वरुणदेव का वरदान

maan−bap ke mar jane par trilokanath anath ho gaya. parivar mean ab keval b da bhaee alok bacha tha jo usase dvesh rakhata tha, kyoanki vah sautela tha. alok shadi−shuda tha. usaki patni usake kahane mean chalati thi aur pati ki bhaanti vah bhi trilokanath se koee khas sneh nahian rakhati thi. atah trilok ko rookha−sookha jo kuchh bhi milata, vah usi mean santosh kar leta tha. alok aur usaki patni aram se rahate, khate−pite aur mauj karate the, jabaki trilok din−bhar ghar ka kam karata, janavaroan ko chara−pani deta aur baki samay khetoan mean juta rahata. phir bhi vah bhar pet bhojan nahian pata tha. is par bhi vah santoshi itana tha ki kisi se koee shikava−shikayat nahian karata tha. kuchh din bad alok ne usaka vivah kar diya aur jayadad ka bantavara karake use apane se alag kar diya. donoan bhaee alag−alag grihasthi chalane lage.

alok ne maan−bap ki ekatrit ki gee dhanarashi ka b da hissa pahale hi hathiya liya tha. chalak aur lobhi to vah tha hi, atah jayadad mean achchhi aur kimati zamin usane le li thi, jabaki trilok ke hisse mean banjar zamin aur bekar ki chizean hi aeean. phir bhi vah kuchh nahian bola. jo kuchh mila, use lekar prasann man se alag rahane laga. alok ne to bantavare mean bhi chhal−kapat se kam liya tha, atah usaka ghar sampann tha. sukh−suvidha ki har vastu usake ghar mean maujood thi. vah achchha khata−pahanata tha aur len−den ka dhandha bhi karata tha. is prakar usaka dhan din−pratidin badhata ja raha tha. doosari or trilok mehanat−mazadoori karake apana pet pal raha tha. alok din−pratidin amir hota ja raha tha aur trilok garib. ghar ki avashyakata ko poora karane ke lie use jab−tab trilok ke age hath phailana p data tha. jisaka parinam yah nikala ki kuchh hi varshoan mean trilok ki sari zamin alok ke yahaan giravi ho gee. gaanv ke doosare logoan ka bhi bahut−sa karz us par chadh gaya tha. ab vah nity mazadoori karata aur usi se ghar ka kharch chalata tha.

doosari or alok ne naya pakka makan banava liya tha. ne bail kharide aur ga di bhi le aya tha. usaki patni hamesha jevaroan se ladi rahati thi. is prakar alok ke yahaan har prakar ki mauj thi. kami thi to bas ek, ki alok ke ghar koee santan nahian thi. isake lie usane kee mannatean maangi, manautiyaan bolian; lekin shayad usake poorvajanmoan ke karmoan ka hi yah prabhav tha ki usake ghar−aangan mean kisi bachche ki kilakariyaan n gooanj sakian. atah kuchh to sampatti ka prabhav, kuchh beaulad hone ka duahkh aur kuchh dhan ke ahankar mean alok aur bhi rookha, jhag daloo, lalachi aur kanjoos ho gaya tha. vah sansar bhar ki daulat batorakar apane ghar mean bhar lene ka sapana dekha karata tha. kanjoos itana tha ki usake ghar se n kutte ko tuk da milata tha, n kisi bhikhari ko bhikh. isake viparit trilok udar, dayalu, paropakari aur saral svabhav ka tha. l daee−jhag de aur beeemani se kosoan door vah sabaki seva ke lie taiyar rahata tha. gaanv ke log use bahut chahate the. donoan bhaiyoan mean zamin−asaman ka aantar tha. alok kisi ke duahkh mean to kya, ghamand ki vajah se kisi ke sukh mean bhi shamil hokar raji n tha, jabaki tiralok ki pravritti aisi thi ki ek bar kisi ke sukh mean bhale hi n jae, parantu duahkh mean avashy sharik hota tha.

