came with a large army to carry her away; but when they arrived at the stream named Sāmpusi, instead of seeing Bhatgaon, they beheld a frightful fire blazing, and were frightened. They each threw down a clod of earth and a quantity of ashes, which formed two or three small ridges of hills, named Dandampã, and then they returned to their own country. These ridges are still in existence1. A person who washed the clothes of Rājā Harisinha-dēva at Pādara Khārī was called Rajaka, and this caste of people, his descendants, settled down at Dēvapatan and Bhatgaon. A Baid (physician) of this Rājā was one day preparing to bathe in the water at Tēkhudobhāna2, when he was accosted by Karkōtak, the king of the Nags, who, in the form of a Brahman, was seeking for a Baid to cure a malady with which his Rānī's eyes were affected. The Nag, being satisfied that the man was a Baid, entreated him to go to his house and see a patient. The Baid, after finishing his ceremonies and bathing, went with the Brahman. They arrived at a pond, at the south-western corner (of the valley), a thousand bowshots beyond Chaubahāl. The pond was so deep, and the water so black, that it was frightful to look at. It was shaded by trees, large fish played in it, and it was covered with waterfowl. The Nag told the Baid to shut his eyes, and in a moment he jumped with him into 1 To the N.E. of Bhatgaon; but I could not ascertain which stream is the Sāmpusi. 2 The junction of the Bagmati and Vishnumati. This tank, Taudah, is still in existence, and believed to be the abode of Karkōtak. I have been gravely cautioned against going to fish there for fear of this mighty Nag or serpent. During the present reign an unsuccessful attempt was made to draw off the water, with the view of getting the wealth supposed to be sunk in it. the water, and they arrived at the Durbar of Nāg-rāj in Patalpuri. The walls of the palace were of gold, the windows of diamond, the rafters and beams of sapphires, the pillars of topaz adorned with rubies. The darkness of the subterranean place was dispelled by the light emanating from large jewels in the heads of the Nāgs. They entered the palace, and saw the Nagini, sitting on a throne studded with jewels of several sorts, shaded with three umbrellas of white diamonds, one above the other, and surrounded by beautiful Naginis. Karkōtak, assuming his proper form, took the Baid by the hand, and gave him a seat near the throne. He himself mounted the throne, and showed the patient to the Baid. The Baid, having examined her eyes, took out a drug from a bag which he carried at his waist, and having rubbed it on a clean stone, applied it to the eyes, which were instantly cured. Karkōtak gave the Baid a handsome present and a dress of honour, and having expressed his gratitude, made him a promise that his descendants would be good curers of eye-diseases. The descendants of this Baid, accordingly, were renowned as good eyedoctors. Hari-sinha-dēva, having been made acquainted with these events, honoured the Baid, and gave him a place to reside in, near Sesha Nārāyana. The descendants of the Newāras, who came from Nayēra, still occupy the country. Dwīmāju-dēvi made over to Hari-sinha-dēva all the treasure which she had hoarded up from the time of Nānyadēva Rājā; and the Rājā, in return, established the yearly Dēvālī Pūjā in her honour. The kings of this dynasty were: 1. Hari-sinha-dēva, who reigned 28 years. 2. His son Mati-sinha-dēva reigned 15 ycars. 3. His son Sakti-sinha-dēva reigned 22 years. This Raja abdicated in favour of his son Shyamasinha-dēva, and took up his residence at Palamchōk1, whence he sent presents to China, which so pleased the Emperor that he sent in return a seal, with the name Sakti-sinha engraved on it, and in addition the title of Rāma, with a royal despatch, in the Chinese year 535. 4. His son Shyama-sinha-dēva reigned 15 years. In this reign a tremendous earthquake was felt in Nepal. The temple of Machchhindranatha and all other buildings fell down, and innumerable human beings perished. This took place on the 12th of Bhadra Sudi, in Nepal Sambat 528 (A.D. 1408). This Shyama-sinha-dēva had no male issue, but only a daughter, whom he gave in marriage to one of the descendants of the Malla Rājās, who fled to Tirhūt on the invasion of Nānyadēva Rājā. He then made his son-in-law Rājā. 1 To the east of Banepa. CHAPTER V. The line of Hari-sinha-dēva having become extinct, the throne is filled by a descendant of the former Malla Rājās, who founds a new dynasty. Laws of Jayasthiti Malla. Division of the kingdom. Malla Rājās of Bhatgaon. First invasion of the Nepalese territory by the Gorkha kings. Birth and education of Prithwīnārāyana Sāh. 1. Jayabhadra Malla reigned 15 years. Before this time these Malla Rājās had ruled over Bhatgaon, and the Navadurga-dēvi, being much pleased (at their return), caused such a plentiful crop to be produced, that, in threshing out the rice, a large quantity was scattered about and formed a hillock of corn; which hillock still exists at the south-east corner of the town. 2. His son Nag Malla reigned 15 years. 3. His son Jayajagat Malla reigned 11 years. This Rājā, having propitiated the Kwathachhē-kumārī-dēvī of Patan, defeated the Thakuri Rājās, and took their possessions. Through the influence of this Dēvi, the rivers Bagmati and Manmati, which flowed near his temple and joined there, left a great space of land at their junction. This Rājā once went to hunt in the jungle of Swayambhu, and became thirsty. While searching for water he saw Swēta Kālī and Rakta Kālī, in the middle of space bounded by the Vishnumati on the west, the the Bagmati on the south, and the Rudramati on the east: and he determined to name this place Kāsīpur, or the northern Kāsī. This Rājā ruled over both Pātan and Bhātgãon; and Gangā-bālakumārī being pleased with him, he was blessed with a wise and powerful son. 7. His son Jayasthiti Malla reigned 43 years. This Rājā was very wise, through the favour of Ganga-bālakumārī, who was very much pleased with his father Asōka Malla, the sixth of the Malla Rājās, the descendants of Rājā Jayabhadra Malla, who succeeded to the throne in right of his wife, the daughter of Rājā Shyāma-sinha-dēva, the fourth in descent from Rājā Hari-sinha-dēva, of the solar race, who brought Turjā Bhavani into Nepāl. He made many laws regarding the rights of property in houses, lands, and birtās, which hereafter became saleable. In former reigns criminals were allowed to escape with blows and reprimands, but this Rājā imposed fines, according to the degree of the crimes. He ordered that all the four castes of his subjects should attend the dead bodies of the kings to the burning-ghāts, and that the instrumental music of the Dīpaka Rāga1 should be performed while the dead bodies were being burned. To some castes he gave permission to sound the kāhāl (a long trumpet), while the bodies of their dead were being burned. Every caste followed its own customs. To the low castes dwellings, dress and ornaments were assigned, according to certain rules. No sleeves were allowed to 1 There are six rāgs, 36 rāginis, and eight putras or sons of these. All these are various modes of singing. |