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Documents on the History of Religion and Law of Pre-modern Nepal

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A rukkā from King Gīrvāṇayuddha to the trustees and servants of Śrī Bhagavatī of Kaḍelacoka re worship material for the Dasaĩ festival (VS 1867)

ID: K_0582_0046

Edited and translated by Astrid Zotter in collaboration with Pabitra Bajracharya
Created: 2021-07-21; Last modified: 2022-11-30
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, 2022. 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

Abstract

This executive order (rukkā) from the king, who according to the date must have been Gīrvāṇayuddha, orders the trustees (guṭhiyāra) and servants (susāre) of Śrī Bhagavatī of Kaḍelacoka to cover the expenses for worship material during the Dasaĩ festival with temple revenue instead of drawing material itself from the palace, with effect from the year VS 1868 (1811 CE) on. The income—including that from the darśanabheṭa levy, the rent for nine shops and the ghiu khāne levy on 208½ ropanīs of land—and the expenditures are listed in the particulars, each adding up to 45 rupees, 3 paisās.

Diplomatic edition

[1r]

1[Royal seal]

1स्वस्तिश्रीमन्माहाराजाधिराजकस्येरुक्का¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯
2आगे¯ ¯१¯ का गुठियार∙सुसार्‍याप्रति∙वडादसैकानवरात्रिभर¯ ¯२¯ का थानपुजागर्नाकन∙सरजा
3मअघिअघि∙दर्वार∙मालिईकामचलाऊथ्यो∙अवउप्रान्तसम्वत१८६८सालदेषितपसिलव
4मोजिमकाआमदनिले∙भेटिवाहिककासाराजाम∙संगकामचलाऊनुभनिमोहोरगरिवक्स्यौंआ
5फ्‌नाषातिर्जामासंग∙कामचलाऊ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯
6तपसिल

[table1]

1	ज्माआमदनिरुपैय़ा					४५ऽ।[...]
2	दर्सनभेटकारुपैय़ा				१८
3	पसल९कोवालरुपैय़ा				७॥///
4	षेतरोपनि२०८॥∙कोघिउषानीरुपैय़ा				१९।/॥।∙
5	रोपनि	१२३।	दर//ताके	१५।//॥∙
6	रोपनि	६२।	दर/ताके	३॥।///।∙
7	षोलोपैरोगय़ाकोरोपनि	२२	दर०ताके	०
8	¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯

[table2]

1	वडादसैकाषर्चज्मारुपैय़ा				४५ऽ॥।
2	गुज्रातिसिंदुरतोला	९के//।∙	वटागोटा	९के।∙॥∙
3	गुज्रातिसिंदुरतोला	९के//।∙	चुरावहिजोड	९के॥/
4	गौलोचनमासा	२के।∙/	सरहिपगरिथान	६के१॥।//
5	गरिगोटा	१के///	अघर्साकारुमाल	५के।///॥∙
6	चिहुरापाथी	१०के१॥//	दाषतोला	१०के//॥∙
7	दिय़ावाल्‌नाकेतेलमाना	१०के॥।///	जगेकेचाव़लपाथी	७॥के१॥∙
8	सुषमेलतोला	६के॥।∙	नुनमाना	४के।//
9	फुलपाटिकेधुव़ाहात	१०के॥∙	हास्कोफुलगोटा	२०के।/
10	दात्याव़षरगोटा	१०के//॥∙	केराकांग्या	५के//॥∙
11	पताकाकेषरुव़ाहात	६के॥।//।	सुनकोदिष्टिजोड	२के//
12	टिकागोटा	९केऽ॥∙	लालपगरीथान्‌	१के॥।∙
13	लालदोरि	९के//।	कस्तुरिमासा	२के॥∙
14	पत्रीकापुजाकेधुवाहात्‌	९के॥/	लुवागतोला	२के///
15	हात१३कोपगरिथान	१के॥∙	सुपारिगोटा	८०के//॥∙
16	कोपाहात	६के२	सुपारिगोटा	८०के//॥∙
17	अधर्साहात	६के॥/	होमकेघिउसेर	१॥के।//
18	कपुरतोला	४के।/	अदुव़ासेर	१के/
19	भटमासमाना	४के/॥	रगचंधनतोला	१०के/।∙
20	नौरात्रीभरपंचामृतके	/॥।∙	गुगुलधुपतोला	५केऽ॥∙
21	चोषोवोक्यागोटा	१०के११//	चांन्दीकोद्वाफोलस्वां	८केऽ॥
22	कालोतिल्‌माना	१केऽ॥∙	जिरातोला	६केऽ।२
23	माझादहिकोकहटारा	९के।∙॥∙	कांग्यो	९के//।∙
24	पंचसुत्रधागोतोला	१५के///	छोहारातोला	१०के/।∙
25	अस्टसुगंधतोला	६के/॥∙	पंचरंगीपिटाहात	६के।//
26	केसरमासा	२के//	पंचरंगीपिटाहात	६के।//
27	वदामतोला	९के/२	चिनीपाव़	१के/।∙
28	भुट्याकोचीउरापाथी	५के॥∙	जाय़फलगोटा	५के∙/
29	चीजकेदछिनाके	२॥∙	धानपाथी	१०के१
30	श्रीषंण्डतोला	१५के।∙	लाव़ामाना	४केऽ॥∙
31	धागोतोला	१५के//	भोट्याधुपमुठा	१के/
32	रुपाकोदिष्टीजोड	८केऽ॥∙	जउपाथी	५के//
33	हिंगतोला	१के/	माछासेर	१के॥∙
34	सुनकोफुल	२के//	अदुव़ालजोड	१५केऽ॥∙
35	कासाकोकटौरा	१के/	ठाटिचीरापीटाहात	१५के॥।///
36	श्रीगणेसकेधोतिपिटाहात	१॥के/॥∙	रागाकापीठकेपीटाहात	६के।//
37	नौग्रथहकेधोतिपीटाहात	१॥के/॥∙	¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯	¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯
38	अधर्साथान्‌	२के४	इन्द्रजात्राकेमामुली	२
39	कलस५केधोतिपीटाहात	६के।//	देउताकेभेटि	२॥∙
40	व्राह्मणकेधोतिअधर्साहात	१०के॥।///	पाजुम्‌के	॥∙
41		¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯	¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯	¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
42		३०॥।///॥।२		१४ऽ॥।२

