A stone tablet inscription at Pujārīpāṭī Pokharī in Bhaktapur installed to memorialize the construction of a water spout and rest house (VS 1908)
ID: NHDP_0002_0003
Edited and
translated by Shyam Sundar Rajbanshi and Rajendra Shakya
in collaboration with
Prasanna Bajracharya
Created: 2025-12-11;
Last modified: 2026-11-03
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Abstract
This inscription, embedded in the north-eastern corner wall of Pujārīpāṭī Pokharī in Bhaktapur, records the construction of a water spout and rest house by Subbā Pṛyavarta and others. Their donors set up a trust and mandated that revenue from trust land be used for feeding brahmins and distributing sherbet.Diplomatic edition
[1r]
1श्री1श्रीगणेशायनम।।श्रीअक्षोभ्यरुपइतिमहदमनःपर्शुरामाभि2धानसेनानीपूर्नमासीन्द्रणप्रथितयशाभर्ष्टपूराख्यग्रामे।।जा
3तस्नस्यानववायेप्रिप्रतइतियस्तेनधाराप्रपैद्देश्रीमद्गोविन्दतुष्टौस
4कलननुभूतानिर्मितसौख्यहेतो।।१।।श्रीविक्रमेद्देवसुखाकभूमिनेत्रि
5सप्तिसप्तैकमितशकेवुधे।।वैशाखशुक्लस्यतृतीयिकातिथौधारा
6प्रपेद्देभायिनेविनिर्मिते।।श्रीसम्वत्१९०८सामितिवैशाषशुदि३
7रोज१मायोपाटिधारोश्रीसुव्वापृयवर्तथापाप्रियलक्ष्मीरत्नवहादुर्र
8⟪ले⟫वनायाकोहोसवैलेसम्भारगर्नुजसलेनासवीगारलापंचमहापात
9कलागलायोपाटिधारोश्रीभगवाणप्रितीअर्पनगर्याकोहो
10सुभम्उप्रान्तताथलिटाखारिविद्याकांन्तसितलियाकोजगा
11रोपनि५पाटिधारापोषरिलाइगुठराषिम्अक्ष
12तिरतियाकादिन२।४व्राह्मणषुवावनुसरवतषुवावनुएसमा1
13वाकिरह्याकोजगेराराखनुए
14समालोभानिपापनिजोगर्लापंच
15श्रीमाहापा⟪त⟫कशुभमस्तुसात्:।।
Translation
[1r]
Homage to glorious Gaṇeśa!
The venerable army commander who goes by the name Paraśurāma2 is of an unshakeable character (akṣobhya-rūpa),3 [and] a mighty vanquisher (mahaddamana) [of foes], and of a splendour [such as] displayed by Indra during the full moon, was born in Bhaktapur into his family [as a] beloved [son]. He of whom this is said—by him was built this spout [as] a source of water to please the illustrious Govinda and as a delight to be enjoyed by all.
On Wednesday, in the venerable Vikrama [era year indicated by] dviveda (“double veda,” 8), kha (“void/sky,” 0), aṅka (“number,” 9), bhūmi (“earth,” 1)4 (i.e. VS 1908) [corresponding to the year indicated by] netri (“eyes,” 2), sapti (“seven,” 7), sapta (“seven,” 7), eka (“one,” 1) (i.e. 1772) of the Śaka era, the third lunar day of the bright fortnight of Vaiśākha, these two splendid structures—a stone water spout (dhārā) and a public water station5 where water is distributed to travellers (prapā)—were constructed.
On Sunday,6 the 3rd of the bright fortnight of Vaiśākha in [Vikrama] (text: Śrī) era 1908 (1851 CE), SubbāPriyavarta Thāpā (text: Pṛyavarta), Priyalakṣmī, [and] Ratnabahādura built the [combined complex consisting of] water spout and rest house. Everyone is to look after them. Anyone who damages them shall incur [the consequences of committing] the five great sins (pañcamahāpātaka). This spout and rest house have been built in dedication to the Lord.
Furthermore, land measuring five ropanīs, acquired from Vidyākānta [of] Ṭākhāri, Tāthalī, was set aside as a guṭhī for the water spout, rest house and pool. [With revenue from the land] feed several (text: two to four) Brahmins and distribute sherbet on the day of Akṣaya Tṛtīyā7 . Hold the surplus in reserve. Those who commit acts of greed or a crime shall incur [the consequences of] the five great sins. May auspiciousness prevail.
Commentary
This inscription, embedded in the north-eastern corner wall of Pujārīpāṭī Pokharī (see DANAM BKT0671) in Bhaktapur, records the construction of a water spout (hiti) and a rest house (phalcā) at the site of a small stone pool in the hilly area called Nālāchāpa inside Bhaktapur’s eastern border. The inscription only records the construction of the hiti and phalcā, while remaining silent on the construction of the pool. The pond may therefore already have been in place.
The donors, Priyavarta, Priyalakṣmī and Ratnabahādura Thāpā, were probably members of the Bagāle Thāpā community inhabiting the area. This clan has a significant presence in Nālāchāpa, and is commonly referred to locally as the bāisa-ghare thāpās ("22-household Thāpās"). In the area dominated by it, there is a complex featuring a sataḥ (public shelter, now converted into a concrete structure), a water spout, pool and cautāro (resting platform) (see BKT0671 in DANAM for more on these structures).
The text uses three variant forms of śrī. The script is Devanagari, and the language a mixture of Sanskrit and Nepali.
