A copy of a lālamohara from King Gīrvāṇayuddha providing sevābirtā land to Dayānātha Kusle for sweeping in Bhaktapur's Tuka Coka (VS 1869)
ID: K_0213_0081
Edited and
translated by Ramhari Timalsina
Created: 2021-06-08;
Last modified: 2024-12-03
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Abstract
This is a copy of a lālamohara, issued by King Gīrvāṇayuddha Vikrama Śāha in 1812 CE, extending the grant of a sevābirtā of 3 ropanīs to Dayānātha Kusalyā, a resident of Tulāche Ṭola in Bhaktapur. The document at the same time announces the transfer of his service as sweeper from Nhula Coka to Tuka Coka within the palace grounds.
Diplomatic edition
[1r]
1श्री\1श्रीदुर्गासहाय़1२नं.1[A seal of the Guṭhī Bandobasta Aḍḍā with legend:] श्रीगुठीवन्दोवस्तअडा१९७७Unknown sealUnknown thumbprintUnknown thumbprintUnknown thumbprint1सकल्वमोजिंनकल•दुरुस्त•छभनी•सक2ल•वुझीलीनकल्मास्हीगर्ने•
3शवुसींकुस्लेभ.तुलाछे•वस्ने1स्वस्तिश्रीगीरीराजचक्रचुडामणीनरनारायणेत्यादीवीवीधवीरुदावलीवीराजमानमानोन्न[?]श्रीमन्महाराज
2धीराजश्रीश्रीश्रीमहाराजेगीर्वा[?]मसाहवाहादुरसम्सेरजङ्गदेवानाम्सदासमरवीजय़ीनाम्
3आगेसहरभादगाऊकातुलाछेतोलकोदय़ानाथकुसल्याकेनेपाल्यापालादेषीदर्वारमान्हुलचोकमा
4झारुवझारुगरीवतिचोषेतरोपनी३सीवावृतादिराष्याकोरहेछआजन्हुलचोकवंधहुदाताहाकोसातो
5तुकचोकमाझारुवझार्नुलाञौअघिकोजस्तोझारुवझारुगरीवस्नेकोषेतरोपनी३सीव़ावीर्ताथामी
6वक्स्यौं•तस्कोपानफुलसीक्का४०लीईहीलक्ष्मीनारायेणमार्फतहाम्राहजुर्मादाषीलभयो
7दय़ानाथकोसंतानछनज्यालषोसमोनास्तीपरंपकारीतसँगतहलगरीसीव़ावृताजानी
8षेतकोभोग्यगरइतीसम्वत्१८६९सालमीतीवैसाषसुदी४रोज५शु
Translation
[1r]
May glorious Durgā help [us]!
No. 21
[A seal of the Guṭhī Bandobasta Aḍḍā with the legend:] Guṭhī Bandobasta Aḍā
Unknown seal
Unknown thumbprint
Unknown thumbprint
Unknown thumbprint
Attesting that the copy is true to the original:
The one who took the original and signed on the copy: Śabu Sīṃ Kusle, 2 a resident of Bha[ktapur]Tulāche.
Hail! [A decree] of him who is shining with manifold rows of eulogy [such as] ‘The venerable crest-jewel of the multitude of mountain kings’ and Nārāyaṇa among men (Naranārāyaṇa, also an epithet of Kṛṣṇa) etc., high in honour, the venerable supreme king of great kings, the thrice venerable great king, Gīrvāṇayuddha Vikrama Śāha, the brave swordsman, the divine king always triumphant in war.
Āge. Dayānātha Kusalyā of Tulāche Ṭola in Bhaktapur city has been being granted a sevābirtā of 3 ropanīs of rice land in Vatico since the time of the kings of Nepāla3 for sweeping in Nhula Coka within the palace. Since Nhula Coka has been closed, we have brought him to sweep in Tuka Coka instead. As before, we confirm the 3 ropanīs of rice land as sevābirtā to the one who does the sweeping.
A pānaphūla fine of 40 coins on the land has been collected through Lakṣmī Nārāyaṇa and presented to us. As long as Dayānātha’s descendants continue, the birtā land shall not be confiscated. Follow the traditional customs and enjoy the land, considering it as a sevābirtā.
Thursday, the 4th of the bright fortnight of Vaiśākha in the [Vikrama] era year 1869 (1812 CE).
Commentary
This historical document provides valuable insight into various aspects of early-19th-century Nepal. It sheds light on administrative practices, revealing, for example, the retention of personnel from the Malla period under the original terms of land for service, demonstrating the continuity of legal traditions across different eras. The addressee is only addressed once, at the very end, in the second person; otherwise he is merely referred to in the third. Whether this is meant as a sign of disapproval for an apparent breach of the law remains unclear.
The document begins with a seal of the Guṭhī Bandobasta Aḍḍā and several unknown seals and thumbprints. These authentication marks were crucial for verifying the legitimacy of official documents in pre-modern Nepal.
Following these, there is a statement attesting that the copy is in accordance with the original, signed by Śabu Sīṃ Kusle, a resident of Bhaktapur. This practice of verifying copies against originals was essential for maintaining the integrity of official records.
The core of the document concerns Dayānātha Kusalyā, who had earlier been granted a sevābirtā of 3 ropanīs of land for sweeping duties in the palace’s Nhula Coka. Nhula Coka having recently been closed, Kusalyā is now reassigned to sweeping Tuka Coka. The decree emphasizes that the land grant, being a sevābirtā, is to last as long as Kusalyā's descendants continue to provide the specified service. This provision highlights the hereditary nature of service obligations and land grants and the importance of family lineages in maintaining privileges.