अलंकार उपन्यास भाग-4

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is lekh ka punarikshan evan sampadan hona avashyak hai. ap isamean sahayata kar sakate haian. "sujhav"

nagar mean soory ka parakash phail chuka tha. galiyaan abhi khali p di huee thian. gali ke donoan taraph sikandar ki kabar tak bhavanoan ke ooancheooanche satoon dikhaee dete the. gali ke sangin pharsh par jahaantahaan toote hue har aur bujhi mashaloan ke tuk de p de hue the. samudr ki taraph se hava ke taje jhoanke a rahe the. papanashi ne ghrina se apane bh dakile vastr utar pheanke aur usake tuk detuk de karake pairoan tale kuchal diya.

tab usane thayas se kaha-'pyari thayas, toone in kumanushoan ki batean sunian ? aise kaun se durvachan aur apashabd haian jo unake muanh se n nikale hoan, jaise mori se maila pani nikalata hai. in logoan ne jagath ke kartta parameshvar ko narak ki siyioan par ghasita, dharm aur adharm ki satta par shanka ki, parabhu masih ka apaman kiya, aur jooda ka yash gaya. aur vah andhakar ka gid d vah durgandhamay rakshas, jo in sabhi duratmaoan ka gurughantal tha, vah papi markas eriyan khudi huee kabar ki bhaanti muanh khol raha tha. piray, toone in vishthamay gobarailoan ko apani or reangakar ate aur apane ko unake gande sparsh se apavitr karate dekha hai. toone auroan ko pashuoan ki bhaanti apane gulamoan ke pairoan ke pas sote dekha hai. toone unhean pashuoan ki bhaanti usi pharsh par sanbhog karate dekha hai jis par vah madira se unmatt hokar kai kar chuke the ! toone ek mandabuddhi, sathiyaye hue buddhe ko apana rakt bahate dekha hai jo us sharab se bhi ganda tha jo in bharashtachariyoan ne bahaee thi. eeshvar ko dhany hai ! toone kuvasanaoan ka drishy dekha aur tujhe vidit ho gaya ki yah kitani ghrinotpadak vastu hai ? thayas, thamas, in kumagir darshanikoan ki bharashtataoan ko yad kar aur tab soch ki too bhi unhian ke sath apane ko bharasht karegi ? un donoan kulataoan ke katakshoan ko, havabhav ko, ghrinit sanketoan ko yad kar, vah kitani nirlajjata se hansati thian, kitani behayaee se logoan ko apane pas bulati thian aur tab nirnay kar ki too bhi unhian ke sadrish apane jivan ka sarvanash karati rahegi ? ye darshanik purush the jo apane ko sabhy kahate haian, jo apane vicharoan par garv karate haian par in veshyaoan par aise gire p date the jaise kutte hiddayoan par girean !'

thayas ne rat ko jo kuchh dekha aur suna tha usase usaka hriday glanit aur lajjit ho raha tha. aise drishy dekhane ka use yah pahala hi avasar n tha, par aj kasa asar usake man par kabhi n hua tha. papanashi ki satuttejanaoan ne usake sadbhav ko jaga diya tha. kaise hridayashoony log haian jo stri ko apani vasanaoan ka khilauna matr samajhate haian ! kaisi striyaan haian jo apane dehasamarpan ka mooly ek pyale sharab se adhik nahian samajhatian. maian yah sab janate aur dekhate hue bhi isi andhakar mean p di huee hooan. mere jivan ko dhikkar hai.

usane papanashi ko javab diya-'piray pita, mujhamean ab jara bhi dam nahian hai. maian aisi ashakt ho rahi hooan mano dam nikal raha hai. kahaan vishram milega, kahaan ek gh di shanti se letooan ? mera chehara jal raha hai, aankhoan se aanchasi nikal rahi hai, sir mean chakkar a raha hai, aur mere hath itane thak gaye haian ki yadi anand aur shanti mere hathoan ki pahuanch mean bhi a jay to mujhamean usake lene ki shakti n hogi.'

papanashi ne us snehamay karuna se dekhakar kaha-'piray bhagini ! dhairy aur sahas hi se tera udghar hoga. teri sukhashanti ka ujjval aur nirmal parakash is bhaanti nikal raha hai jaise sagar aur van se bhap nikalati hai.'

yah batean karate hue donoan ghar ke samip a pahuanche. saro aur sanovar ke vriksh jo 'pariyoan ke kuanj' ko ghere hue the, divar ke oopar sir uthaye parabhatasamir se kaanp rahe the. unake samane ek maidan tha. is samay sannata chhaya hua tha. maidan ke charoan taraph yodghaoan ki moortiyaan bani huee thian aur charoan siroan par ardhachandrakar sangamaramar ki chaukiyaan bani huee thian, jo daityoan ki moortiyoan par sthit thian. thayas ek chauki par gir p di. ek kshan vishram lene ke bad usane sachint netroan se papanashi ki or dekha poochha-'ab maian kahaan jaoo ?'

papanashi ne uttar diya-'tujhe usake sath jana chahie jo teri khoj mean kitani hi manjilean marakar aya hai. vah tujhe is bharasht jivan se prithakh kar dega jaise aangoor batorane vala mali un guchchhoan ko to d leta hai jo pe d mean lagelage s d jate haian aur unhean kolhoo mean le jakar sugandhapoorn sharab ke roop mean parinat kar deta hai. sun, iskandriya se keval barah ghante ki rah par, samudratat ke samip vairagiyoan ka ek ashram hai jisake niyam itane sundar, buddhimatta se itane paripoorn haian ki unako pady ka roop dekar sitar aur tamboore par gana chahie. yah kahana leshamatr bhi atyukti nahian hai ki jo striyaan yahaan par rahakar un niyamoan ka palan karati haian unake pair dharati par rahate haian aur sir akash par. vah dhan se ghrina karati haian jisamean parabhu masih un par parem karean; lajjashil rahati haian ki vah un par kripadrishtipat karean, sati rahati haian ki vah unhean pareyasi banayean. parabhu masih mali ka vesh dharan karake, nange paanv, apane vishal bahu ko phailaye, nity darshan dete haian. usi tarah unhoanne mata mariyam ko kabar ke dvar par darshan diye the. maian aj tujhe us ashram mean le jaooanga, aur tho de hi din pichhe, tujhe in pavitr deviyoan ke sahavas mean unaki amritavani sunane ka anand parapt hoga. vah bahanoan ki bhaanti tera svagat karane ko utsuk haian. ashram ke dvar par usaki adhyakshini mata alabina tera mukh choomeangi aur tujhase saparem svar se kaheangi, beti, a tujhe god mean le looan, maian tere lie bahut vikal thi.'

thayas chakit hokar boli-'are alabina ! kaisar ki beti, samarat keras ki bhatiji ! vah bhogavilas chho dakar ashram mean tap kar rahi hai ?'

papanashi ne kaha-'haan, haan, vahi ! alabina, jo mahal mean paida huee aur sunahare vastr dharan karati rahi, jo sansar ke sabase b de naresh ki putri hai, use masih ki dasi ka uchchapad parapt hua hai. vah ab jhoanp de mean rahati hai, mote vastr pahanati hai aur kee din tak upavas karati hai. vah ab teri mata hogi, aur tujhe apani god mean ashray degi.'

thayas chauki par se uth baithi aur boli-'mujhe isi kshan alabina ke ashram mean le chalo.'