7भेटिकेरुपैय़ा८॥∙तोसाषानामालिनुरागागोटा४ईटाचपलीवाटलीउ
8इतिसम्वत१८६७सालमितिकार्तिकसुदि११रोज४सुभम्‌¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯

Translation

[1r]

[Royal seal]

Hail! [This is] an executive order (rukkā) of the supreme king of great kings.1

Āge: To the guṭhiyāras and servants (susāre) of [Śrī Bhagavatī of Kaḍelacoka]2

Previously, for performing worship (pūjā) [at] the temple of [Śrī Bhagavatī]3 throughout the navarātri period of the Baḍā Dasaĩ festival, the tasks were performed with accessories (sarjāma) taken [directly] from the court (darabāra). We [hereby] issue a [red-sealed] mohara stating that from now on, starting from the year [VS] 1868, the duties are to be carried out with sārājāma—excluding the bheṭī—[acquired] with the revenue according to the particulars (tapasila) [below]. Perform the tasks conscious of your duties.

Particulars

[table1]

1	Total revenue					45 Rs., 0 [sukās and ānās], 3 [paisās]4
2	from the darśanabheṭa				18 Rs.
3	rent of 9 shops5				7 Rs., 2 [sukās], 3 [ānās]
4	ghiu khāne levy on 208 ropanīs, 2 [muris] of irrigated land (kheta)				19 Rs., 1 [sukā], 1 [ānā], 3 [paisās]
5	ropanīs	123 [ropanīs], 1 [muri]	at the rate of 2 [ānās per ropanī / paisās per muri]	15 [Rs.], 1 [sukā], 2 [ānās], 2 [paisās]
6	ropanīs	626 [ropanīs], 1 [muri]	at the rate of 1 [ānā per ropanī/ paisā per muri]	3 [Rs.], 3 [sukā], 3 [ānās], 1 [paisā]
7	ropanīs that were washed away by the river or where a landslip occurred	22	at the rate of 0	0
8	---

[table2]

