देवदासी -जयशंकर प्रसाद

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

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‘........’

1.3.25

priy ramesh!

parades mean kisi apane ke ghar laut ane ka anurodh b di santvana deta hai, parantu ab tumhara mujhe bulana ek abhinay-sa hai. haan, maian katookti karata hooan, janate ho kyoan? maian jhagadऩa chahata hooan, kyoanki sansar mean ab mera koee nahian hai, maian upekshit hooan. sahasa apane ka-sa svar sunakar man mean kshobh hota hai. ab mera ghar lautakar ana anishchit hai. maianne ‘--’ ke hindi-prachar-karyalay mean naukari kar li hai. tum to janate hi ho ki mere lie prayag aur ‘--’ barabar haian. ab ashok videsh mean bhookha n rahega. maian pustak bechata hooan.

yah tumhara likhana thik hai ki ek ane ka tikat lagakar patr bhejana mujhe akharata hai. par tumhare gal yadi mere samip hote, to un par paanchoan nahian to meri tin uangaliyaan apana chihn avashy hi bana detian; tumhara itana sahas-mujhe likhate ho ki beyariang patr bhej diya karo! ye sab gun mujhamean hote, to maian bhi tumhari tarah pres mean proopharidar ka kam karata hota. savadhan, ab kabhi aisa likhoge, to maian uttar bhi n dooanga.

lalloo ko meri or se pyar kar lena. usase kah dena ki pet se bacha sakooanga, to ek relaga di bhej dooanga.

yadyapi apani yatra ka samachar barabar likhakar maian tumhara manoranjan n kar sakooanga, to bhi sun lo. ‘....’ mean ek b da parv hai, vahaan ‘....’ ka devamandir b da prasiddh hai. tum to janate hoge ki dakshin mean kaise-kaise darshaniy devalay haian, unamean bhi yah pradhan hai. maian vahaan karyalay ki pustakean bechane ke lie ja raha hooan.

tumhara,

ashok

punashch-

mujhe vishvas hai ki mera pata janane ke lie koee utsuk n hoga. phir bhi savadhan! kisi par prakat n karana.

bhag 2

‘........’

10.3.25

priy ramesh!

raha nahian gaya! lo suno-mandir dekhakar hriday prasann ho gaya, ooancha gopuramh, sudridh prachir, chau di parikramaean aur vishal sabha-mandap bharatiy sthapaty-kala ke choo dant nidarshan haian. yah dev-mandir hriday par gambhir prabhav dalata hai. ham janate haian ki tumhare man mean yahaan ke pandoan ke lie prashn hoga, phir bhi ve uttariy bharat se bure nahian haian. pooja aur arati ke samay ek prabhavashali vatavaran hriday ko bharavanat kar deta hai.

maian kabhi-kabhi ekatak dekhata hooan-un mandiroan ko hi nahian, kintu us prachin bharatiy sanskriti ko, jo sarvochch shakti ko apani mahatta, saundary aur aishvary ke dvara vyakt karana janati thi. tumase kahooanga, yadi kabhi rupaye juta sako, to ek bar dakshin ke mandiroan ko avashy dekhana, dev-darshan ki kala yahaan dekhane mean ati hai. ek bat aur hai, maian abhi bahut dinoan tak yahaan rahooanga. maian yahaan ki bhasha bhali-bhaanti bol leta hooan. mujhe parikrama ke bhitar hi ek kothari sanyog se mil gee hai. pas mean hi ek kuana bhi hai. mujhe prasad bhi mandir se hi milata hai. maian b de chain se hooan. yahaan pustakean bech bhi leta hooan, sundar chitroan ke karan pustakoan ki achchhi bikri ho jati hai. gopuramh ke pas hi maian dookan phaila deta hooan aur mahilaean mujhase pustakoan ka vivaran poochhati haian. mujhe samajhane mean b da anand ata hai. pas hi b de sundar-sundar drishy haian-nadi, paha d aur jangal sabhi to haian. maian kabhi-kabhi ghoomane bhi chala jata hooan. parantu uttariy bharat ke saman yahaan ke devavigrahoan ke samip ham log nahian ja sakate. door se hi dipalok mean us achal moorti ki jhaanki ho jati hai. yahaan mandiroan mean sangit aur nrity ka bhi anand rahata hai. b di chahal-pahal hai. ajakal yatriyoan ke karan aur bhi sundar-sundar pradarshan hote haian.