papanashi ne apani saphalata par mugadh hokar kaha-'tujhe vahaan avashy le chalooanga aur vahaan tujhe ek kuti mean rakh dooanga jahaan too apane papoan ka rorokar parayashchit karegi, kyoanki jab tak tere pap aansuoan se dhul n jayean, too alabina ki any putriyoan se milajul nahian sakati aur n milana uchit hi hai. maian dvar par tala dal dooanga, aur too vahaan aansuoan se adr hokar parabhu masih ki paratiksha karegi, yahaan tak ki vah tere papoan ko kshama karane ke lie svayan ayeange aur dvar par tala kholeange. aur thayas, isamean anumatr bhi sandeh n kar ki vah ayeange. ah ! jab vah apani komal, parakashamay uangaliyaan teri aankhoan par rakhakar tere aansoo poanchhege, us samay teri atma anand se kaisi pulakit hogi ! unake sparshamatr se tujhe aisa anubhav hoga ki koee parem ke hiandole mean jhula raha hai.'

thayas ne phir kaha-'piray pita, mujhe alabina ke ghar le chalo.'

papanashi ka hriday anand se utphull ho gaya. usane charoan taraph garv se dekha mano koee gangal kuber ka khazana pa gaya ho. nissank hokar srishti ki anupam sushama ka usane asvadan kiya. usaki aankhean eeshvar ke diye hue parakash ko parasann hokar pi rahi thian. usake galoan par hava ke jhoanke n jane kidhar se akar lagate the. sahasa maidan ke ek kaune par thayas ke makan ka chhotasa dvar dekhakar aur yah yad karake ki jin pattiyoan ki shobha ka vah anand utha raha tha vah thayas ke bag ke pe doan ki haian. use un sab apavan vastuoan ki yad a gayi jo vahaan ki vayu ko, jo aj itani nirmal aur pavitr thi, dooshit kar rahi thi, aur usaki atma ko itani vedana huee ki usaki aankhoan mean aansoo bahane lage.

usane kaha-'thayas, hamean yahaan se bina pichhe mu dakar dekhe hue bhagana chahie. lekin hamean apane pichhe tere sanskar ke sadhanoan, sakshiyoan aur sahayogiyoan ko bhi n chho dana chahie. vah bhariparade, vah sundar palang, vah kalinean, vah manohar chitr aur moortiyaan, vah dhoop adi jalane ke svarnakund, yah sab chillachillakar tere papacharan ki ghoshana kareange. kya teri ichchha hai ki ye ghrinit samagirayaan, jinamean paretoan ka nivas hai, jinamean papatmaean trki da karati haian marubhoomi mean bhi tera pichha karean, yahi sanskar vahaan teri bhi atma ko chanchal karate rahean ? yah niri kalpana nahian hai ki mejean paranaghatak hoti haian, kurasiyaan aur gadde paretoan ke yantr banakar bolate haian, chalatephirate haian, hava mean u date haian, gate haian. un samagar vastuoan ko, jo teri vilasalolupata ke sathi haian; mia de, sarvanash kar de. thayas, ek kshan bhi vilamb n kar abhi sara nagar so raha hai, koee halachal n machegi, apane gulamoan ko hukm de ki vah sthan ke madhy mean ek chita banaye, jis par ham tere bhavan ki sari sampada ki ahuti kar dean. usi agnirashi mean tere kusanskar jalakar bhasmibhoot ho jayean !'

thayas ne sahamat hokar kaha-'poojy pita, apaki jaisi ichchha ho, vah kijiye. maian bhi janati hooan ki bahudha paretagan nijirv vastuoan mean rahate haian. rat sajavat ki koeekoee vastu batean karane lagati haian, kintu shabdoan mean nahian ya to tho ditho di der mean khatakhat ki avaz se ya parakash ki rekhaean parasphutit karake. aur ek vichitr bat sunie. poojy pita, apane pariyoan ke kuanj ke dvar par, dahini or ek nagn stri ki moorti ko dhyan se dekha hai ? ek din maianne aankhoan se dekha ki us moorti ne jivit parani ke saman apana sir pher liya aur phir ek pal mean apani poorv dasha mean a gayi, maian bhayabhit ho gayi. jab maianne nisiyas se yah adbhut lila bayan ki to vah meri hansi u dane laga. lekin us moorti mean koee jadoo avashy hai; kyoanki usane ek videshi manushy ko, jis par mere saundary ka jadoo kuchh asar n kar saka tha, atyant parabal ichchhaoan se paripoorit kar diya. isamean koee sandeh nahian hai ki ghar ki sabhi vastuoan mean paretoan ka basera hai aur mere lie yahaan rahana janajokhim tha, kyoanki kee adami ek pital ki moorti se aliangan karate hue paran kho baithe haian. to bhi un vastuoan ko nasht karana jo advitiy kalanai puny paradarshit kar rahi haian aur meri kalinoan aur paradoan ko jalana ghor anyay hoga. yah adbhut vastuean sadaiv ke lie sansar se lupt ho jaeangi. umean se kee itane sundar rangoan se sushobhit haian ki unaki shobha avarnaniy hai, aur logoan ne unhean mujhe upahar dene ke lie atul dhan vyay kiya tha. mere pas amooly pyale, moortiyaan aur chitr haian. mere vichar mean unako jalana bhi anuchit hoga. lekin maian is vishay mean koee agarah nahian karati. poojy pita, apaki jaisi ichchha ho kijie.'

yah kahakar vah papanashi ke pichhepichhe apane grihadvar par pahuanchi jis par aganit manushyoan ke hathoan se haroan aur pushpamalaoan ki bheant pa chuki thi, aur jab dvar khula to usane dvarapal se kaha ki ghar ke samast sevakoan ko bulao. pahale char bharatavasi aye jo rasoee ka kam karate the. vah sab saanvale rang ke aur kane the. thayas ko ek hi jati ke char gulam, aur charoan kane, b di mushkil se mile, par yah usaki ek dillagi thi aur jab tak charoan mil n gaye the, use chain n ata tha. jab vah mej par bhojyapadarth chunate the to mehamanoan ko unhean dekhakar b da kutoohal hota tha. thayas paratyek ka vrittant usake mukh se kahalakar mehamanoan ka manoranjan karati thi. is charoan ke unake sahayak aye. tab baribari se saees, shikari, palaki uthane vale, harakare jinaki masapeshiyaan atyant sudri़ thian, do kushal mali, chhah bhayankar roop ke habshi aur tin yoonani gulam, jinamean ek vaiyakaran tha, doosara kavi aur tisara gayak sab akar ek lambi katar manean kh de ho gaye. unake pichhe habshinean ayian jinaki b dib di gol aankhoan mean shanka, utsukata aur udvignata jhalak rahi thi, aur jinake mukh kanoan tak phate hue the. sabake pichhe chhah taruni roopavati dasiyaan, apani nakaboan ko sanbhalati aur dhiredhire be diyoan se jak de hue paanv uthati akar udasin bhav se kh di hueean.

jab sabake-sab jama ho gaye to thayas ne papanashi ki or uangali uthakar kaha-'dekho, tumhean yah mahatma jo ajna dean usaka palan karo. yah eeshvar ke bhakt haian. jo inaki avajna karega vah kh dekh de mar jayega.'

usane suna tha aur is par vishvas karati thi ki dhamarshram ke sant jis abhage purush par kop karake chh di se marate the, use nigalane ke lie prithvi apana muanh khol deti thi.