1	Total expenditures for Baḍā Dasaĩ				45 Rs., 0 [sukās and ānās], 3 [paisās]
2	Gujarātī7 sindūra, tolās	for 9: 2 [ānās], 1 [paisā]	vanity boxes (baṭā for baṭṭā?)8	for 9: 1 [sukā], 2 [paisās]
3	Gujarātī7 sindūra, tolās	for 9: 2 [ānās], 1 [paisā]	bracelets (curā and bahi for bāī̃ / bāhī̃), pairs9	for 9: 2 [sukās], 1 [ānā]
4	golocana (text: gaulocana), māsās	for 2: 1 [sukā], 1 [ānā]	turbans of honour (sarahi for sarhanī?)10	for 6: 1 [Re.], 3 [sukās], 2 [ānās]
5	the inner [flesh] of a coconut11	for 1: 3 [ānās]	handkerchiefs of adharsā12 fabric	for 5: 1 [sukā], 3 [ānās], 2 [paisās]
6	beaten rice (ciurā), pāthīs	for 10: 1 [Re.] 2 [sukās], 2 [ānās]	grapes, tolās13	for 10: 2 [ānās], 2 [paisās]
7	oil for lighting lamps, mānās	for 10: 3 [sukās], 3 [ānās]	husked rice for fire sacrifices, pāthīs14	for 7½: 1 [Re.], 2 [sukās]
8	green cardamom, tolās	for 6: 3 [sukās]	salt, mānās	for 4: 1 [sukā], 2 [ānās]
9	dhuvā-linen for the phūlapātī, hātas	for 10: 2 [sukās]	duck eggs	for 20: 1 [sukā], 1 [ānā]
10	easily cracked15 walnuts	for 10: 2 [ānās], 2 [paisās]	banana, hands16	for 5: 2 [ānās], 2 [paisās]
11	kharuvā cloth for the flags, hātas	for 6: 3 [sukās], 2 [ānās], 1 [paisā]	golden miniature eyes (dṛṣṭi), pairs	for 2: 2 [ānās]
12	ṭīkā ornaments17	for 9:2 [paisās]	red turban18	for 1: 3 [sukās]
13	red ribbons (dori)19	for 9: 2 [ānās], 1 [paisā]	musk, māsās	for 2: 2 [sukās]
14	dhuvā-linen for the worship of the patrikā, hātas20	for 9: 2 [sukās], 1 [ānā]	cloves, tolās	for 2: 3 [ānās]
15	turban 13 hātas [in length]	for 1: 2 [sukās]	areca nuts	for 80: 2 [ānās], 2 [paisās]
16	kopā (?),21 hātas	for 6: 2 [Rs.]	areca nuts	for 80: 2 [ānās], 2 [paisās]
17	adharsā fabric,22 hātas	for 6: 2 [sukās], 1 [ānā]	ghee for the fire sacrifice, seras23	for 1½: 1 [sukā], 2 [ānās]
18	camphor, tolās	for 4: 1 [sukā], 1 [ānā]	ginger, sera	for 1: 1 [ānā]
19	soya beans, mānās24	for 4: 1 [ānā], 2 [paisās]	raktacandana, tolās	for 10: 1 [sukā], 1 [ānā]
20	for pañcāmṛta [needed] throughout the navarātrī period	1 [ānā], 3 [paisās]	gokuladhūpa (text: guguladhupa), tolās	for 5: 2 [paisās]
21	pure he-goats	for 10: 11 [Rs.], 2 [ānās]	silver star jasmine (dvāpholasvāṃ)25	for 8: 2 [paisās]
22	black sesamum, mānā	for 1: 2 [paisās]	cumin, tolās26	for 6: 1 [paisā], 2 [dāmas]
23	ordinary (mājhā for mājholo?)27 yoghurt, kahatāros	for 9: 1 [sukā], 2 [paisās]	combs28	for 9: 2 [ānās], 1 [paisā]
24	pañcasūtra thread, tolās	for 15: 3 [ānās]	dried dates (chohorā), tolās	for 10: 1 [ānā], 1 [paisā]
25	aṣṭasugandha[dhūpa] (text: asṭasugandha), tolās29	for 6: 1 [ānā], 2 [paisās]	five-colour piṭa (?), hātas30	for 6: 1 [sukā], 2 [ānās]
26	kesara powder, māsās	for 2: 2 [ānās]	five-colour piṭa (?), hātas30	for 6: 1 [sukā], 2 [ānās]
27	almonds, tolās	for 9: 1 [ānās], 2 [dāmas]	sugar, pāu 31	for 1: 1 [ānā], 1 [paisā]
28	roasted ciurā, pāthīs	for 5: 2 [sukās]	nutmeg32	for 5: 1 [ānā]
29	for dakṣiṇā [and] for [the associated] articles 33	2 Rs., 2 [sukās]	unhusked rice, pāthīs	for 10: 1 [Re.]
30	sandalwood (śrīkhaṇḍa), tolās	for 15: 1 [sukā]	popped rice, mānās	for 4: 2 [paisās]
31	thread, tolās34	for 15: 2 [ānās]	Tibetan incense, handful	for 1: 1 [ānā]
32	silver miniature eyes (diṣṭī), pairs	for 8: 2 [paisās]	barley, pāthīs	for 5: 2 [ānās]
33	asafoetida, tolā35	for 1: 1 [ānā]	fish, sera36	for 1: 2 [sukās]
34	golden flowers	for 2: 2 [ānās]	aduvāla,37 pairs	for 15: 2 [paisā]
35	a bowl (kaṭaurā) made of bell-metal (kā̃so)38	for 1: 1 [ānā]	decorative (ṭhāṭi for ṭhā̃ṭi?) cloth (cīrā for cīra?), pīṭāhātas39	for 15: 3 [sukāa], 3 [ānās]
36	dhotī for Śrī Gaṇeśa, piṭāhātas40	for 1½: 1 [ānā], 2 [paisās]	ribbon for the backs of he-buffaloes, hātas41	for 6: 1 [sukā], 2 [ānās]
37	dhotī for the nine planetary bodies (navagraha, text: naugratha), pīṭāhātas42	for 1½: 1 [ānā], 2 [paisās]	---	---
38	adharsā cloth43	for 2: 4 [Rs.]	usual provisions (māmulī) for Indrajātrā 44	2 [Rs.]
39	dhotīs for the 5 kalaśas, pīṭāhātas	for 6: 1 [sukā], 2 [ānās]	bheṭī for the deity	2 [Rs.], 2 [sukās]
40	dhotīs for Brahmins, hātas of adharsā fabric	for 10: 3 [sukās], 3 [ānās]	for pājum (?)45	2 [sukās]
41		---	---	---
42		30 [Rs.], 3 [sukās], 3 [ānās], 3 [paisās], 2 [dāmas]		14 [Rs.], 0 [sukās and ānās], 3 [paisās], 2 [dāmas]