tum janate ho ki maian apana patr itana savistar kyoan likh raha hooan!-tumhare kripan aur sankuchit hriday mean utkantha badhane ke lie! mujhe itana hi sukh sahi.

tumhara,

ashok

bhag 3

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17.3.25

priy ramesh!

samay ki ulahana dene ki prachin pratha ko maian achchha nahian samajhata. isalie jab vah shushk maansapeshi alag dikhane vala, chau di haddiyoan ka apana sharir lathiya ke bal par tekata hua, chidambaramh nam ka panda mere samip baithakar apani bhasha mean upadesh dene lagata hai, to maian ghabara jata hooan. vah samay ka ek durdrishy chitr khianchakar, abhav aur apadaoan ka ullekh karake vibhishika utpann karata hai. maian unase mukt hooan ; bhojan matr ke lie arjan karake santusht ghoomata hooan-sota hooan. mujhe samay ki kya chinta hai. par maian yah janata hooan ki vahi mera sahayak hai-mitr hai, itani atmiyata dikhalata hai ki maian usaki upeksha nahian kar sakata. aha, ek bat to likhana maian bhool hi gaya tha! use avashy likhooanga kyoanki tumhare sune bina mera sukh adhoora rahega. mere sukh ko maian hi janooan , tab usamean dhara hi kya hai, jab tumhean usaki dah n ho! to suno-

sabha-mandap ke shilp-rachanapoorn stambh se tiki huee ek ujjval shyamavarn ki balika ko apani patali bahulata ke sahare ghutane ko chhati se lagaye pray: baithi huee dekhata hooan. svarn-mallkia ki mala usake joo de se lagi rahati hai. pray: vah kusumabharan-bhooshita rahati hai. use dekhane ka mujhe chaska lag gaya hai. vah mujhase hindi sikhana chahati hai. maian tumase poochhata hooan ki use padhana arambh kar dooan? usaka nam hai padma. chidambaramh aur padma mean khoob patati hai, vah harini ki tarah jhijhakati bhi hai. par n jane kyoan mere pas a baithati hai, meri pustakean ulat-palat deti hai. meri batean sunate-sunate vah aisi ho jati hai, jaise koee alap le rahi ho aur maian pray: adhi bat kahate-kahate ruk jata hooan. isaka anubhav mujhe tab hota hai, jab mere drishti-path se vah hat jati hai. use dekhakar mere hriday mean kavita karane ki ichchha hoti hai, yah kyoan? mere hriday ka sota hua saundary jag uthata hai. tum mujhe nich samajhoge aur kahoge ki abhage ashok ke hriday ki spadrdha to dekho! par maian sach kahata hooan, use dekhane par maian anant aishvaryashali ho jata hooan.

haan, vah mandir mean nachati aur gati hai. aur bhi bahut-si haian, par maian kahooanga, vaisi ek bhi nahian. log use devadasi padma kahate haian, ve adham haian; vah devabala padma hai!

vahi,

ashok

bhag 4

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28.3.25

priy ramesh!

