Edited and
translated by Ramhari Timalsina
in collaboration with
Pabitra Bajracharya
Created: 2021-08-09;
Last modified: 2023-08-29
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[1r]
1श्री\1श्रीमुक्तीनाथ[1r]
[Unknown seal] [Unknown seal] [Unknown seal] 1स्वस्तिश्रीमद्राजकुमारकुमारात्मजश्रीदक्षीणतफकाकम्याडिङ्जनरलफत्यसम्सेरज[1r]
Śrī Muktinātha 1
Śrī Dāmodara Kuṇḍa 2
Commander-in-Chief Dhana Ratna Sāheba 3
[Unknown seal]
[Unknown seal]
[Unknown seal]
Hail! A letter from Southern Commanding General Phatye Śamśera Jaṅga Bahādura Rāṇā, a venerable prince born of a prince
To the Chief and clerks of the Bakyautā Aḍḍā of West Nnumber 3.
Yathocita uprānta: “A tradition of distributing sadāvarta to the santas and mahantas, jogīs (i.e. ascetics of the Nātha tradition), jaṅgamas (i.e. ascetics of the Vīraśaiva tradition), vairāgīs (i.e. Vaiṣṇava ascetics), kānaphaṭṭāsannyāsīs and pilgrims who visit -1- and -2- (i.e. Muktinātha and Dāmodara Kuṇḍa) has been running since [your] servant’s (i.e. my) father's time. These days I, your servant, am constantly distributing it. The place where your servant distributes sadāvarta is called Jhuṃsambā, which lies one and a half kosas from the -1- (i.e. the Muktinātha temple). The pilgrims, santas and mahantas themselves do not accept husked rice when it is given to them, arguing that since this area lies in Bhoṭa1 , rice cannot be cooked well there. They demand wheat or buckwheat flour, and are happy when I provide flour or powdered fried grains to them. There is not a single water-mill in the Jhuṃsambā area where one can grind flour. Thākasā, where one has to go for grinding, lies at a distance of three kosas from there. I have faced many difficulties, and can tell of them. My lord, [the proposed water-mill] would not occupy any property boundaries, [household] entrances and exits (tāgādaihlo = tāgo dailo?), watering places, pilgrim shelters, water channels or fields. There is the [above-mentioned] place called Jhuṃsambā, which lies at a distance of one and a half kosas from the Muktinatha [temple] in Paṭvā [village]. All the people of this place would be happy if you would kindly issue a decree giving permission to construct a water-mill in this area. I would stay [here] and distribute sadāvarta to the itinerant santas, mahantas and ascetics in general (phakīḍa), and would celebrate Sarkāra’s victories.”
My lord, as for details relating to a marjī: Captain Dānabahādura Khatrī Chetrī signed in this office a pramāṅgī wherein he states that a marjī has come from -3- (i. e. Commander-in-Chief Dhanaratna) Sāheba instructing that the document [containing] petition no. 2928, submitted by Purṇamāna (a representative of Kubera Siṃ Thakālī, a resident of Jhuṃsambā) and asking for the [above] permission be forwarded to the Sadara Daphadarakhānā for it to look into the details of the petition and to follow whatever orders come [from him afterwards]. Even though the instructions that were issued from the Adālata Gosvārā—tacked together with the pramāṅgī and [its own] purji instructing that action be taken in accordance with the Ain and the savālas and with the pramāṅgī—were sent out sealed and under cover, there is litigation requiring that the matter be looked into locally, so that this petition has been sent to this [office] in accordance with savāla no. 21 of the Second Office of the Sadara Daphadarakhānā.
“[What] will his (i.e. Kubera Siṃ Thakālī’s) construction of a water-mill mean: Will the land [it is on] be or not be freehold land (maphī), land provided in recognition of government service (khānagī), land around houses, pastureland, [at] a ghat or land whose use is restricted by the government, pure raikara land, or wholly uncultivated land? When a water channel is made for the water-mill, will it lead through someone's land grant (birtā), guṭhī- land, [or] khānagī? Will it disturb any existing water-mills or not? Does he say that he will construct a water-mill so as to pay land taxes or not? Does he say that he will convert guṭhī [land] into [land for] the water-mill? Consult people whose land borders [on the area], jimmāvālas, mukhiyās, bhalādamīs and persons who have expertise with this issue; acquire whatever sanadas or other documentation are needed from those who need to provide such documentation for the investigation, prepare written documents together with the signatures of those whose signatures are necessary, determine, following the Ain and savālas, whether he should be allowed to construct a water-mill there or not, draw up a report and send it.”
The chief and clerks of the Sadara Daphadarakhānā requested us to send [the above instructions] under our signature to the Bakyautā [Office] of West no. 3. Therefore, act accordingly and send us [the report].
Sunday, the 9th of the dark fortnight of Āṣāḍha in the [Vikrama] era year [19]50 (1893 CE). Auspiciousness.