A letter from Kṛṣṇa Nārāyaṇa Malla to Bhīmasena Thāpā re recent communications and a new messenger (n.d.)
ID: DNA_0002_0020
Edited and
translated by Rajan Khatiwoda
in collaboration with
Yogesh Budhathoki and Astrid Zotter
Created: 2014-12-22;
Last modified: 2018-11-23
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Abstract
In this letter to General Bhīmasena Thāpā, sent from Silagaḍhi, Subedāra Kṛṣṇa Nārāyaṇa Malla states that he will henceforth be sending Kotyā Ḍiṭṭhā Sarūpa Biṣṭa to convey messages. Moreover, he announces that he has sent ṭīkābheṭ.
Diplomatic edition
[1r]
1श्री:\1⟪नं.१३७⟫1स्वस्तिश्रीसर्वोपमायोग्येत्यादिसकलगुणगरिष्ठराजभारोद्धारणसामर्थश्री2श्रीश्रीजनरलसाहेव•भीमसेनथापामहासयेषु•इतश्रीसुवेदारकृष्णनारा
3यणमल्लकोसलाम्•पूर्वकपत्रमिदं•इतनीकताँहाँपाउकुशलमंगलभया
4हाँम्रोप्रतिपालउद्धारहोला•आगेञाहाकोसमाचारभलोछ•उप्रांत•म•
5चरणमाविदाहुँदामा•देसदेसाव़रकोजोपायासुन्याकोषवरर•हाम्रामुलु
6ककोहकिगत्पनिदेष्यासुन्याकोषवरलेषतैगर्नुभनीआज्ञाभयाकोहो
7पायासुन्याकोषैषवरविंतिगरिपठायाकोचिठिलेमालुम्हुदोहो•ञाँहाँ
8प्रांतपनिजोपायासुन्याकोषवर•कोत्याडिट्ठासरूपविष्टवाट•जाहेरहो
9ला•सिरिफ्चरणकाभरोसामाछु•मेरोआफ्नुअर्कोकोइछैन•पश्चिं
10वाटआउन्यातिर्थवासिलेकह्याकोसमाचार•विंतिलेषीचर्हाइपठायाको
11छहेरिमालुम्होला•टीकाभेटकोरुपया१चर्हाइपठायाकोछपुगला•वि
12ज्ञवीरवरेषु•किम्धीकं•मितिआश्वीनशुदि१०रोज७मुकांसिलगढिशुभं
Translation
[1r]
Nu[mber] 1371
Hail! This letter begins with salutations from Śrī SubedāraKṛṣṇa Nārāyaṇa Malla to the thrice venerable General SāhebaBhīmasena Thāpā [who is] worthy of all [laudatory] comparison etc., possessed of all virtues in the highest degree and able to bear the king's burdens.
We will be protected [and] uplifted if [your] feet are fine and well there. Āge: the news here is good. Uprānta: [I] was ordered [by you] when I bade farewell at [your] feet to write news of foreign lands received and heard, and [also news of] the actual situation [as] seen and heard in our kingdom. You will have learned, through a letter [previously] sent, the intelligence (khaikhabara) received and heard. Henceforward [any] news received or heard will be delivered [to you] by Kotyā ḌiṭṭhāSarūpa Biṣṭa. I am dependent solely on [your] feet. I do not have anybody else of my own [besides you]. I have sent [you] the news told by the pilgrims who came from the western [region]. [You] will have read and [now] be aware of [it]. [I] have sent 1 Rupee [as] ṭīkābheṭ. It will [hopefully] reach [you].
What more [to say] to the highest among the knowledgeable and brave?
Saturday, the 10th of the bright fortnight of Āśvina. Residence: Silagaḍhi. Auspiciousness.
Commentary
Since the letter mentions neither the year nor any specific event, historical or otherwise, the exact date of its composition remains unknown. However, it specifies the lunar date as the tenth of the bright fortnight of the month of Āśvina. This accords with the mentioning of the sending of the ṭīkābheṭ, which was due on this day. The sum mentioned is a typical one. For a similar ṭīkābheṭ of one rupee per official, see e.g. E_2778_0047 (cf. DNA_0004_0084 for 1 rupee sent as ṭikāko darsanī).