tumhara ulahana nissar hai. maian is samay keval padma ko samajh sakata hooan. phir apane ya tumhare kushal-mangal ki charcha kyoan karooan? tum usaka roop-saundary poochhate ho, maian usaka vivaran dene mean asamarth hooan. hriday mean upamaean nachakar chali jati haian, thaharane nahian patian ki maian lipi-baddh karooan. vah ek jyoti hai, jo apani mahatta aur alok mean apana avayav chhipaye rakhati hai. keval taral, nil, shubhr aur karun aankhean meri aankhoan se mil jati haian, meri aankhoan mean shyama kadambini ki shitalata chha jati hai. aur sansar ke atyacharoan se nirash is jhanjharidar kaleje ke vatayan se vah snigdh malayanil ke jhoanke ki tarah ghus ati hai. ek din ki ghatana likhe bina nahian raha jata-

maian apani pustakoan ki dookan phailaye baitha tha. gopuramh ke samip hi vah kahian se jhapati huee chali ati thi. doosari or se ek yuvak usake samane a kh da hua. vah yuvak, mandir ka kripa-bhajan ek dhani darshanarthi tha; yah bat usake kanoan ke chamakate hue hire ke ‘tap’ se prakat thi. vah berok-tok mandir mean chahe jahaan ata-jata hai. mandir mean pray: logoan ko usase kuchh milata hai; sab usaka samman karate haian. use samane dekhakar padma ko kh di hona p da. usane b di nich mukhakriti se kuchh batean kahian, kintu padma kuchh n boli. phir usane spasht shabdoan mean ratri ko apane milane ka sthan nirdesh kiya. padma ne kaha-‘‘maian nahian a sakooangi.’’ vah lal-pila hokar bakane laga. mere man mean krodh ka dhakka laga, maian uthakar usake pas chala aya. vah mujhe dekhakar hata to, par kahata gaya ki-‘‘achchha dekh looanga!’’

us nil-kamal se makarand-bindu tapak rahe the. meri ichchha huee ki vah moti bator looan. pahali bar maianne un kapoloan par hath lagakar unhean lena chaha. ah, unhoanne varsha kar di! maianne poochha-‘‘usase tum itani bhayabhit kyoan ho?’’

‘‘mandir mean darshan karane valoan ka manoranjan karana mera kartavy hai; maian devadasi hooan!’’-usane kaha.

‘‘yah to b da atyachar hai. tum kyoan yahaan rahakar apane ko apamanit karati ho?-maianne kaha.

‘‘kahaan jaooan, maian devata ke lie utsarg kar di gee hooan.’’-usane kaha.

‘‘nahian-nahian, devata to kya, rakshas bhi manav-svabhav ki bali nahian leta-vah to rakt-maans se hi santusht ho jata hai. tum apani atma aur ant:karan ki bali kyoan karati ho?’’-maianne kaha.

‘‘aisa n kaho, pap hoga; devata rusht hoange.’’-usane kaha.

‘‘papoan ko devata khojean, manushy ke pas kuchh puny bhi hai, padma! tum use kyoan nahian khojati ho? papoan ka n karana hi puny nahian. tum apani atma ki adhikarini ho, apane hriday ki tatha sharir ki sampoorn svamini ho, mat daro. maian kahata hooan ki isase devata prasann hoange; ashirvad ki varsha hogi.’’-maianne ek saans mean kahakar dekha ki usake mastak mean ujjvalata a gee hai, vah ek sphoorti ka anubhav karane lagi hai. usane kaha-‘‘achchha, to phir milooangi.’’

vah chali gee. maianne dekha ki boodha chidambaramh mere pichhe kh da muskara raha hai. mujhe krodh bhi aya par kuchh n bolakar, maianne pustak batorana arambh kiya.

tum kuchh apani sammati doge?

