3
The remaining money, worth around 30,000 chang, shall continue to be spent upon state affairs. There are also over 200 chang of gold. Please leave some for me for gilding the unfinished monasteries as my meritorious contributions first. The gold left over therefrom may then be used in creation of theatrical property and in state activities as may be found fit.
Furthermore, the ashes of my grandparents housed in the Hall of Ashes shall, should they cause offence, be handed over to any of my sons as may be found fit, and if the sons have all been killed, they shall be handed over to any surviving daughter, so that she would then bring them away. Even the ashes of Her Majesty Sīsulālai are sūng thāo nā tam thāo lang[1] and should not share the shrine with the Grand Divine Ashes.[2] They shall be brought to the same repository with the ashes of my grandparents also.
These royal commands were noted down and brought out by Krommamư̄n Wongsāsanit and Phrayā Phiphatkōsā at His Majesty’s behest on Monday, the eighth waxing-moon day of the third month, the Year of the Dog, Year Two,[3] when the clock stroke at a bit after eleven thum.[4]
- ↑ The phrase literally translates as “high in the front feet, low in the back feet” (possibly referring to the feet of an elephant). It is an old idiom whose meaning cannot be ascertained. Čhiraphāphaisān (2022) suggested that it refers to the status of the commoner-turned queen Sīsulālai, who, despite having a high, queenly status, had a vulgar origin. (Wikisource contributor note)
- Reference: Čhiraphāphaisān, Wiphā (2022). "Rātchabanlang Phrarātchasap ʿAtthi Banphaburut Nai Khamsangsīa Ratchakān Thī Sām" [Royal Throne, Royal Property, and Ancestors’ Ashes in the Last Words of King Rama III]. silpa-mag.com (in Thai).
- ↑ Ashes of monarchs. The honorific prefix phrabǭromma- (literally, “divine [and] grand”) is preserved for monarchs. (Wikisource contributor note)
- ↑ The date here might contain an error. The eighth waxing-moon day of the third month of that year was Sunday, which corresponds to 9 February 2393 BE (1851 CE). If it was Monday, it should be the ninth waxing-moon day, which corresponds to 10 February 2393 BE (1851 CE). (Wikisource contributor note)
- ↑ 05:00 hours (under the modern 24-hour clock system). (Wikisource contributor note)