8 Rs., 2 [sukā]s for bheṭī are to be taken from the state treasury (tosākhānā). Take 4 he-buffaloes from the Iṭācapalī.

Wednesday, the 11th of the bright fortnight of Kārttika in the [Vikrama] era year 1867 (1810 CE). Auspiciousness.

Commentary

The document has been microfilmed twice, the first time as K_0048_0050. A copy of it, but without the royal praśasti, is preserved as K_0020_0010. Another copy, which only covers the introductory text, the first table and the date is preserved as K_0096_0021B.

A predecessor list issued in VS 1838 (1781 CE), about 30 years before the present document, was microfilmed immediately prior to the present document as K_0582_0045. See the edition of this latter document for more on the temple in question and other related documents. A comparison with this earlier list shows that many items were provided in equal amounts. In some cases, though, the amounts were changed to tendentially less ones than what was prescribed earlier. Other new items were added. For the particular deviations of the present from the earlier list, see the footnotes to the translation of Table 2 above.

The present document concerns a fundamental change to the provisioning scheme for worship material. Whereas previously all material needed for the autumnal Dasaĩ worship was directly provided in kind by the royal court, according to the new procedure fixed by this lālamohara, from the year VS 1868 (1811 CE) on the costs were to be covered by different revenue sources of the temple, ones listed in the first table. This list shows that, at least partly, the guṭhī in question was made to cover the expenses with assets that were originally endowed for performing other rituals in the temple. At least the nine shops specified here are among the property the guṭhi was endowed with in a charter from VS 1833 (1776 CE, DNA_0012_0049), as specified in a separate list of items issued as a separate lālamohara (DNA_0012_0052). These charters explicitly excluded the material needed for the autumnal Dasaĩ (āśviṇamainhāko baḍā dasaĩ yetī cīja choḍikana, DNA_0012_0052). While uncertain, it is not unlikely that not only the nine shops but also the 208½ ropanīs of land mentioned in the present list were part of the original endowment of 261 ropanīs, 6 kanamās of land listed in DNA_0012_0049. If this is indeed the case, the new regulation fixed by the present document would have constituted an outright cost-cutting measure.

The revenue listed equals the sum of cash equivalents to be spent on the worship material listed in the second table. As usual in such lists and regulations, no provisions were made to account for future price increases.

Notes

1. From the date of the document, the issuing king must have been Gīrvāṇayuddha (r. 1799–1816). [⇑]

2. As the upper part of the document, which must have contained phrases numbered 1 and 2, and probably also a benedictory śrī, was seemingly torn off, the text for the numbered spaces has been supplied here on the basis of copies of the deed (see Commentary). K_0020_0010 reads śrī bhagavatī for both spaces, K_0096_0021B kaḍelacokakā śrī bhagavati for the first and śrī bhagavatī for the second. As two differently numbered spaces are found here, I follow the latter copy. [⇑]

3. To be supplied from the space numbered 1 above the main text. As the upper part is missing, the phrase has been supplied from a copy (see previous footnote). [⇑]

4. As the right margin of the document seems to be either broken or folded in this place, two of the three strokes indicating the number of paisās have been supplied from the copies of the document. [⇑]

5. The nine shops are also mentioned as being part of the initial guṭhi set up for the worship of Kaḍelcoka Bhagavatī by King Pratāpa Siṃha in VS 1833 (1776 CE, DNA_0012_0049). Eight of them are described as being to the west of the Kaḍelacoka (kaṇelacokko paścimatirako pasala), and the ninth as the "shop of a Yogī family" (jogīkulyā pasala). Note that in this earlier regulation the guṭhi was explicitly freed from having to cover the costs for the Baḍā Dasaĩ (see Commentary). [⇑]

6. This must be a slip of the pen. There should be 63 instead of 62 ropanīs in this place. For one, the overall total of 208 ropanīs, 2 muris is short one ropanī. Secondly, the calculation to the right gives the sum yielded by 63¼ ropanīs. [⇑]

7. The earlier list (K_0582_0045) states the same amount, but calls it best-quality (besa) instead of Gujarātī sindūra. Gujarātī sindūra is, however, itemized in a sarjāma list pertaining to the Dasaĩ rituals at Gorkha Palace (K_0120_0024). [⇑]