papanashi ne yoonani dasoan aur dasiyoan ko samane se hata diya. vah apane oopar unaka saya bhi n p dane dena chahata tha aur shesh sevakoan se kaha-'yahaan bahutasi lak di jama karo, usamean ag laga do aur jab agni ki jvala uthane lage to is ghar ke sab sajasaman mitti ke bartan se lekar sone ke thaloan tak, tat ke tuk de se lekar, bahumooly kalinoan tak, sabhi moortiyaan, chitr, gamale, gaddamadd karake isi chita mean dal do, koee chiz baki n bache.'

yah vichitr ajna sunakar sabake-sab vismit ho gaye, aur apani svamini ki or katar netroan se takate hue moortivat kh de rah gaye. vah abhi isi akarmany dasha mean avak aur nishchal kh de the, aur ekadoosare ko kuhaniyaan g date the, mano vah is hukm ko dillagi samajh rahe haian ki papanashi ne raudraroop dharan karake kaha-'kyoan bilamb ho raha hai ?'

isi samay thayas nange pair, chhitake hue kesh kandhoan par laharati ghar mean se nikali. vah bhadde mote vastr dharan kiye hue thi, jo usake dehasparsh matr se svagiry, kamottejak sugandhi se paripoorit jan p date the. usake pichhe ek mali ek chhotisi hathidaant ki moorti chhati se lagaye liye ata tha.

papanashi ke pas akar thayas ne moorti use dikhaee aur kaha-'poojy pita, kya ise bhi ag mean dal dooan ? parachin samay ki adbhut karigari ka namoona hai aur isaka mooly shatagun svarn se kam nahian. is kshati ki poorti kisi bhaanti n ho sakegi, kyoanki sansar mean ek bhi aisa nipurn moortikar nahian hai jo itani sundar eras (parem ka devata) ki moorti bana sake. pita, yah bhi smaran rakhie ki yah parem ka devata hai; isake sath nirdayata karana uchit nahian. pita, maian apako vishvas dilati hooan ki parem ka adharm se koee sambandh nahian, aur agar maian vishayabhog mean lipt huee to parem ki parerana se nahian, balki usaki avahelana karake, usaki ichchha ke viruddh vyavahar karake. mujhe un batoan ke lie kabhi pashchattap n hoga jo maianne usake adesh ka ullanghan karake ki haian. usaki kadapi yah ichchha nahian hai ki striyaan un purushoan ka svagat karean jo usake nam par nahian ate. is karan is devata ki paratishtha karani chahie. dekhie pitaji, yah chhotasa eras kitana manohar hai. ek din nisiyas ne, jo un dinoan mujh par parem karata tha ise mere pas lakar kaha-aj to yah devata yahian rahega aur tumhean meri yad dilayega. par is natakhat balak ne mujhe nisiyas ki yad to kabhi nahian dilaee; haan, ek yuvak ki yad nity dilata raha jo entiok mean rahata tha aur jisake sath maianne jivan ka vastavik anand uthaya. phir vaisa purush nahian mila yadyapi maian sadaiv usaki khoj mean tatpar rahi. ab is agni ko shant hone dijie, pitaji ! atul dhan isaki bheant ho chuka. is balamoorti ko ashray dijie aur ise svarakshit kisi dharmashala mean sthan dila dijie. ise dekhakar logoan ke chitt eeshvar ki or paravritt hoange, kyoanki parem svabhavatah man mean utkrisht aur pavitr vicharoan ko jagrit karata hai.'

thayas man mean soch rahi thi ki usaki vakalat ka avashy asar hoga aur kamase-kam yah moorti to bach jayegi. lekin papanashi baj ki bhaanti jhapata, mali ke hath se moorti chhin li, turant use chita mean dal diya aur nirday svar mean bola-'jab yah nisiyas ki chiz hai aur usane ise sparsh kiya hai to mujhase isaki sipharish karana vyarth hai. us papi ka sparshamatr samast vikaroan se paripoorit kar dene ke lie kafi hai.'

tab usane chamakate hue vastr, bhaantibhaanti ke abhooshan, sone ki padukaean, ratnajatit kanghiyaan, bahumooly aeene, bhaantibhaanti ke ganebajane ki vastuean sarod, sitar, vin, nana parakar ke phanoos, aankavaroan mean uthauthakar jhoankana shuroo kiya. is parakar kitana dhan nasht hua, isaka anuman karana hai. idhar to jvala uth rahi thi, chinagariyaan u d rahi thian, chatakapatak ki nirantar dhvani sunaee deti thi, udhar habshi gulam is vinashak drishy se unmatt hokar taliyaan bajabajakar aur bhishan nad se chillachillakar nach rahe the. vichitr drishy tha, dhamortsah ka kitana bhayankar roop !

in gulamoan mean se kee eesaee the. unhoanne shighar hi is parakar ka ashy samajh liya aur ghar mean eeandhan aur ag lane gaye. auroan ne bhi unaka anukaran kiya, kyoanki yah sab daridr the aur dhan se ghrina karate the aur dhan se badala lene ki unamean svabhavik paravritti thi-jo dhan hamare kam nahian ata, use nasht hi kyoan n kar dalean ! jo vastr hamean pahanane ko nahian mil sakate, unhean jala hi kyoan n dalean ! unhean is paravritti ki shaant karane ka yah achchha avasar mila. jin vastuoan ne hamean itane dinoan tak jalaya hai, unhean aj jala deange. chita taiyar ho rahi thi aur ghar ki vastuean bahar laee ja rahi thian ki papanashi ne thayas se kaha-pahale mere man mean yah vichar hua ki iskandriya ke kisi charch ke koshadhyaksh ko laooan (yadi abhi koee aisa sthan hai jise charch kaha ja sake, aur jise eriyan ke bharashtacharan se bharasht n kar diya.) aur use teri sampoorn sampatti de dooan ki vah unhean anath vidhavaoan aur balakoan ko paradan kar de aur is bhaanti papoparjit dhan ka punit upayog ho jaye. lekin ek kshan mean yah vichar jata raha; kyoanki eeshvar ne isaki parerana n ki thi. maian samajh gaya ki eeshvar ko kabhi manjoor n hoga ki tere pap ki kamaee eesoo ke piray bhaktoan ko di jaye. isase unaki atma ko ghor duahkh hoga. jo svayan daridr rahana chahate haian, svayan kasht bhogana chahate haian, isalie ki isase unaki atma shuddh hogi, unhean yah kalushit dhan dekar unaki atmashuddhi ke paratyan ko viphal karana unake sath b da anyay hoga. isalie maian nishchay kar chuka hooan ki tera sarvasv agni ka bhojan ban jaye, ek dhaga bhi baki n rahe ! eeshvar ko koti dhanyavad deta hooan ki teri nakabean aur choliyaan aur kurtiyaan jinhoanne samudr ki laharoan se bhi agany chumbanoan ka asvadan kiya hai, aj jvala ke mukh aur jihva ka anubhav kareangi. gulamo, dau do aur lak di lao, aur ag lao, tel ke kuppe lakar lu़ka do, agar aur kapoor aur lohaban chhi dak do jisamean jvala aur bhi parachand ho jaye ! aur thayas, too ghar mean ja, apane ghrinit vastroan ko utar de, abhooshanoan ko pairoan tale kuchal de, aur apane sabase din gulam se pararthana kar ki vah tujhe apana mota kurata de de; yadyapi too is dan ko pane yogy nahian hai, jise pahanakar vah tere pharsh par jha d lagata hai.