-ashok

bhag 5

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1.4.25

ramesh!

kal sangit ho raha tha. mandir alok-mala se susajjit tha. nrity karati huee padma ga rahi thi ‘‘nam-sametan vrit-sanketan vadayate mridu-venuan .....’’ oh! ve sangit-madira ki laharean thian. maian unamean oobh-choobh hone laga. usaki kusum-abharan se bhooshit aangalata ke sanchalan se vayumandal saurabh se bhar jata tha. vah vivash thi, jaise kusumita lata tivr pavan ke jhoanke se ragoan ke svar ka spandan usake abhinay mean tha. log use vismay-vimugdh dekhate the. par n jane kyoan, mere man mean udveg hua, maian jakar apani kothari mean p d raha. aj karyalay se laut jane ke lie patr aya tha. usi ko vicharata hua kab tak aankhe band kiye p da raha, mujhe vidit nahian, sahasa sayan-sayan, phus-phus ka shabd sunaee p da; maian dhyan lagakar sunane laga.

dhyan dene par maian jan gaya ki do vyakti batean kar rahe the-chidanbaramh aur ramasvami nam ka vahi dhani yuvak. maian manoyog se sunane laga-

chidambaramh-tumane aj tak usaki ichchha ke viruddh b de-b de atyachar kiye haian, ab jab vah nahian chahati, to tum use kyoan satate ho?

ramasvami-suno chidambaramh, sundariyoan ki kami nahian; par n jane kyoan mera hriday use chho dakar doosari or nahian jata. vah itani nirih hai ki use masalane mean anand ata hai! ek bar usase kah do, meri batean sun le, phir jo chahe kare.

chidambaramh chala gaya aur usaki batean band hueean. aur sach kahata hooan , mandir se mera man pratikool hone laga. pairoan ke shabd hue , vahi jaise roti huee boli-‘‘ramasvami mujh par daya n karoge?’’ oh! kitani vedana thi usake shabdoan mean. parantu ramasvami ke hriday mean tivr jvala jal rahi thi. usake vakyoan mean loo-jaisi jhulas thi. usane kaha-padma! yadi tum mere hriday ki jvala samajh sakati, to tum aisa n kahati. mere hriday ki tum adhishthatri ho, tumhare bina maian ji nahian sakata. chalo, maian devata ka kop sahane ke lie prastut hooan, maian tumhean lekar kahian chal chalooanga.

‘‘devata ka nirmaly tumane dooshit kar diya hai, pahale isaka to prayashchitt karo. mujhe keval devata ke charanoan mean murajhaye hue phool ke saman gir jane do. ramasvami, aisa smaran hota hai ki maian bhi tumhe chahane lagi thi. us samay mere man mean yah vishvas tha ki devata yadi patthar ke n hoange, to samajheange ki yah mere maansal yauvan aur raktapoorn hriday ki sadharan avashyakata hai. mujhe kshama kar deange. parantu maian yadi vaisa puny parinay kar sakati! ah! tum is tapasvi ke kuti saman hriday mean itana saundary lekar kyoan atithi hue! ramasvami, tum mere du:khoan ke megh mean vajrapat the.’’

padma ro rahi thi. sannata ho gaya. sahasa jate-jate ramasvami ne kaha-‘‘maian tumhare bina nahian rah sakata!’’ ramesh! maian bhi padma ke bina nahian rah sakata; maianne bhi karyalay mean tyag-patr bhej diya hai. bhookhoan marooanga, par upay kya hai?

-abhaga ashok

bhag 6

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2.4.25

ramesh!

maian b da vichalit ho raha hooan. ek karal chhaya mere jivan par p d rahi hai! adrisht mujhe ajnat path par khianch raha hai, parantu tumako likhe bina nahian rah sakata.