8. The interpretation of baṭā as baṭṭā is supported by the fact that it is listed immediately prior to bracelets and with the same amount (i.e. 9) as these. Both, bracelets and a vanity box, are part of the saubhāgyasāmāna. Further below, other items of the saubhāgyasāmāna are specified, including nine combs and nine red ribbons. None of these items is covered by the earlier list (K_0582_0045). As a set, they may have been intended here for worshipping nine forms of Durgā, either as icons or as nine girls. [⇑]

9. Two words for bracelets are used here side by side. They occur in the same pairing in other documents too (e.g. K_0120_0024). Do they form a composite noun to denote bracelets in general, or should one curā and one bāhī̃ each be provided? This item is absent from the earlier list (K_0582_0045). [⇑]

10. The earlier list (K_0582_0045) specifies the same number of turbans, but calls them "best-quality" (besa). [⇑]

11. The earlier list mentions the coconut together with its inner (nariyalako gari) (K_0582_0045). [⇑]

12. The meaning of this term is unclear. It probably refers to the type of fabric, and reappears at several places throughout the document, as also in the earlier list (K_0582_0045). In another list of pūjā items the term is spelled adharasā (K_0120_0024). [⇑]

13. The earlier list has 11 tolās (K_0582_0045). [⇑]

14. The earlier list has 8 pāthīs (K_0582_0045). [⇑]

15. The term dātyā, "relating to the teeth", probably means that the walnuts have a soft shell that can be broken with one’s teeth. [⇑]

16. Kā̃gyā for kā̃giyā, lit. "comb". Earlier, 1 bunch (ghari) of bananas was listed (K_0582_0045). [⇑]

17. Not covered in the earlier list (K_0582_0045). [⇑]

18. The earlier list has 5 red turbans (K_0582_0045). [⇑]

19. Not covered in the earlier list (K_0582_0045). Probably intended as part of the saubhāgyasāmāna (see note on vanity boxes above). [⇑]

20. The earlier list specified 9 dhotīs for this purpose (K_0582_0045). [⇑]

21. The meaning of the term is unclear. It does not have an equivalent in the earlier list (K_0582_0045). [⇑]

22. For adharsā, see note above. The item is not covered in the earlier list (K_0582_0045). [⇑]

23. The earlier list has 4 mānās, thus measuring the ghee in volume rather than in weight (K_0582_0045). [⇑]

24. K_0582_0045 specifies the same amount, but measures the beans in kuruvās instead of in mānās. [⇑]

25. In the earlier list the flowers were enumerated without specifying the kind (K_0582_0045). [⇑]

26. Not covered in the earlier list. [⇑]

27. While the 9 kahatāros of yoghurt were mentioned in the earlier list, the attribute mājhā is not (K_0582_0045). [⇑]

28. This item is not covered in the earlier list (K_0582_0045). It may have been intended as part of the saubhāgyasāmāna (see note above). [⇑]

29. In K_0582_0045 6 tolās of sājyā incense were prescribed. [⇑]

30. This item remains unclear. In the earlier list, 6 hātas of cloth were prescribed for the five-colour flags (pañcapatākā). In some entries in the present document, it seems that piṭahātas could have been a measurement unit. This interpretation does not make sense in the present case. [⇑]

31. The earlier list has 15 tolās of sugar, i.e. 5 tolās less (K_0582_0045). [⇑]

32. The earlier account lists 7 pieces (K_0582_0045). [⇑]

33. This must denote the sacrificial fee for the priest, which is given together with auspicious things in the course of a ritual. In the earlier list the entry read "for dakṣiṇā (money together with articles )" (dakṣiṇāke rūpaiyā cīj samet). [⇑]

34. In the earlier list these 15 tolās of thread are not mentioned, only the 15 tolās of pañcasūtra thread mentioned above. [⇑]

35. This item is not mentioned in the earlier list (K_0582_0045). [⇑]

36. The earlier list has 9 mānās, and thus uses a volumetric rather than a weight unit (K_0582_0045). [⇑]

37. The term is unclear. In the earlier list the word reads aduvāha, and 20 instead of 15 pairs are listed (K_0582_0045). [⇑]

38. This item is not mentioned in the earlier list (K_0582_0045). [⇑]

39. This item remains unclear. It is absent from the earlier list (K_0582_0045). [⇑]

40. The meaning of the word piṭā, which also occurs as pīṭā in the document and is always found coupled with hāta, is unclear. Piṭāhāta or pīṭāhāta could be a larger measurement unit of length. In the K_0120_0024 list 8 hātas of cloth are specified for 2 dhotīs, i.e. 4 hātas for one, while here 1½ piṭāhātas are given for 1 dhotī. [⇑]