thayas ne kaha-'maianne is ajna ko shirodhary kiya.'

jab tak charoan bharatiy kane baithakar ag jhoank rahe the, habshi gulamoan ne chita mean b deb de hathidaant, abanoos aur sagaun ke sandook dal diye jo dhamake se toot gaye aur unamean se bahumooly ratnajatit abhooshan nikal p de. alav mean se dhuean ke kalekale badal uth rahe the. tab agni jo abhi tak sulag rahi thi, itana bhishan shabd karake dhandhak uthi, mano koee bhayankar vanapashu garaj utha, aur jvalajihva jo soory ke parakash mean bahut dhuandhali dikhaee deti thi, kisi rakshas ki bhaanti apane shikar ko nigalane lagi. jvala ne uttejit hokar gulamoan ko bhi uttejit kiya. ve dau dadau dakar bhitar se chizean bahar lane lage. koee motimoti kalinean ghasite chala ata tha, koee vastr ke gatthar liye dau da ata tha. jin nakaboan par sunahara kam kiya hua tha, jin paradoan par sundar belaboote bane hue the, sabhi ag mean jhoank diye gaye. agni muanh par nakab nahian dalana chahati aur n use paradoan se parem hai. vah bhishan aur nagn rahana chahati hai. tab lak di ke samanoan ki bari ayi. bhari mej, kursiyaan, motemote gadde, sone ki pariyoan se sushobhit palang gulamoan se uthate hi n the. tin balishth habshi pariyoan ki moortiyaan chhati se lagaye hue laye. in moortiyoan mean ek itani sundar thi ki log usase stri kasa parem karate the. aisa jan p data tha ki tin jangali bandar tin striyoan ko uthaye bhage jate haian ! aur jab yah tinoan sundar nagn moortiyaan, in daityoan ke hath se chhootakar girian aur tuk detuk de ho gayian, to gahari shokadhvani kanoan mean ayi.

yah shor sunakar p dosi ekek karake jagane lage aur aankhean malamalakar khi dakiyoan se dekhane lage ki yah dhuaan kahaan se a raha hai. tab usaki ardhanagn dasha mean bahar nikal p de aur alav ke charoan or jama ho gaye.

yah majara kya hai ? yahi parashn ek doosare se karata tha.

in logoan mean vah vyapari the jinase thayas itr, tel, kap de adi liya karati thi, aur vah sachint bhav se muanh latakaye tak rahe the. unaki samajh mean kuchh n ata tha ki yah kya ho raha hai. kee vishayabhogi purush jo rat bhar ke vilas ke bad sir par har lapete, kurate pahane gulamoan ke pichhe jate hue udhar se nikale to yah drishy dekhakar thithak gaye aur jorajor se taliyaan bajakar chillane lage. dhiredhire kutoohalavash aur log a gaye aur b di bhi d jama ho gayi. tab logoan ko jnat hua ki thayas dhamarshram ke tapasvi papanashi ke adesh se apani samast sampatti jalakar kisi ashram mean paravisht hone a rahi hai.

dukanadanoan ne vichar kiya-thayas yah nagar chho dakar chali ja rahi hai. ab ham kisake hath apani chizean becheange ? kaun hamean muanhamaange dam dega. yah b da ghor anarth hai. thayas pagal ho gayi hai kya ? is yogi ne avashy us par koee mantr dal diya hai, nahian to itana sukhavilas chho dakar tapasvini ban jana sahaj nahian hai. usake bina hamara nivarh kyoankar hoga! vah hamara sarvanash kiye dalati hai. yogi ko kyoan aisa karane diya jaye? akhir qanoon kisalie hai ? kya iskandriya mean koee nagar ka shasak nahian ? thayas ko hamare balabachchoan ki jara bhi chinta nahian hai use shahar mean rahane ke lie majaboor karana chahie. dhani log isi bhaanti nagar chho dakar chale jayeange to ham rah chuke. ham rajyakar kahaan se deange ?

yuvakagan ko doosare parakar ki chinta thi-agar thayas is bhaanti nirdayata se nagar se jayegi to natyashalaoan ko jivit kaun rakhega ? shighar hi unamean sannata chha jayega, hamare manoranjan ki mukhy samagari gayab ho jayegi, hamara jivan shushk aur niras ho jayega. vah rangabhoomi ka dipak, anand, samman, paratibha aur paran thi. jinhoanne usake parem ka anand nahian uthaya tha, vah usake darshan matr hi se kritarth ho jate the. any striyoan se parem karate hue bhi vah hamare netroan ke samane upasthit rahati thi. ham vilasiyoan ki to jivanadhara thi. keval yah vichar ki vah is nagar mean upasthit hai, hamari vasanaoan ko uddipt kiya karata tha. jaise jal ki devi vrishti karati hai, agni ki devi jalati hai, usi bhaanti yah anand ki devi hriday mean anand ka sanchar karati thi.

samast nagar mean halachal machi huee thi. koee papanashi ko galiyaan deta tha, koee eesaee dharm ko aur koee svayan parabhu masih ko salavatean sunata tha. aur thayas ke tyag ki bhi b di tivar alochana ho rahi thi. aisa koee samaj n tha jahaan kuharam n macha ho.

'yoan muanh chhipakar jana lajjaspad hai !'

'yah koee bhalamanasahat nahian hai !'

'aji, yah to hamare pet ki rotiyaan chhine leti hai !'

'vah ane vali santan ko arasik banaye deti hai. ab unhean rasikata ka upadesh kaun dega ?'

'aji, usane to abhi hamare haroan ke dam bhi nahian diye.'

'mere bhi pachas jo doan ke dam ate haian.'

'sabhi ka kuchhan-kuchh us par ata hai.'

'jab vah chali jayegi to nayikaoean ka part kaun khelega ?'

'is kshati ki poorti nahian ho sakati.'

'usaka sthan sadaiv rikt rahega.'

'usake dvar band ho jayeange to jivan ka anand hi jata rahega.'

'vah iskandriya ke gagan ka soory thi.'

itani der mean nagar bhar ke bhikshuk, apang, loole, lang de, ko़i, andhe sab us sthan par jama ho gaye aur jali huee vastuoan ko tatolate hue bole-ab hamara palan kaun karega ? usaki mej ka joothan khakar do sau abhagoan ke pet bhar jate the ? usake paremigan chalate samay hamean mutthiyaan bhar rupayepaise dan kar dete the.

chorachakaroan ki bhi ban ayi. vah bhi akar is bhi d mean mil gaye aur shor machamachakar apane pas ke adamiyoan ko kelane lage ki danga ho jaye aur us golamal mean ham bhi kisi vastu par hath saf karean. yadyapi bahut kuchh jal chuka tha, phir bhi itana shesh tha ki nagar ke sare chorachandal ayachi ho jate !

is halachal mean keval ek vriddh manushy sthirachitt dikhaee deta tha. vah thayas ke hathoan door deshoan se bahumooly vastu lalakar bechata tha aur thayas par usake bahut rupaye ate the. vah sabaki batean sunata tha, dekhata tha ki log kya karate haian. raharahakar da़i par hath pherata tha aur man mean kuchh soch raha tha. ekaek usane ek yuvak ko sundar vastr pahane pas kh de dekha. usane yuvak se poochha-'tum thayas ke paremiyoan mean nahian ho !'

yuvak-'haan, hooan to bahut dinoan se.'

vriddh-to jakar use rokate kyoan nahian ?'