madhumas mean jangali phooloan ki bhini-bhini mahak sarita ke kool ki shailamala ko aliangan de rahi thi. makkhiyoan ki bhannahat ka kalanad gunjarit ho raha tha. navin pallavoan ke komal sparsh se vanasthali pulakit thi. maian jangali jard chameli ke akritrim kunj ke antaral mean baitha, niche bahati huee nadi ke sath basant ki dhoop ka khel dekh raha tha. hriday mean asha thi. ah! vah apane tuhin-jal se ratnakar ke sab ratnoan ko, akash se sab muktaoan ko nikal, khianchakar mere charanoan mean ujhal deti thi. prabhat ki pili kiranoan se hemagiri ko ghasit le ati thi; aur le ati thi padma ki maun pranay-svikriti. maian bhi aj van-yatra ke utsav mean devata ke bhog-vigrah ke sath is vanasthali mean aya tha. bahut-se nagarik bhi aye the. dev-vigrah vishal vat-vriksh ke niche sthit hua aur yatri-dal idhar-udhar nadi-tat ke niche shailamala, kunjoan, gahvaroan aur ghatiyoan ki hariyali mean chhip gaya. log amod-pramod , pan-bhojan mean lag gaye. hariyali ke bhitar se kahian pikaloo, kahian klarenet aur devadasiyoan ke kokil-kanth ka sundar svar nikalane laga. vah kanan nandan ho raha tha aur maian usamean vicharanevala ek devata. kyoan? mera vishvas tha ki devabala padma yahaan hai. vah bhi dev-grih ke age-age nrity-gan karati huee aee thi.

maian sochane laga-‘‘ah! vah samay bhi ayega, jab maian padma ke sath ekant mean is kanan mean vicharooanga. vah pavitr-vah mere jivan ka mahattam yog kab ayega?’’ asha ne kaha-‘use aya samajho’. maian mast hokar vanshi bajane laga. aj meri baans ki baansuri mean b da unmad tha. vanshi nahian, mera hriday baj raha tha. chidambaramh-akar mere samane kh da ho gaya. vah bhi mugdh tha. usane kabhi meri baansuri nahian suni thi. jab maianne apani asavari band ki, vah bol utha-‘ashok, tum ek kushal kalavant ho.’ kahana n hoga ki vah devadasiyoan ka sangit-shikshak bhi tha. vah chala gaya aur tho di hi der mean padma ko sath liye aya. usake hathoan mean bhojan ka saman bhi tha. padma ko usane uttejit kar diya tha. vah ate hi boli-‘mujhe bhi sunao.’ jaise maian svapn dekhane laga. padma aur mujhase anunay kare! maianne kaha ‘baith jao.’ aur jab vah kusum-kankan mandit karoan par kapol dharakar mallika ki chhaya mean a baithi, to maian bajane laga. ramesh, maianne vanshi nahian bajaee! sach kahata hooan , maian apani vedana shvasoan se nikal raha tha. itani karun, itani snigdh, maian tanean le-lekar usamean svayan pagal ho jata tha. meri aankhoan mean madavikar tha, mujhe us samay apani palakean bojh maloom hoti thian.

baansuri rakhane par bhi usaki pratidhvani ka sohag van-lakshmi ke charoan or ghoom raha tha. padma ne kaha-‘sundar! tum sachamuch ashok ho!’ van-lakshmi padma achal thi. mujhe ek kavita soojhi! maianne kaha-padma! maian kathor prithvi ka ashok, tum taral jal ki padma! bhala ashok ke rag-bhakt ke nav-pallavoan mean padma ka vikas kaise hoga?

bahut dinoan par padma hans p di. usane kaha-‘ashok, tum logoan ki vachan-chaturi sikhooangi. kuchh kha lo.’ vah deti gee, maian khata gaya. jab ham svasth hokar baithe to dekha, chidambaramh chala gaya hai, padma niche sir kiye apane nakhoan ko khurach rahi hai. ham log sabase ooanche kagare par the. nadi ki or dhaluvaan paha di kagar tha! mere samane sansar ek hariyali thi. sahasa ramasvami ne akar kaha-‘padma, aj mujhe maloom hua ki tum uttari daridr par marati ho.’ padma ne chhalachhalaee aankhoan se usaki or dekhakar kaha-‘ramasvami! tumhare atyacharoan ka kahian ant hai?’

‘so nahian ho sakata. utho, abhi mere sath chalo.’