41. In the earlier list 8 hātas is given as the measurement (K_0582_0045) and the word kaṃḍhā is used to refer to a body part of the he-buffaloes. Turner lists kaṇḍho as a variant of kaṇḍo which he renders as either "(vulgar) ... Buttock, bottom, rump, anus" or "back, spine" (Turner 1931: s.v. kaṇḍo). [⇑]

42. For pīṭāhāta (or piṭāhāta), see note above. [⇑]

43. For adharsā, see above. In the earlier list, two pieces of "pauvāla adharsā" were prescribed (K_0582_0045). [⇑]

44. This and the following items were not part of the earlier list (K_0582_0045). [⇑]

45. This word, which could also be read as mā/ṣā-ju/tu-m, is unclear. [⇑]

Glossary

Word	Notes
āge	[fr. S. agre] adv. lit. "henceforeward" (Riccardi 1976: 150 n. 6), especially used in administrative and legal documents to mark the beginning of a text or paragraph. In its function it is similar to uprānta.
ānā	[fr. S. āṇvaka- ?] n. 1) monetary unit worth one sixteenth of a rupee with four ānā*s constituting one sukā, equivalent to one ganḍā; in documents usually represented by one to three diagonal dashes, sometimes as a loop with two or three jags. 2) sixteenth part of land, property etc. (cf. Parājulī et al 1995: s.v. ānā).
aṣṭasugandhadhūpa	[S.] n. special incense prepared of eight different ingredients, according to Parājulī et al. VS 2052: sandalwood (candana), red sandalwood (raktacandana), sāladhūpa, camphor (kapūra), saffron (keśara), musk (kastūrī), agarwood (aguru), and gokuladhūpa, often traded in the form of twisted rope incense.
baḍā dasaĩ	var. baḍā dasai; also mahā dasaĩ; n. festival to worship the goddess Durgā as slayer of the buffalo demon, held over the bright half of the autumn month of Āśvina. Cf. dasaĩ / daśaĩ.
bāī̃ / bāhī̃	var. bahi, bāhī; n. bangle made of gold, silver etc. worn around women's wrists.
baṭṭā	n. 1) small wooden or metal box. 2) box for keeping make-up, beauty box, vanity case, part of the saubhāgyasāmāna.
bheṭī	var. bheṭa, bheṭi; n. money, often in the form of coins, offered to deities or revered persons.
chohorā	var. choharā, chohārā; n. 1) date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.). 2) dried date.
ciurā	[fr. S. cipiṭa / cipuṭa?] var. cihurā; n. beaten rice, rice flakes.
curā / curo	n. bracelet, bangle, made of metal or glass.
dakṣiṇā	[S.] var. dachiṇa, dachīnā, dachenā; sacrificial fee or wage paid to the priest at the end of a ritual.
dāma	var. dām; n. the smallest monetary unit, one-fourth of one paisā (in case of measurements of land etc.) and one-256th of one mohararupaiyā̃.
darabāra	var. darbāra, durbar; n. 1) royal palace. 2) royal court consisting of kings and nobles. 3) court assembly where nobles or foreign delegates are received.
darśanabheṭa	var. darsanabheṭa; n. 1) formal meeting with the king or another superior. 2) a cash levy paid to the King and principal members of the royal family by civil and military personnel at the time of their first appointment and confirmation of their services at the annual pajanī or on other such occasions (Adhikari 1984: 347, M.C. Regmi 1978: 226).
dasaĩ / daśaĩ	[fr. S. daśāha] var. dasai; n. festival to worship the goddess Durgā as slayer of the buffalo demon, held over the bright half of the autumn month of Āśvina (baḍā dasaĩ) and, on a smaller scale, over the bright half of the spring month of Caitra (caite dasaĩ).
dhotī	[fr. S.] n. 1) rectangular piece of unstitched cloth wordn around the lower body, usually one end of which passes between the legs and is tucked in behind. 2) a cotton sari.
dhuvā	n. a particular kind of fine linen.
dṛṣṭi	[S.] var. diṣṭī; n. miniature eye used in rituals made of thin metal plate (Malla et al. 2000: s.v. diṣṭi).
dvāpholasvāṃ	[New.] var. dāphvaḥsvāṃ; n. star jasmine (Jasminum multiflorum (Burm.f.) Andrews); Jośī and Jośī 2019: 54–55.
ghiukhānī	var. ghyūkhāni, ghyukhāne, ghyūkhāne, ghiukhāne; n. "a cash levy paid on rice-fields in the hill region" (M.C. Regmi 1978: 162).
gokuladhūpa	[fr. S. gugguladhūpa] var. gokuladhupa, guguladhupa; n. bdellium incense, resin from the Indian bdellium-tree (Commiphora wightii [Arn.] Bhandari).
golocana	[S.] var. gaulocana; n. substance emitted through the mouth of a cow; bright yellow orpiment prepared from the bile of cattle.