yuvak-'aur kya tum samajhate ho ki use jane dooanga ? man mean yahi nishchay karake aya hooan. shekhi to nahian marata lekin itana to mujhe vishvas hai ki maian usake samane jakar kh da ho jaooanga to vah is bandaramuanhe padari ki apeksha meri batoan par adhik dhyan degi.'

vriddh-'to jaldi jao. aisa n ho ki tumhare pahuanchatepahuanchate vah savar ho jaye.'

yuvak-'is bhi d ko hatao.'

vriddh vyapari ne 'hato, jagah do' ka gul machana shuroo kiya aur yuvak ghoosoan aur thokaroan se adamiyoan ko hatata, vriddhoan ko girata, balakoan ko kuchalata, andar pahuanch gaya aur thayas ka hath pak dakar dhirese bola-'piray, meri or dekho. itani nishthurata ! yad karo, tumane mujhase kaisikaisi batean ki thian, kyakya vade kiye the, kya apane vadoan ko bhool jaogi ? kya parem ka bandhan itana ila ho sakata hai ?'

thayas abhi kuchh javab n de payi thi ki papanashi palakakar usake aur thamas ke bich mean kh da ho gaya aur daantakar bola-'door hat, papi kahian ka ! khabaradar jo usaki deh ko sparsh kiya. vah ab eeshvar ki hai, manushy use nahian chhoo sakata.'

yuvak ne k dakakar kaha-'hat yahaan se, vanamanush ! kya tere karan apani pirayatama se n bolooan ? hat jao, nahian to yah da़i pak dakar tumhari gandi lash ko ag ke pas khianch le jaooanga aur kabab ki tarah bhoon dalooanga. is bharam mean mat rah ki too mere paranadhar ko yoan chupake se utha le jayega. usake pahale maian tujhe sansar se utha dooanga !'

yah kahakar usane thayas ke kandhe par hath rakha. lekin papanashi ne itani zor se dhakka diya ki vah kee qadam pichhe l dakh data hua chala gaya aur bikhari huee rakh ke samip charoan khane chitt gir p da.

lekin vriddh saudagar shant n baitha. vah paratyek manushy ke pas jajakar gulamoan ke kan khianchata, aur svamiyoan ke hathoan ko choomata aur sabhi ko papanashi ke viruddh uttejit kar raha tha ki tho di der mean usane ek chhotasa jattha bana liya jo is bat par katibaddh tha ki papanashi ko kadapi apane kary mean saphal n hone dega. majal hai ki yah padari hamare nagar ki shobha ko bhaga le jaye ! gardan to d deange. poochho, dhamarshram mean aisi ramaniyoan ki kya zaroorat ? kya sansar mean vipatti ki mari buyioan ki kami hai ? kya unake aansuoan se in padariyoan ko santosh nahian hota ki yuvatiyoan ko bhi rone ke lie majaboor kiya jaye!

yuvak ka nam siron tha. vah dhakka khakar gira, kintu turant gard jha dakar uth kh da hua. usaka muanh rakh se kala ho gaya tha, bal jhulas gaye the, trkodh aur dhuean se dam ghut raha tha. vah devataoan ko galiyaan deta hua upadraviyoan ko bh dakane laga. pichhe bhikhariyoan ka dal utpat machane par udyat tha. ek kshan mean papanashi tane hue ghooansoan, uthi huee lathiyoan aur apamanasoochak apashabdoan ke bich mean ghir gaya.

ek ne kaha-'marakar kauvoan ko khila do !'

'nahian jala do, jita ag mean dal do, jalakar bhasm kar do !'

lekin papanashi jara bhi bhayabhit n hua. usane thayas ko pak dakar khianch liya aur megh ki bhaanti garajakar bola-'eeshvaradrohiyoan, is kapot ko eeshvariy bij ke changul se chhu dane ki cheshta mat karo, tum aj jis ag mean jal rahe ho, usamean jalane ke lie use vivash mat karo balki usaki ris karo aur usi ki bhaanti apane khote ko bhi khara kanchan bana do. usaka anukaran karo, usake dikhaye hue marg par agarasar ho, aur us mamata ko tyag do jo tumhean baandhe hue hai aur jise tum samajhate ho ki hamari hai. vilamb n karo, hisada ka din nikat hai aur eeshvar ki or se vajaraghat hone vala hi hai. apane papoan par pachhatao, unaka parayashchit karo, tauba karo, roo aur eeshvar se kshamapararthana karo. thayas ke padachihnoan par chalo. apani kuvasanaoan se ghrina karo jo usase kisi bhaanti kam nahian haian. tumamean se kaun is yogy hai, chahe vah dhani ho ya kangal, das ho ya svami, sipahi ho ya vyapari, jo eeshvar ke sammukh kh da hokar dave ke sath kah sake ki maian kisi veshya se achchha hooan ? tum sabake-sab sajiv durgandh ke siva aur kuchh nahian ho aur yah eeshvar ki mahanh daya hai ki vah tumhean ek kshan mean kich d ki moriyaan nahian bana dalata.'

jab tak vah bolata raha, usaki aankhoan se jvalasi nikal rahi thi. aisa jan p data tha ki usake mukh se ag ke aangare baras rahe haian. jo log vahaan kh de the, ichchha n rahane par bhi mantr mugdh se kh de usaki batean sun rahe the.

kintu vah vriddh vyapari oodham machane mean atyant paravin tha. vah ab bhi shaant n hua. usane zamin se patthar ke tuk de aur ghoanghe chun liye aur apane kurate ke daman mean chhipa liye, kintu svayan unhean pheankane ka sahas n karake usane vah sab chizean bhikshukoan ke hathoan mean de dian. phir kya tha ? pattharoan ki varsha hone lagi aur ek ghoangha papanashi ke chehare par aisa akar baitha ki ghav ho gaya. rakt ki dhara papanashi ke chehare par bahabahakar tyagini thayas ke sir par tapakane lagi, mano use rakt ke bapatisma se punah sanskrit kiya ja raha tha. thayas ko yogi ne itani zor se bhianch liya tha ki usaka dam ghut raha tha aur yogi ke khurakhure vastr se usaka komal sharir chhila jata tha. is asamanjas mean p de hue, ghrina aur trkodh se usaka mukh lal ho raha tha.

itane mean ek manushy bh dakile vastr pahane, jangali phooloan ki ek mala sir par lapete bhi d ko hatata hua aya aur chillakar bola-'thaharo, thaharo, yah utpat kyoan macha rahe ho ? yah yogi mera bhaee hai.'

yah nisiyas tha, jo vriddh yootrkasitij kase kabar mean sulakar is maidan mean hota hua ghar lauta ja raha tha. dekha to alav jal raha hai, usamean bhaantibhaanti ki bahumooly vastuean p di sulag rahi haian, thayas ek moti chadar o़e kh di hai aur papanashi par charoan or se pattharoan ki bauchhar ho rahi hai. vah yah drishy dekhakar vismit to nahian hua, vah aveshoan se vashibhoot n hota tha. haan, thithak gaya aur papanashi ko is atrkaman se bachane ki cheshta karane laga.

usane phir kaha-'maian mana kar raha hooan, thaharo, patthar n pheanko. yah yogi mera piray sahapathi hai. mere piray mitr papanashi par atyachar mat karo.'