ek din trilok dopahar ko khetoan se kam nipatakar ghar par laut raha tha. raste mean ek talab tha. garami to thi hi, atah trilok ne socha, yahian naha looan. yahi sochakar usane sir par rakha lak diyoan ka gatthar ek kinare rakh diya aur talab mean ghus gaya. dopahar ka samay hone ke karan as−pas koee n tha. talab mean kamal khile hue the. nahate−nahate trilok ne socha ki kyoan n do−char phool to d looan, ghar jate samay mandir mean chadha dooanga. gaanv mean varun devata ka ek bahut purana mandir tha. log b di shraddha se vahaan pooja karane jate the. trilok jab phool to d raha tha, tabhi usaki nigah ek kali par p di. vah sone ki tarah chamak rahi thi. utsukata mean akar trilok ne use to d liya. usake hath mean ate hi vah kali phool ban gayi. lekin vah phool sadharan n hokar sone ka phool tha−thos aur asali. trilok dang rah gaya. usaki samajh mean nahian aya ki yah kaisi aur kisaki lila hai aur ab use karana karana chahie? thik tabhi ek bahut suandar manushy jal mean prakat hua aur trilok ke pas akar bola, 'trilok! yah phool mujhe de do.' trilok ne us adbhut manushy ki or dekhate hue poochha, 'kyoan? ap kaun haian? yah suandar phool maian apako kyoan dooan?' 'maian varun hooan. is talab mean roz ek sone ka phool khilata hai. use maian pooja mean chadhata hooan. yah vahi phool hai. isalie lao, yah phool mujhe de do.' kahate hue adbhut purush ne hath pasar diya. trilok ne phool use de diya aur sharmianda−sa hokar bola, 'mujhe nahian maloom tha, isalie dhokhe mean to d liya tha. ap phool le jaie.' kahate hue usane hath jo dakar sir jhuka diya. varun devata usaki saralata aur bholepan par prasann ho uthe. unhoanne kaha, 'tumhari sachchaee aur santoshi svabhav se maian bahut prasann hooan. bolo, tum kya chahate ho? mere varadan se tumhari koee bhi ichchha poori ho jaegi.' sakshat varun devata ko samane pakar trilok to vaise bhi hataprabh−sa tha, atah nishkapat bhav se usane kaha, 'svami! ap to aantaryami haian, sab kuchh janate haian. maian apase kya maangooan? ap jo bhi deange, mere lie bahut hoga.' varun devata ne prasann hokar usake sir par apana hath pher diya aur kaha, 'phir bhi, tum kuchh to kaho. maian tumhari ichchha poori karana chahata hooan. tumhara bholapan aur niahsvarth acharan dekhakar maian bahut prasann hooan.' trilok ne hath jo dakar kaha, 'bhagavanh! yadi ap mujhase vastav mean hi prasann haian to mujhe aisa ashirvad dijie ki mere ghar mean kisi ko asantosh n ho. stri aur bachche sada prasann rahean aur maian jivanabhar apake mandir mean pooja karata rahooan tatha jitana sanbhav ho sake, doosaroan ke sukh−duahkh mean hamesha kam a sakooan.'

'tathastu!' kahakar varun devata aantardhyan ho ge. jhataka khakar gahari niand se jage hue vyakti ki tarah trilok idhar−udhar dekhane laga. kahian bhi koee n tha. tha to keval vah talab, vahi kamal ke phool aur patte. lekin varun devata ya us sone ke phool ka kahian koee chihn n tha. trilok sochane laga ki kahian jagati aankhoan se vah koee svapn to nahian dekh raha tha. kiantu nahian, abhi−abhi usake hath mean sone ka phool tha aur svayan varun devata usase mukhatib the. 'he bhagavan! kya hone vala hai?' isi prakar ke vicharoan mean dooba hua tiralok kandhe par lak diyoan ka gatthar ladakar ghar ki or chal p da. doosare din jaise koee chamatkar hone laga. trilok jis kam mean hath dalata, usamean doguna nahian, balki dasiyoan guna labh hota. usake ghar mean sari chizean n jane kaise badh jati thian. koee bhi vastu kam nahian p dati thi. chahe jitana kharch kiya jata, saman bach hi jata tha. khetoan ki paidavar to itani badhi ki kahian anaj rakhane ki jagah nahian bachi. bahut−sa dhan aur anaj trilok ne gaanv valoan ko baant diya. itane par bhi ghamand usase kosoan door tha. vah to kisi se ooanchi avaz mean bat bhi nahian karata tha. bantavare ke samay alok ne beeemani ke karan bap ka bahut−karz bata rakha tha. usaka adha hissa trilok ko bharana p data tha. in dinoan jab vah sampann hua to mahajan ke pas jakar apane aur alok ke hisse ka bhi poora karz ada kar aya. gaanv ke kitane hi gariboan ko vah anaj v kap de baant deta tha. yahaan tak ki doosare gaanvoan ke log bhi usase sahayata lene lage. is prakar trilok ki kirti dinoan−din badhati ja rahi thi. charoan or usaki sahridayata ke charche sunaee dete the. alok ne yah sab dekhakar socha, 'kya trilok ko koee khazana mil gaya hai? tabhi to vah is tarah dil kholakar rupaya luta raha hai. khud to mauj mar hi raha hai, doosaroan par bhi dhan luta raha hai. lagata hai, usane bapoo ki koee rakam pahale se hi chura rakhi thi. jisaka mujhe pata nahian hai aur ab itane dinoan bad use nikalakar mauj kar raha hai. kiantu maian bhi khamosh baithane vala nahian hooan. maian yah rahasy janakar hi rahooanga ki usake pas itana dhan kahaan se aya.' aur phir doosare hi din vah trilok ke pas ja pahuancha. trilok ne dil kholakar usaki khatiradari ki. trilok ki patni ne bhi usake adar se charan sparsh kie. usake pashchath trilok ne poochha, 'meri yad kaise a gee bhaiya?' 'dekho tiralok!' alok ne kaha, 'tum mujhe sach−sach bata do ki tum itana sara dhan kahaan se lae ho? tumhean kahian se koee khazana mil gaya hai ya bapoo ki koee rakam tum chhipae hue the?' bhole trilok ne bair−virodh bhoolakar sari ghatana sach−sach suna di ki kis prakar varun dev ne use varadan diya tha.