guṭha / guṭhi / guṭhī	[fr. S. goṣṭhī] var. guṭh, guthi; n. 1) a socio-religious organization that manages and finances religious and charitable functions, a trust. 2) “endowed lands or other sources of revenue for financing religious and charitable functions“ (M.R. Pant 2002: 132; cf. M.C. Regmi 1988: 267).
guṭhiyāra	var. guṭhīyāra, guṭhiāra, guṭhīāra; n. member of a guṭhī, trustee, functionary responsible for the administration and management of guṭhīs (M.C. Regmi 1978: 708–711).
hāta	n. measurement of length equal to 24 aṅgulas or half a gaja.
indrajātrā	n. festival around the full moon day of Bhādra especially celebrated in Kathmandu, performing the imprisonment of the god Indra for the theft of a flower and the procession of the goddess Kumārī.
iṭācapalī	var. iṭācapali, īṭācapalī; n. one of the four central courts (cāra adālata) located in Kathmandu, others being Koṭiliṅga, Ṭaksāra, and Dhanasāra. Their jurisdictions are not clear, and they performed some executive functions as well (M.C. Regmi 2002: 300).
kahatāro	var. kahaṭāro, kahattaro; n. earthen vessel in which yoghurt is kept.
kalaśa	[S.] var. kalasa; n. water vessel, jar, usually smaller than a ghaḍā.
kanamā	var. kanavā; n. an areal measurement unit, with 16 kanamā equalling 1 ropanī.
kaṭaurā	n. a shallow metal cup, or bowl.
kā̃giyā / kāī̃yo	var. kā̃gyā; 1) comb. 2) the hand of a banana plant, i.e. one tier of a hanging cluster.
kā̃so	[fr. S. kāṃsya] var. kāsā; n. bell-metal, white metal, pewter, bronze.
keśara / kesara	[S.] n. 1) the filament or stigma of a flower; 2) saffron crocus (Crocus sativus L.); 3) saffron- or yellow-colored powder used in rituals as ointment.
kharuvā	var. khaḍuvā, kharūvā; n. coarse red cotton cloth.
kheta	[fr. S. kṣetra] var. khet, kheṭ; n. 1) irrigated land in the hill region suitable for the cultivation of rice and wheat. 2) a measure of land in the hill region equal to 25 ropanīs or 100 murīs (ca. 1.25 hectares) (M.C. Regmi 1999: 136-137 ; cf. M.C. Regmi 1999: 234 ; M.C. Regmi 1978: 162 ; M.C. Regmi 1978: 227 ; M.C. Regmi 1978: 860 ; M.C. Regmi 1995: 77; Adhikari 1984: 351; M.R. Pant 2002: 133; Whelpton 1991: 284 ).
kuruvā	var. kurvā; 1) n. volumetric unit equivalent to two mānās, or 20 muṭhīs. 2) a brazen vessel for measuring two mānās.
lālamohara	var. lālmohara, lālamohar, lālmohora; abbreviated mohara; n. royal document bearing the red seal.
māmulī	var. māmalī, māmuli; 1) adj. ordinary, usual, customary. 2) n. usual remuneration or provision, usually non-monetary. 3) n. a customary levy related to religious functions (see e.g. Regmi 1979: 158); cf. koṭa māmulī, Dasaĩ māmulī.
mānā	var. mana; n. 1) volumetric measure unit equivalent to 0.568 litres, or 1/8th of a pāthi (M.R. Pant 2002: 134 ); 2) a measure of weight equal to 82.28 pounds.
māsā	var. māśā; n. a measure of weight, equaling 1/10th or 1/12th of a tolā according to Rāma Śāha's edict (MA-KM 2022: 695) or 1/12th of a tolā in other sources (McGregor 1993 sv. māśā).
mohara	[P.] n. 1) a seal. 2) a document bearing royal seal; often an abbreviated reference to a lālamohara. 3) a coin having the value of eight ānās or half a mohararupaiyā̃.
navagraha	[S.] var. naugratha; n. lit. "the nine seizers", the nine heavenly bodies and deities, i.e. Sun (Sūrya), Moon (Candra), Mars (Maṅgala), Mercury (Budha), Jupiter (Bṛhaspati), Venus (Śukra), Saturn (Śani), the ascending (Rahu) and descending (Ketu) nodes of the moon.
navarātra / navarātri / navarātrī	[S.] var. naurātrī; n. lit. "nine nights", period of nine lunar days on which goddess Durgā is worshipped; Dasaĩ.
paisā	n. 1) money. 2) in the early Śāha period: monetary unit, one-fourth of an ānā, consisting of four dāmas with 64 paisās in 1 rūpaiyā̃. 3) in the Rāṇā period: monetary unit with 100 paisās in 1 rūpaiyā̃.
pañcāmṛta	[S.] n. the "five nectars of immortality"; a mixture of milk, yoghurt, ghee, honey and sugar.
pañcapatākā	[S.] n. lit. "the five flags", set of small flags in five different colors used in Newar rituals.
pañcasūtra	[S.] thread made of strings of five different colours, used in rituals (New. pasūkā).
pāthī	var. pāthi; n. 1) a volumetric unit equivalent to 4.546 litres comprising of 8 mānās with 20 pāthīs in one muri. 2) a container for grains having a volume of one pāthī.