kintu usaki lalakar ka kuchh asar n hua. jo purush naiyayikoan ke sath baitha hua bal ki khal nikalane hi mean kushal ho, usamean vah netritvashakti kahaan jisake samane janata ke sir jhuk jate haian. pattharoan aur ghoghoan ki doosari bauchhar p di, kintu papanashi thayas ko apani deh se rakshit kiye hue pattharoan ki chotean khata tha aur eeshvar ko dhanyavad deta tha jisaki dayadrishti unake ghavoan par maraham rakhati huee jan p dati thi. nisiyas ne jab dekha ki yahaan meri koee nahian sunata aur man mean yah samajhakar ki maian apane mitr ki raksha n to bal se kar sakata hooan n vakchaturi se, usane sab kuchh eeshvar par chho d diya. (yadyapi eeshvar par use anumatr bhi vishvas n tha.) sahasa use ek upay soojha. in paraniyoan ko vah itana nich samajhata tha ki use apane upay ki saphalata par jara bhi sandeh n raha. usane turant apani thaili nikal li, jisamean rupaye aur asharphiyaan bhari huee thian. vah b da udar, vilasaparemi purush tha, aur un manushyoan ke samip jakar jo patthar pheank rahe the, unake kanoan ke pas mudraoan ko usane khanakhanaya. pahale to ve usase itane jhallaye hue the, lekin shighar hi sone ki jhankar ne unhean lubdh kar diya, unake hath niche ko latak gaye. nisiyas ne jab dekha ki upadravakari usaki or akarshit ho ge to usane kuchh rupaye aur moharean unaki or pheank dian. unamean se jo zyada lobhi parakriti ke the, vah jhukajhukakar unhean chunane lage. nisiyas apani saphalata par parasann hokar mutthiyaan bharabhar rupaye adi idharudhar pheankane laga. pakki zamin par asharphiyoan ke khanakane ki avaz sunakar papanashi ke shatruoan ka dal bhoomi par sijade karane laga. bhikshu gulam chhotemote dukanadar, sabake-sab rupaye lootane ke lie apas mean dhiangamushti karane lage aur siron tatha any bhadrasamaj ke parani der se yah tamasha dekhate the aur hansatehansate lot jate the. svayan siron ka trkodh shant ho gaya. usake mitroan ne lootane vale paratidvandviyaan ko bh dakana shuroo kiya mano pashuoan ko l da rahe hoan. koee kahata tha, ab ki yah bazi marega, is par shart badata hooan, koee kisi doosare yodgha ka paksh leta tha, aur donoan paratipakshiyoan mean saik doan ki harajit ho jati thi. ek bina taangoan vale pangul ne jab ek mohar payi to usake sahas par taliyaan bajane lagian. yahaan tak ki sabane us par phool barasaye. rupaye lutane ka tamasha dekhatedekhate yah yuvak vrind itane khush hue ki svayan lutane lage aur ek kshan mean samast maidan mean sivay pithoan ke uthane aur girane ke aur kuchh dikhaee hi n deta tha, mano samudr ki tarangean chaandisone ke sikkoan ke toofan se andolit ho rahi hoan. papanashi ko kisi ki sudh hi n rahi.

tab nisiyas usake pas lapakakar gaya, usane apane labade mean chhipa liya aur thayas ko usake sath ek pas ki gali mean khianch le gaya jahaan vidrohiyoan se unaka gala chhoota. kuchh der tak to vah chupachap dau de, lekin jab unhean maloom ho gaya ki ham kafi door nikal aye aur idhar koee hamara pichha karane n ayega to unhoanne dau dana chho d diya. nisiyas ne parihasapoorn svar mean kaha-'lila samapt ho gayi. abhinay ka aant ho gaya. thayas ab nahian ruk sakati. vah apane udgharakarta ke sath avashy jayegi, chahe vah use jahaan le jaye.'

thayas ne uttar diya-'haan, nisiyas, tumhara kathan sarvatha nimoorl nahian hai. maian tum jaise manushyoan ke sath rahaterahate tang a gayi hooan, jo sugandh se base, vilas mean doobe hue, sahriday atmasevi parani haian. jo kuchh maianne anubhav kiya hai, usase mujhe itani ghrina ho gee hai ki ab maian ajnat anand ki khoj mean ja rahi hooan. maianne us sukh ko dekha hai jo vastav mean sukh nahian tha, aur mujhe ek guru mila hai jo batalata hai ki duahkh aur shok hi mean sachcha anand hai. mera us par vishvas hai kyoanki use saty ka jnan hai.'

nisiyas ne muskarate hue kaha-'aur piraye, mujhe to sampoorn satyoan ka jnan parapt hai. vah keval ek hi saty ka jnata hai, maian sabhi satyoan ka jnata hooan. is drishti se to mera pad usake pad se kahian ooancha hai, lekin sach poochho to isase n kuchh gaurav parapt hota hai, n kuchh anand.'

tab yah dekhakar ki papanashi meri or tapamay netroan se tak raha hai, usane sambodhit karake kaha-'piray mitr papanashi, yah mat socho ki maian tumhean nira budghoo, pakhandi ya andhavishvasi samajhata hooan. yadi maian apane jivan ki tumhare jivan se tulana karuan, to maian svayan nishchay n kar sakooanga ki kaun shreshth hai. maian abhi yahaan se jakar snan karuanga, dasoan ne pani taiyar kar rakha hoga, tab uttam vastr pahanakar ek titar ke dainoan ka nashta karuanga, aur anand se palang par letakar koee kahani poo़anga ya kisi darshanik ke vicharoan ka asvadan karuanga. yadyapi aisi kahaniyaan bahut pॄ chuka hooan aur darshanikoan ke vicharoan mean bhi koee maulikata ya navinata nahian rahi. tum apani kuti mean lautakar jaoge aur vahaan kisi sidhaye hue ooant ki bhaanti jhuankakar kuchh jugalisi karoge, kadachit koee ek hazar bar ke chabaye hue shabdadambar ko phir se chabaoge, aur sandhya samay bina baghari huee bhaji khakar zamin par lete rahoge. kintu bandhuvar, yadyapi hamare aur tumhare marg prithakh hai, yadyapi hamare or tumhare karyatrkam mean b da antar dikhaee p data hai, lekin vastav mean ham donoan ek hi manobhav ke adhir kary kar rahe haian-vahi jo samast manav krityoan ka ekamatr karan hai. ham sabhi sukh ke ichchhuk haian, sabhi ek hi lakshy par pahuanchana chahate haian. sabhi ka abhisht ek hi hai-anand, aparapt anand, asambhav anand. yahi meri moorkhata hogi agar mean kahooan ki tum galati par ho yadyapi mera vichar hai ki maian saty par hooan.