‘oh,! nahian, tum kya meri hatya karoge? mujhe bhay lagata hai!

‘maian kuchh nahian karooanga. chalo, maian isake sath tumhe nahian dekh sakata.’ kahakar usane padma ka hath pak dakar ghasita. vah katar drishti se mujhe dekhane lagi. us drishti mean jivan bhar ke liye kiye gaye atyacharoan ka vivaran tha. unmat pishach-sadrish bal se maianne ramasvami ko dhakka diya. aur maianne hatbuddhi hokar dekha, vah tin sau phit niche choor hota hua nadi ke kharastrot mean ja gira, yadyapi meri vaisi ichchha n thi. padma ne akar meri or bhayapoorn netroan se dekha aur avakh! usi samay chidambaramh ne mera hath pak d liya. padma se kaha-‘tum devadasiyoan mean jakar milo. savadhan! ek shabd muanh se n nikale. maian ashok ko lekar nagar ki or jata hooan.’ vah bina uttar ki pratiksha kiye mujhe ghasitata le chala. maian nahian janata ki maian kaise ghar pahuancha. maian kothari mean achet p da raha. rat bhar vaise hi raha. prabhat hote hi tumhean patr likh raha hooan. maianne kya kiya! ramesh! tum kuchh likho, maian kya karooan!

-adham ashok

bhag 7

‘..........’

8.4.25

priy ramesh!

tumhara yah likhana ki ‘savadhan bano! patr mean aisi batean ab n likhana.’ vyarth hai. mujhe bhay nahian, jivan ki chinta nahian.

nagar-bhar mean keval yahi janashruti phaili hai ki ‘ramasvami us din se kahian chala gaya hai aur vah padma ke prem se hatash ho gaya tha.’ maian kiankartavyavimoodh hooan. chidambaramh mujhe do mutthi bhat khilata hai. maian mandir ke vishal praangan mean kahian-n-kahian baitha rahata hooan. chidambaramh jaise mere us janm ka pita hai. parantu padma, aha! us din se maianne use gate aur nachate nahian dekha. vah pray: sabha-mandal ke stambh mean tiki huee, dono hathoan mean apane ek ghutane ko chhati se lagaye arddh svapnavastha mean baithi rahati hai. usaka mukh vivarn, sharir kshin, palak, apaang aur usake shvas mean yantrik spandan hai. naye yatri kabhi-kabhi use dekhakar bhram karate hoange ki vah bhi koee pratima hai. aur maian sochata hooan ki maian hatyara hooan. sneh se snan kar leta hooan, ghrina se muanh dhank leta hooan. us ghatana ke bad se ham tinoan mean kabhi isaki charcha nahian huee. kya sachamuch padma ramasvami ko chahati thi? mere pyar ne bhi usaka apakar hi kiya, aur maian? oh! vah svapn kaisa sundar tha!

ramesh! maian? devata ki or dekh bhi nahian sakata. sochata hooan ki maian pagal ho jaooanga. phir man mean ata hai ki padma bhi bavali ho jayagi. parantu maian pagal n ho sakooanga; kyoanki maian padma se kabhi apana pranay nahian prakat kar saka. usase ek bar kah dene ki kamana hai-padma, maian tumhara premi hooan. tum mere lie suhagini ke kuankum-bindu ke saman pavitr, is mandir ke devata ki tarah bhakti ki pratima aur mere donoan lok ki nigoodhatam akaanksha ho.

par vaisa hone ka nahian. maian poochhata hooan ki padma aur chidambaramh ne mujhe phaansi kyoan nahian dilayi?

ramesh! ashok vida leta hai. vah patthar ke mandir ka ek bhikhari hai. ab vaisa nahian ki tumhean patr likhooan aur kisi se maangooanga bhi nahian. adham, nich ashok lalloo ko kis muanh se ashirvad de?

-hatabhagy ashok