varun devata ke varadan ki bat sunakar alok ne kaha, 'achchha! to yah bat hai.' phir chupachap vah vahaan se chala aya aur ghar ate−ate usane dridh nishchay kar liya ki kal maian bhi talab par jakar varun devata se varadan prapt karooanga. doosare din thik dopahar ke samay alok talab ke kinare ja pahuancha. idhar−udhar koee n tha. usane jaldi−jaldi vastr utare aur talab mean ja ghusa. kuchh der tak to vah nahane ka natak karata raha, phir kamal to dane laga. ekaek use sone ki kali dikhaee p di. usaki aankhean phail geean−'are! isaka matalab trilok ne jo bataya, sab sach tha.' sochate hue usane lapakakar vah kali to d li. alok ke kali to date hi varun devata ne prakat hokar use rok liya aur kahane lage, 'alok! yah phool meri pooja ka hai. mujhe de do.' alok ne dekha, us devata ka rang−roop thik vaisa hi hai jaisa trilok ne use bataya tha. tab avashy hi yah varun devata haian. kiantu usake man mean kisi−bhi prakar ka bhakti−bhav utpann nahian hua. lobh se utavali usaki buddhi yah soch rahi thi ki mujhe inase kaun−sa varadan maangana chahie?' tab tak varun devata ne phir kaha, 'lao alok! mera phool mujhe de do. pooja ke lie der ho rahi hai.' alok haule se chauanka phir sanbhalakar bola, 'pahale mujhe koee varadan to dijie. bina varadan pae maian phool nahian dooanga.' varun devata ko usaka vyavahar pasand nahian aya. ve samajh ge ki yah vyakti lalachi hai. avashy hi yah apane bhaee trilok ki kahani janakar yahaan aya hai taki usaki bhaanti mujhase koee var pa sake. atah ve b de hi rookhe svar mean bole, 'bolo, kaun−sa varadan chahate ho?' alok chalak tha. itani der mean usane varadan soch liya tha. vah bola, 'mujhe yah varadan dijie ki maian jo kuchh chahooan, jo bhi sochooan, jaisi bhi ichchha karooan; vah sab poorn ho jae.' 'thik hai. aisa hi hoga. lao, ab phool mujhe do.' 'lijie' alok ne khushi−khushi phool unhean de diya. varun devata aantardhyan ho ge.

