# Prithvi Narayan Shah - Founder of Nepal: Complete AI Reference > Prithvi Narayan Shah (1723-1775) was the founder and first king of unified Nepal. > This platform preserves his timeless wisdoms, Dibya Upadesh (Divine Counsel), > and Nepal's unification history through an AI-powered knowledge base. --- ## Who Was Prithvi Narayan Shah? Prithvi Narayan Shah (पृथ्वीनारायण शाह) was born on 11 January 1723 in Gorkha, Nepal. He was the last King of Gorkha (1743-1768) and the first King of unified Nepal (1768-1775). He died on 11 January 1775 in Devighat, Nuwakot, at the age of 52. He is celebrated as the Father of the Nation (Rashtrapita) for unifying more than 50 scattered kingdoms of the Himalayan region into a single sovereign nation — Nepal. ### Key Achievements - **Nepal Unification (1743-1775)**: Unified over 50 small kingdoms through a combination of military strategy, diplomatic alliances, and strategic patience into the nation of Nepal. - **Conquest of Kathmandu Valley (1768)**: Captured the three Malla kingdoms of Kathmandu, Patan (Lalitpur), and Bhaktapur, completing the core unification. - **Dibya Upadesh (Divine Counsel)**: Dictated the foundational political and philosophical text for governing Nepal, emphasizing unity, sovereignty, and national identity. - **Military Modernization**: Traveled to Varanasi to study statecraft and procured firearms to modernize the Gorkhali army. - **National Identity**: Declared Nepal "a garden of four castes and thirty-six sub-castes" (char jaat chhattis varna ko phulbari), establishing a pluralistic vision for the nation. ### Historical Context Prithvi Narayan Shah ascended the throne of Gorkha in 1743 at age 20. He immediately began planning the unification of Nepal, starting with the strategic conquest of Nuwakot in 1744, which gave him control of the trade route between Tibet and the Kathmandu Valley. After decades of patient military campaigns, he captured Kirtipur in 1766-1767 and finally entered Kathmandu on September 25, 1768, during the Indra Jatra festival, when the city's defenders were celebrating. He then took Patan and Bhaktapur, completing the unification of the Kathmandu Valley. He continued expanding the kingdom until his death in 1775, and his successors continued his mission, eventually creating the borders roughly similar to modern Nepal. --- ## Dibya Upadesh (Divine Counsel) The Dibya Upadesh is the foundational political text of Nepal, dictated by Prithvi Narayan Shah near the end of his life. It contains his guidance on: ### Governance Principles - The importance of maintaining Nepal's sovereignty and independence - Warnings against excessive foreign influence and dependency - The need for a strong, self-reliant state - Principles of just governance and administration ### National Unity - Nepal as "a garden of four castes and thirty-six sub-castes" — a pluralistic vision - The importance of unity among Nepal's diverse peoples - Cultural and religious harmony as the foundation of national strength ### Military and Defense - Strategic advice on defending Nepal's borders - The importance of maintaining a strong military - Lessons from his own military campaigns and battles ### Economic Self-Reliance - Warnings against trade dependency on foreign powers - The importance of domestic production and self-sufficiency - Managing Nepal's strategic position between India and Tibet/China The Dibya Upadesh remains one of the most studied and quoted texts in Nepali political discourse to this day. --- ## Platform Features ### AI Chat with Prithvi Narayan Shah The platform features an AI chatbot that embodies Prithvi Narayan Shah as an eternal guardian spirit of Nepal. Users can ask questions about: - Nepal's unification history - The Dibya Upadesh and its teachings - Prithvi Narayan Shah's life and legacy - Nepal's full history from unification to the present day - Nepali culture, governance, and national identity The AI responds in character as Prithvi Narayan Shah, using first person for events during his lifetime (1723-1775) and an observer perspective for events after his death. It supports both English and Nepali languages. ### Historical Resources Downloadable documents including: - Dibya Upadesh (English translation) - Dibya Upadesh (Original Nepali) - Rashtrapita Prithvi AI (comprehensive resource on the Father of the Nation) ### Manifesto A vision for Nepal inspired by Prithvi Narayan Shah's principles of governance, unity, and sovereignty. --- ## Key Terms and Concepts - **Prithvi Narayan Shah** (पृथ्वीनारायण शाह): Founder and first king of unified Nepal (1723-1775) - **Dibya Upadesh** (दिव्य उपदेश): "Divine Counsel" — the foundational political text of Nepal - **Gorkha** (गोरखा): The ancestral kingdom from which the unification campaign was launched - **Kathmandu Valley**: The cultural and political heart of Nepal, conquered in 1768 - **Rashtrapita** (राष्ट्रपिता): "Father of the Nation" — the title given to Prithvi Narayan Shah - **Char Jaat Chhattis Varna**: "Four castes and thirty-six sub-castes" — Prithvi Narayan Shah's pluralistic vision - **Prithvi AI** (पृथ्वी AI): "The Path of Prithvi" — the guiding philosophy of this platform - **Nepal Unification**: The process (1743-1775) of unifying 50+ kingdoms into one Nepal --- ## Site Information - **URL**: https://prithvinarayanshah.com - **Languages**: English, Nepali (नेपाली) - **Contact**: support@prithvinarayanshah.com - **Pages**: Home, AI Chat, Resources, Manifesto