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An arjī from Jasapāu Thāpā re Raṇajit Siṃ's failure to gain victory (VS 1871)

ID: DNA_0001_0021


Edited and translated by Manik Bajracharya in collaboration with Rajan Khatiwoda and Axel Michaels
Created: 2014-12-12; Last modified: 2018-11-23
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Published by Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and Humanities: Documents on the History of Religion and Law of Pre-modern Nepal, Heidelberg, Germany, 2018. 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 is a letter of Jaspāu Thāpā from Arki in India to the authority concerned stating about the unsuccessful attack of a fort in Kashmir by Raṇajit Siṃ. It also mentions about the sender's reaction about reported British advances upon the town of Butwal in Nepal.



Diplomatic edition

[1r]

1⟪नं.­२१­⟫

1उप्रान्त­•ग्रहणमा­¯२¯ ¯नुहाव़न­जाँदा­•कहलुर्या­राजाले­•मछेउ­भन्याको­स्माचार­•रणजीत­सिं­
2जाई­•काश्मेरको­भरमगढ­•किल्ला­हान्न­जाँदा­•दुई­हज्जार­•पचिस्सै­जवान­•रनजीत्‌­सिंको­षर्च­पनी­•
3भयेछ­•सिकस्त­षाई­•लस्कर­•व़र­सरिरहेछ­•आजकाल­रनजीत­सिं­•आफ्ना­गोल्दार­•सिपाहिका­
4डेरा­डेरा­जाई­•कसैलाई­विर्ता­दिउँला­कसैलाई­५|७­हज्जार­•रूपैय़ा­दिउँला­•कसैलाई­दर्माह­वढा
5ई­दिउँला­•काश्मेर­लिई­देउ­भनि­•भन्न­लागीरहेछ­•य़ो­साव़न­भदौमा­•केही­भय़ो­त­भय़ो­•भयेन­भ
6न्या­लिनु­गाह्रै­छ­भंन्न्या­स्माचार­छ­भन्या­•रणजीत­सिं­काश्मेरमा­चढ्दा­•कावेलको­पनि­घर­सचि
7यो­•फत्ते­षाँ⟪को⟫­⟪लस्कर⟫­पनि­काश्मेर­आयो­भंन्या­षवर­छ­•अव­उप्रान्त­•जो­षवर­आउला­•सो­विन्ति­लेषुला­वा
8कि­•आषाढ­वदि­१४­रोज­५­मा­•पठाउनुभयाको­•कृपापत्र­•श्राव़ण­शुदि­५­रोज­५­मा­आईपुग्यो­•
9हरप­•हरप­हेरि­•शिर­चह्रायाँ­•वटौल­सिउराजमा­•फिरंगी­चढ्याको­•अघि­वुढाकाजीलाई­•आया
10को­समाचार­•सुनाव़नुभयो­र­पनि­•ताहाँको­संदेह­मान्याको­थियेन­•अवर­•मलाई­आयाको­•कृपा
11पत्र­देषदा­•ताहाँको­संदेह­फिकृ­कत्ति­रहेन­•षातिरदारि­भयाँ­¯ ¯३¯ ¯ ¯को­मेहेरले­र­•षामिदको­
12प्रतापले­•सर्वत्रै­फत्तै­हुन्या­छ­•अर्जि­जानि­नजानि­लेष्याको­•माफ्‌­भयाजाला­•ईति­सम्वत्­१
13८७१­साल­मिति­श्राव़ण­सुदि­६­रोज­६­मोकाम­अर्कि­शुभम्­¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
 
14ईत­सेव़क­वन्दा­•जसपाऊ­थापाको­•वंदगी­•कुर्णेस्‌­•सलाम­•सलाम­•सलाम्‌­•शुभम्­¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯

Translation

[1r]

Number 21

Uprānta: While -2-1 went to take a bath during the eclipse, Kahaluryā Rājā brought to me this news: it has transpired that [between] two thousand to twenty-five hundred soldiers of Raṇajit Siṃ were lost in an attack upon Bharama Gaḍha in Kashmir. Having encountered many difficulties, the troops are withdrawing. These days Raṇajit Siṃ has been going from temporary lodging (ḍerā) of his cannoneers and soldiers, and telling that he would provide birtā to some, [between] 5 to 7 thousand rupees to others, and increase the pay (darmāha) to still others if they take Kashmir [for him]. If it is done this Śrāvaṇa [or in the following month,] Bhādra [months], it is done; if not it will be difficult [for him] to take. This was the news conveyed [to me]. After Rāṇajit Siṃ attacked Kashmir, the house of Kāvela2 was also restored. It is reported that Phatte Khā̃'s troops have also come to Kashmir. Whatever news comes hereafter, I will report [to you] in writing.

As for the rest, the letter3 sent [by you] on Thursday, the 14th of dark fortnight of Āṣāḍha, arrived on Thursday, the 5th of bright fortnight of Śrāvaṇa. Having gone through it line by line I bowed my head. Even though the Buḍhākājī4 told [us] the news of the British arriving at Butwal [and] Śivarāja that had been conveyed to him earlier, we felt no concern [about the situation] there. Upon going through the letter that reached me, I no longer have any concern [about the situation] there whatsoever. I am much obliged [to you for the letter]. By the kindness of -3-5 and his praiseworthy valour, there will be success everywhere. Please forgive [me for any] consciously or unconsciously written [mistakes] in [this] arjī.

Friday, the 6th of the bright fortnight of Śrāvaṇa in the [Vikrama] era year 1871 (1814 CE) from the station at Arki. [Let there be] auspices.

From here, praises, bows, salutation, salutation, salutation of your servant Jasapāu Thāpā. [Let there be] auspiciousness.


Commentary

This document is a report sent in to the palace in Kathmandu by Jasapāu Thāpā from Arki. Arki lies in the hill state of Baghal in Himachal Pradesh, India. It was captured by the Gorkhas in 1806 until the end of Anglo-Nepalese war in 1816. The document reports of one of the incidents of Mahārāja Raṇajit Siṃ's unsuccessful attempt to expand into Kashmir in 1813-1814.

The issuer of the document, Jasapāu Thāpā, is one of the kājīs during Bhīmasena Thāpā's rule. However, he is not linked to the prominent Thāpā families of the time (M.C. Regmi 1995: 44).


Notes

1. The name of the referent of this number is missing; it could be on the back side of the document. []

2. Perhaps the residence of E.B. Cowell. []

3. Kṛpāpatra, lit. the letter one is favoured with. This may be a letter containing some formal blessings. But here, the editor has understood it simply as a polite expression for "letter". []

4. Probably Buḍhākājī Amvara Siṃha Thāpā. []

5. The name of the referent of this number is missing. []