'aur piraye thayas, tumase bhi maian yahi kahooanga ki jao aur apani zindagi ke maje uthao, aur yadi yah bat asambhav n ho, to tyag aur tapasya mean usase adhik anandalabh karo jitana tumane bhog aur vilas mean kiya hai. sabhi batoan ka vichar karake maian kah sakata hooan ki tumhare oopar logoan ko hasad hota tha kyoanki yadi papanashi ne aur maianne apane samast jivan mean ek hi ek parakar ke anandoan ka asvadan kiya hai jo birale hi kisi manushy ko parapt ho sakate haian. meri hardik abhilasha hai ki ek ghante ke lie maian bandhu papanashi ki tarah sant ho jata. lekin yah sambhav nahian. isalie tumako bhi vida karata hooan, jao jahaan parakriti ki gupt shaktiyaan aur tumhara bhagy tumhean le jay ! jao jahaan tumhari ichchha ho, nisiyas ki shubhechchhaean tumhare sath raheangi. maian janata hooan ki is samay anargal batean kar raha hooan, is par asar shubhakamanaoan aur nirmool pachhatave ke sivay, maian us sukhamay bharaanti ka kya mooly de sakata hooan jo tumhare parem ke dinoan mean mujh par chhayi rahati thian aur jisaki smriti chhaya ki bhaanti mere man mean rah gayi hai ? jao meri devi, jao, tum paropakar ki moorti ho jise apane astitv ka jnan nahian, tum lilamayi sushama ho. namaskar hai us sarvashreshth, savortkrisht mayamoorti ko jo parakriti ne kisi ajnat karan se is asar, mayavi sansar ko paradan ki hai.'

papanashi ke hriday par is kathan ka ekek shabd vajar ke saman p d raha tha. ant mean vah in apashabdoan se paratidhvanit hua-ha ! durjan, dusht, papi ! maian tujhase ghrina karata hooan aur tujhe tuchchh samajhata hooan ! door ho yahaan se, narak ke doot, un durbal, duahkhi mlechchhoan se bhi hazar guna nikrisht, jo abhi mujhe pattharoan aur durvachanoan ka nishana bana rahe the ! vah ajnani the, moorkh the; unhean kuchh jnan n tha ki ham kya kar rahe haian aur sambhav hai ki kabhi un par eeshvar ki dayadrishti phire aur meri pararthanaoan ke anusar unake antahkaran shuddh ho jayean lekin nisiyas, asprishy patit nisiyas, tere lie koee asha nahian hai, too ghatak vish hai. tere mukh se nairashy aur nash ke shabd hi nikalate haian. tere ek hasy se usase kahian adhik nastikata paravahit hoti hai jitani shaitan ke mukh se sau varshoan mean bhi n nikalati hogi.

nisiyas ne usaki or vinodapoorn netroan se dekhakar kaha-'bandhuvar, paranam ! meri yahi ichchha hai ki ant tak tum vishvas, ghrina aur parem ke path par aऱu raho. isi bhaanti tum nity apane shatruoan ko kosate aur apane anuyayiyoan se parem karate raho. thayas, chiranjivi raho. tum mujhe bhool jaogi, kintu maian tumhean n bhoolooanga. tum yavajjivan mere hriday mean moortiman rahogi.'

unase bida hokar nisiyas iskandriya ki kabirastan ke nikat pechadar galiyoan mean vicharapoorn gati se chala. is marg mean adhikatar kumhar rahate the, jo murdoan ke sath daphan karane ke lie khilaune, bartan adi banate the. unaki dukanean mitti ki sundar rangoan se chamakati huee deviyoan, striyoan u dane vale dootoan aur aisi hi any vastuoan ki moortiyoan se bhari huee thian. use vichar hua, kadachit in moortiyoan mean kuchh aisi bhi hoan jo mahanidra mean mera sath dean aur use aisa paratit hua mano ek chhoti parem ki moorti mera upahas kar rahi hai. mrityu ki kalpana hi se use duahkh hua. is vivad ko door karane ke lie usane man mean tark kiya-isamean to koee sandeh hi nahian ki kal ya samay koee chiz nahian. vah hamari buddhi ki bharaantimatr hai, dhokha hai. to jab isaki satta hi nahian to vah meri mrityu ko kaise la sakata hai. kya isaka yah ashay hai ki anantakal tak maian jivit rahooanga ? kya maian bhi devataoan ki bhaanti amar hooan ? nahian, kadapi nahian. lekin isase yah avashy siddhi hota hai ki vah is samay hai, sadaiv se hai, aur sadaiv rahega. yadyapi maian abhi isaka anubhav nahian kar raha hooan, par yah mujhamean vidyaman hai aur mujhe usase shanka n karani chahie, kyoanki us vastu ke ane se darana, jo pahale hi a chuki hai himakat hai. yah kisi pustak ke antim shprith ke saman upasthit hai, jise maianne pॄa hai, par abhi samapt nahian kar chuka hooan.

usaka shesh rasta is vad mean kat gaya, lekin isase usake chitt ko shanti n mili, aur jab yah ghar pahuancha to usaka man vivadapoorn vicharoan se bhara hua tha. usaki donoan yuvati dasiyaan parasann, hansahansakar tenis khel rahi thian. unaki hasyadhvani ne ant mean usake dil ka bojh halka kiya.

papanashi aur thamas bhi shahar se nikalakar samudr ke kinarekinare chale. raste mean papanashi bola-'thayas, is vistrit sagar ka jal bhi teri kalimaoan ko nahian dho sakata.' yah kahatekahate use anayas krodh a gaya. thayas ko dhikkarane laga-'too kutiyoan aur shookariyoan se bhi bharasht hai, kyoanki toone us deh ko jo eeshvar ne tujhe is hetu diya tha ki too usaki moorti sthapit kare, vidharmiyoan aur mlechchhoan dvara dalit karaya hai aur tera duracharan itana adhik hai ki too bina antahkaran mean apane parati ghrina ka bhav utpann kiye n eeshvar ki pararthana kar sakati hai n vandana.'

dhoop ke mare zamin se aanch nikal rahi thi aur thayas apane naye guru ke pichhe sir jhukaye patharili s dakoan par chali ja rahi thi. thakan ke mare usake ghutanoan mean pi da hone lagi aur kanth sookh gaya. lekin papanashi ke man mean dayabhav ka jagana to door raha, (jo duratmaoan ko bhi narm kar deta hai) vah ulate us parani ke parayashchit par parasann ho raha tha jis ke papoan ka varapar n tha. vah dhamortsah se itana uttejit ho raha tha ki use deh ko lohe ke saangoan se chhedane mean bhi use sankoch n hota jisaka saundary usaki kalushata ka mano ujjval paraman tha. jyoanjyoan vah vichar mean magn hota tha, usaka parakop aurabhi parachand hota jata tha. jab use yad ata tha ki nisiyas usake sath sahayog karachuka hai to usaka rakt khaulane lagata tha aur aisa jan p data tha ki usaki chhati phat jayegi. apashabd usake hoanthoan par aakar ruk jate the aur vah keval daant pisapisakararah jata tha. sahasa vah uchhalakar, vikaral roop dharan kiye hue usake sammukh kh da ho gaya aur usake muanh par thook diya. usaki tivar drishti thayas ke hriday mean chubhi jati thi!

thayas ne shantipoorvak apana muanh poanchh liya aur papanashi ke pichhe chalati rahi. papanashi usaki or aisi kathor drishti se takata tha mano vah sandeh narak hai. use yah chinta ho rahi thi ki maian isase parabhu masih ka badala kyoankar looan, kyoanki thayas ne masih ko apane kukrityoan se itana utpi dit kiya tha ki unhean svayan use dand dene ka kasht n uthana p de. aksamat use rudhir ki ek booand dikhaee di jo thayas ke pairoan se bahakar marg par giri thi. use dekhate hi papanashi ka hriday daya se plavit ho gaya, usaki kathor akriti shant ho gayi. usake hriday mean ek aisa bhav paravisht hua jisase vah abhi anabhijn tha. vah rone laga, sisakiyoan ka tar bandh gaya, tab vah dau dakar usake samane matha thoankakar baith gaya aur usake charanoan par girakar kahane laga-'bahan, meri mata, meri devi'-aur usake rakt plavit charanoan ko choomane laga.