alok jaldi se sarovar se nikala aur lanbe−lanbe dag bharata hua gaanv ki or chal diya. varun devata ke varadan ka labh uthane ke lie vah bechain ho raha tha. jaise−taise ghar pahuanchakar usane apani patni se kaha, 'maian varun devata se varadan prapt kar chuka hooan. yadi vah sachcha nikala to meri barabari duniya mean koee nahian kar sakega. ao, varun devata ke varadan ki ajamaish karate haian. bolo, kya maangean?' 'ap hi maangie. varunadev ne apako hi varadan diya hai.' 'thik hai, maian hi maangata hooan.' alok bola, phir man hi man mean usane kaha, 'maian thali bhar mithaee chahata hooan.' turant mithaee a gee. ab pati−patni ki prasannata ka koee thikana hi n raha. donoan ne pet−bhar mithaee khaee. usake bad alok ne jevar, kap de aur makan ki ichchha ki. ve sab ichchhaean bhi kshan bhar mean poori ho geean. ab to alok apane ko sakshat vishnu aur iandr samajhane laga. palak jhapakate hi vah sadharan kisan se kuber ho gaya tha. ab to sansar−bhar ki sari sahooliyatean usaki mutthi mean thian. lobhi aur ahankari to vah tha hi, ye sab pakar usaka lobh aur ahankar aur bhi badh gaya. ghamand ne usaki buddhi ko aur adhik bhrasht kar diya aur itana vaibhav pakar bhi usane varun devata ko dhanyavad nahian diya. usi sham ko alok ki patni trilok ke ghar gee taki apane vaibhav ka bakhan karake us par rob jama sake. lautate samay aandhera ho gaya. jab vah ghar aee tab alok bahar baramade mean hi baitha tha. aandhere ke karan thik se dikhaee nahian p d raha tha isalie alok use pahachan n saka. yah sarvavidit hai ki jisake man mean kapat aur chor hota hai, vah hamesha ulati batean hi sochata hai. use dekhakar alok bhi sochane laga−'are, itana mota, itana kala adami kaun hai? kahian yah koee bhoot−pret to nahian hai?' aisa sochate vaqt use bilakul bhi dhyan nahian raha ki usane varunadev se kya varadan maanga tha. usane kaha tha ki jo bhi chahooan, jo bhi sochooan, jo bhi karooan; vah poorn ho jae. phalasvaroop aisa sochate hi usaki patni turant pret ban gee. use bhitar ki or ate dekhakar alok ne socha, 'are, yah to aandar a raha hai. aisa n ho ki yah mujhe pak d le.' alok ka aisa sochana tha ki turant pret ne use pak d liya.

bhay ki vajah se alok saans tak n le saka. usaki ghigghi bandh gee. hosh−havas gayab ho ge. us par dahashat is qadar havi huee ki vah chikhana−chillana bhi bhool gaya. aankhean atank se phat p dian aur use jan p da ki pret bas, use nigalane hi vala hai. aur doosare hi kshan pret use nigalakar adrishy ho gaya. varun devata ke varadan se prapt sara vaibhav jyoan ka tyoan p da tha. par usako prapt karane vala alok pret ka ahar ban chuka tha. rat bhar kisi ko maloom nahian hua ki alok ke ghar mean kaisi bhayanak ghatana ghat chuki hai. savere logoan ne dekha ki daravaze mean alok aur usaki patni ki thithari huee lashean p di hueean thian, magar kya hua? kaise hua? yah sab koee bhi nahian jan saka. bechare trilok ko bhi jab is ghatana ka pata chala, to bhaee aur bhabhi ki maut par vah bhi behad duahkhi hua. parantu ab kiya bhi kya ja sakata tha. ro−rokar usane apane bhaee v bhabhi ka kriyakarm kiya aur aant mean vahi sampoorn sampatti ka svami bana. usi rat varun devata ne use svapn mean alok ke sarvanash ka karan batate hue kaha, 'alok ko diya hua varadan maian tumhean bhi de sakata hooan. bolo, chahate ho?' trilok ne unake charanoan mean sir rakh diya aur kaha, 'svami! mujhe apane pahale jo kuchh diya hai, vahi bahut hai. mujhe aur kuchh nahian chahie. maian apane bhaee ki sampatti bhi nahian chahata. subah hote hi maian is sari sampatti ko gariboan aur zarooratamandoan mean dan kar dooanga. mujhe to jo kuchh bhi apane diya hai, maian usi mean khush aur santusht hooan.'

'sada sukhi raho' kahakar varun devata ne usaki pith par hath phera aur adrishy ho ge.

trilok ki niand toot gee. chauankakar uth baitha vah. dekha, poorab mean oosha ki lali chha rahi thi. vah utha aur varun devata ko pranam karane ke lie sidhe mandir ki or chal p da.