃḍula) and my father Subbā Manīlāla Guruṅa, we worked in harmony, but during the time of the two of us there have been some differences. Even so, from now onwards [both you and I] shall act in accordance with the regulations mentioned in the [following] details (tapasila) for as long as we live, without any of the envy and aversion4 of the past.

When your father Chīmī Dhorje served [as tālukadāra], the practice based on consultations between your father and my father was that, of the 20 villages of the 18 Saya Kholā region which were the khuvā of [lāṭha sāheba]5 , my father, Subbā Manīlāla Guruṅa, performed tālukadārī duties in the 1 village of Rui, and was also registered as a kuriyā in it, and your father performed [those] duties in the other 19 villages.

However, in the year [VS 19]66 (1909 CE), you acquired a written lease agreement (kabuliyata), took all the 20 villages in your name, and when you quarrelled with [provisions of] previous sanadas, savālas and thitis in Lārke, a written lease agreement was drawn up in my name in the year [VS 19]69 (1912 CE) after I computed the contractual amounts for all 20 villages, paid the charges and accepted [the terms of] the contracts. I served [as tālukadāra] till the year [VS 19]72 (1915 CE), and [then] a lokābhāra contract was leased in your name for the said 20 villages for the crops of the year [VS 19]73 (1916 CE) onwards.

However, since my father and I had been paying the rent as any ryot would do, were enrolled as kuriyās of the said village, Rui, and had been doing the work of tālukadāras, a lokābhāra contract was leased in your name for the crops of the year [VS 19]73. I shall nevertheless [continue to] attend to the money matters of the said village, Rui, collecting the ṭheka and sirto taxes exacted from the ryots, submitting them to the tahabila of [the lāṭha sāheba]6 and getting receipts for the same.

[1r-part2]

From now onwards I shall, in accordance with the previous thitis and sanadas, continue to work in the manner I have been doing up to now, [both] during the time of my father and my own in Lārke. Do not file any complaints or quarrel about it in the centre or in the rural districts.

For as long as the sarkāra offers us the tālukadārī of the said 20 villages of the 18 Saya Kholā region, I shall do [this] work in the one village of Rui and you shall do it in the [other] 19 villages, just as during the time of our fathers. You will not quarrel over this [arrangement] in Rui village, and I shall not do so [over that] in the 19 villages.

In the case where someone other than the two of us accepts and acquires the contract for the tālukadārī duties in the said 20 villages or quarrels [with us over our contracts], then whatever needs to be done in the centre or in the rural districts will be done in consultation with one another.

If new rakama [offers] in the 18 Saya Kholā region or the 3 villages in Lārke [come] from the sarkāra, then after consulting with one another we shall do whatever needs to be done in the centre or in the rural districts and work towards7 maintaining the previous thitis of the people (duniñā). We two shall not add to or remove [any of] the people's previous thitis.

We shall remain true to the dharma [as] stated above—we two for as long as we live—shall adhere to the dharma from the time of our fathers, not holding any ill will [towards one another] in our minds, or listening to talk of strife and dishonest people or doing anything that goes against [the dharma], knowing [what] the dharma [calls for]. I have thus prepared [this] dharmabandeja8 and handed it over to you, Subbā Dhorje Ḍhaṃḍula Khunu, in the presence of the witnesses [recorded] in the margin of this document.

Friday, the 23rd of Bhādra in the [Vikrama] era year 1974 (1917 CE). Auspiciousness.

[In the left margin:]

Signature: SubedāraSera Bāhādura Thāpā Chetrī

Witness to the deed: Subedāra Sera Bāhādura Thāpā Chetrī, resident of Pāmacok in Lamajuṅa


Commentary

This dharma bandejapatra prepared by Subbā Narajaṅga Guruṅa and handed over to Dhorje Dhaṃḍula, divides the tālukadārī rights over 20 villages of the Aṭhāra Saya Kholā region between them. Narajaṅga is to enjoy jurisdiction over the single village of Rui, and Dhorje that of the other 19, in the manner exercised during the time of their fathers. Each also agrees not to interfere in village affairs that fall under the other’s jurisdiction.

It is clear from the document that on several occasions the two had sought to acquire the tālukadārī contract for all 20 villages secretly, that is, by trying to keep the other one completely out of the picture. At some point they came to agree not to compete with each other any longer, and thus prepared this document that clearly outlines their jurisdiction over the 20 villages.

AS a dharma bandejapatra, the present document involves moral but no legal obligations to follow its terms.


Notes

1. This and the following text in this column has been taken from the second facsimile (1r-part2). This table in the margin has been divided into two facsimile, and the complete table has been presented here for visual clarity. []

2. The text भोटे has been taken from the second facsimile (1r-part2). []

3. Lāṭha Sāheba is probably the western commanding general, the senior commanding general in the Rāṇā hierarchy, who is also known as jaṅgī lāṭha. []

4. The reading lāga is probably a misspelling of rāga, as in rīsa rāga. []

5. Inserted from the space above. []

6. Inserted from the space above. []

7. The word is illegible in the original, but appears to mean something like ‘work towards [achieving a certain outcome]'. []

8. A rule guided by the principles of religion. []