tab usane shuddh hriday se yah pararthana ki-ai svarg ke dooto ! is rakt ki booand ko savadhani se uthao aur ise param pita ke sianhasan ke sammukh le jao. eeshvar ki is pavitr bhoomi par, jahaan yah rakt baha hai, ek alaukik pushpavriksh utpann ho. usamean svagiry sugandhayukt phool likhean aur jin paraniyoan ki drishti us par p de aur jinaki nak mean usaki sugandh pahuanche, unake hriday shuddh aur unake vichar pavitr ho jayean. thayas paramapoojy thayas ! tujhe dhany hai; aj toone vah pad parapt kar liya jisake lie b deb de siddh yogi bhi lalayit rahate haian.

jis samay vah yah pararthana aur shubhakaanksha karane mean magn tha. l daka gadhe par savar jata hua mila. papanashi ne use utarane ki ajna di; thayas ko gadhe par bitha diya aur tab usaki bagador pak dakar le chala. sooyarst ke samay ve ek nahar par pahuanche jis par saghan vrikshoan ka saya tha. papanashi ne gadhe ko ek chhuhare ke vriksh se baandh diya aur kaee se ki huee chattan par baithakar usane ek roti nikali aur use namak aur tel ke sath donoan ne khaya, chilloo se taja pani piya aur eeshvariy vishay par sambhashan karane lage.

thayas boli-'poojy pita, maianne aj tak kabhi aisa nirmal jal nahian piya, aur n aisi paranaparad svachchh vayu mean saans liya. mujhe aisa anubhav ho raha hai ki is samikaran mean eeshvar ki jyoti paravahit ho rahi hai.'

papanashi bola-'piray bahan, dekho sandhya ho rahi hai. nisha ki soochana dene vali shyamala paha diyoan par chhaee huee hai. lekin shighar hi mujhe eeshvariy jyoti, eeshvariy usha ke sunahare parakash mean chamakati huee dikhaee degi, shighar hi tujhe anant parabhav ke gulabapushpoan ki manohar lalima alokit hoti huee drishtigochar hogi.

donoan rat bhar chalate rahe. arddhachandr ki jyoti laharoan ke ujjval mukut par jagamaga rahi thi; naukaoan ke saphed pal us shantimay jyotsna mean aise jan p date the mano punit atmaean svarg ko parayan kar rahi haian. donoan parani stuti aur bhajan gate hue chale jate the. thayas ke kanth ka madhury, papanashi ki pancham dhvani ke sath mishrit hokar aisa jan p data ki sundar vastr par tat ka bakhiya kar diya gaya hai ! jab dinakar ne apana parakash phailaya, to unake samane laibiya ki marubhoomi ek vistrit sianh charm ki bhaanti phaili huee dikhaee di. marubhoomi ke us sire par kee chhuhare ke vrikshoan ke madhy mean kee saphed jhoanp diyaan parabhat ke mand parakash mean jhalak rahi thian.

thayas ne poochha-'poojy pita, kya vah eeshvariy jyoti ka mandir hai ?'

'haan piray bahan, meri piray putri, vahi muktigrih hai, jahaan maian tujhe apane hi hathoan se band karuanga.'

ek kshan mean unhean kee striyaan jhoanp diyoan ke asapas kuchh kam karati huee dikhaee dian, mano madhumakkhiyaan apane chhattoan ke pas bhinabhina rahi hoan. kee striyaan rotiyaan pakati thian, kee shakabhaji bana rahi thian, bahutasi striyaan oon kat rahi thian aur akash ki jyoti un par is bhaanti p d rahi thi mano param pita ki madhur muskan hai, aur kitani hi tapasviniyaan jhaoo ke vrikshoan ke niche baithi eeshvaravandana kar rahi thian, unake goregore hath donoan kinare latake hue the kyoanki eeshvar ke parem se paripoorn ho jane ke karan vah hathoan se koee kam n karati thian; keval dhyan, aradhana aur svagiry anand mean nimagn rahati thian. isalie unhean 'mata mariyam ki putriyaan' kahate the, aur vah ujjval vastr hi gharan karati thian. jo striyaan hathoan se kamadhandha karati thian, vah 'mathi ki putriyaan' kahalati thian aur niche vastr pahanati thian. sabhi striyaan kanatop lagati thian, keval yuvatiyaan baloan ke dochar guchchhe mathe par nikale rahati thian-sambhavatah vah apahi-ap bahar nikal ate the, kyoanki baloan ko sanvarana ya dikhana niyamoan ke viruddh tha. ek bahut lambi, gori, vriddh mahila, ek kuti se nikalakar doosari kuti mean jati thi. usake hath mean lak di ki ek jarib thi. papanashi b de adab ke sath usake samip gaya, usaki nakab ke kinaroan ka chumban kiya aur bola-'poojya alabina, param pita teri atma ko shanti dean ! maian us chhatte ke lie jisaki too rani hai, ek makkhi laya hooan jo pushpahin maidanoan mean idharudhar bhatakati phirati thi. maianne ise apani hatheli mean utha liya aur apane shvasochchhvas se punajirvit kiya. maian ise teri sharan mean laya hooan.'

yah kahakar usane thayas ki or ishara kiya. thayas turant kaisar ki putri ke sammukh ghutanoan ke bal baith gayi.

alabina ne thayas par ek marmabhedi drishti dali, use uthane ko kaha, usake mastak ka chumban kiya aur tab yogi se boli-'ham ise 'mata mariyam ki putriyoan' ke sath rakheange.'

papanashi ne tab thayas ke muktigrih mean ane ka poora vrittant kah sunaya. eeshvar ne kaise use pararena ki, kaise vah iskandriya pahuancha aur kinakin upayoan se usake man mean usane parabhu masih ka anurag utpann kiya. isake bad usane parastav kiya ki thayas ko kisi kuti mean band kar diya jay jisase vah ekant mean apane poorvajivan par vichar kare, atmashuddhi ke marg ka avalamban kare.

math ki adhyakshini is parastav se sahamat ho gayi. vah thayas ko ek kuti mean le gayi jise kumari lita ne apane charanoan se pavitr kiya tha aur jo usi samay se khali p di huee thi. is tang kothari mean keval ek charapaee, ek mej aur ek gh da tha, aur jab thayas ne usake andar qadam rakha, to chaukhat ko par karate hi use kathaniy anand ka anubhav hua.

papanashi ne kaha-'maian svayan dvar ko band karake us par ek muhar laga dena chahata hooan, jise parabhu masih svayan akar apane hathoan se to deange.'

vah usi kshan pas ki jaladhara ke kinare gaya, usamean se mutthi bhar mitti li, usamean apane muanh ka thook milaya aur use dvar ke daravajoan par m़ diya. tab khi daki ke pas akar jahaan thayas shantachitt aur parasannamukh baithi huee thi usane bhoomi par sir jhukakar tin bar eeshvar ki vandana ki.

'o ho ! us stri ke charan kitane sundar haian jo sanmarg par chalati hai ! haan, usake charan kitane sundar, kitane kamal aur kitane gauravashil haian, usaka mukh kitana kantimay!'

yah kahakar vah utha, kanatop apani aankhoan par khianch liya aur mandagati se apane ashram ki or chala.

alabina ne apani ekakumari ko bulakar kaha-'piray putri, tum thayas ke pas avashyak vastu pahuancha do, rotiyaan, pani aur ek tin chhidroan vali baansuri.