patrikā	[S.] also known as navapatrikā; n. a set of nine plants worshipped during the Baḍā Dasaĩ festival and introduced into the worship arena on the seventh day of the bright fortnight of Āśvina; see also phūlapātī.
pāu	var. pāva; n. 1) measurement of weight, equal to 20 (in some lists between 17 and 19) tolās, 1/4th of a sera, 1/12th of a dhārnī. 2) measurement of length (25cm).
phūlapātī	[fr. S. phulla + patra] n. lit. "flowers and leaves", 1) a set of plants worshipped during the Baḍā Dasaĩ festival and introduced into the worship arena on the seventh day of the bright fortnight of Āśvina. 2) the seventh day of the Baḍā Dasaĩ festival; see also patrikā.
praśasti	[S.] n. poetic eulogy, often functions as intitulatio in documents.
pūjā	[S.] var. pujā; n. 1) worship, honour. 2) formal worship ritual of a revered being with offerings.
raktacandana	[S.] var. raktacaṃdhana; n. red sandalwood (Pterocarpus santalinus L.f.).
ropanī	[fr. S.] var. ropani; n. unit of land measurement in the hill region, including the Kathmandu Valley, comprising four murīs. The area may vary according to the grade, but current standard area for a ropanī comprises 5,476 square feet (cf. M.C. Regmi 1999: 235 ; M.C. Regmi 1978: 864; Whelpton 1991: 286; M.C. Regmi 1995: 77; M.C. Regmi 1978: 163; M.C. Regmi 1988: 270).
rukkā	[fr. A. ruq'a] n. an executive order, short note, missive from the highest authority. The king, the crown prince, but also queens and the Rāṇā prime ministers issued rukkās.
sarjāma	var. sarajāma, sarājāma; n. 1) ingredients, tools, implements. 2) accessories and supplies for rituals.
saubhāgyasāmāna	n. lit. "material of maritial felicity"; set of items used in worship and associated with the married non-widowed woman, including items such as a mirror (ainā), comb (kā̃giyā), a beauty box (baṭṭā), gājala, sindūra, necklace (pote), bangles (curā) and red ribbons (dhāgo or dori); also saubhāgyadravya.
sera	n. measure of weight (approx. 933 grams) with one sera comprising 80 tolās
sindūra	[S.] var. sindura, sīṃdura, sīṃdhura; n. red powder used in rituals and applied to the parting of a married woman.
śrī	[S.] n. word of blessing, can be used as apprecatio, in which case it means 'good fortune' (Pant and Pierce 1989: 12), can be used as a prefix to names of persons and gods, in which case it means 'venerable' or 'glorious' respectively. The number of śrīs used varies, depending on context.
śrīkhaṇḍa	[S.] also known as candana; n. 1) sandalwood (Santalum album L.). 2) ointment (anulepana) offered as one of the upacāras in worship.
sukā	n. monetary unit worth one fourth of a rupee, i.e. half of a silver mohara, and comprising four ānās; in documents the second of the four usual monetary fractions of the system based on the rupee, usually represented by either the avagraha-shaped sign for zero or one to three daṇḍas.
susāre	var. susāryā; n. 1) a caretaker, maid or servant. 2) a slave (K_0210_0064).
tapasila	[fr. A.] var. tapasīl, tapasīlā, tapsīl; n. particulars, details; can be a self-sustained document, but is more often appended as a list after the narratio of documents.
ṭīkā	[fr. S. tilaka] var. ṭikā; ornamental or secterian mark made on the forehead by applying pigments; ornamental patch of precious metal or other material worn on the forehead.
tolā	n. a unit of weight and standard measure for gold and silver comprising of 100 or 96 rati, 10 or 12 māsās and being 1/80th of a sera; the actual weight differed according to place and time, as weight of the Bombay or Sicca Rupee between 11.599–11.642; as standardised in 1833 in British India as 180 troy grains (11.663 8038 grams).
tosākhānā	var. tośākhāna, tośākhānā; n. royal treasury, state treasury; “central royal treasury, located in Kathmandu in the royal palace“ (Pant and Pierce 1989: 94); "King's household, wardrobe, etc.; also the name of the department of expenditure" (Kumar 1967: 168). See also kausī tosākhānā.
yogī / jogī	[fr. S. yogin-] var. jogi; n. 1) ascetic, religious mendicant. 2) specif. a follower of the Nātha tradition; see also kanaphaṭṭā. 3) member of the Kusle community.

Bibliography

Turner, R. L. 1931. A Comparative and Etymological Dictionary of the Nepali Language. London: K. Paul, Trench, Trubner.