नैराश्य लीला -प्रेमचंद

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

pandit hridayanath ayodhyay ke ek sammanit purush the. dhanavanh to nahian lekin khane-pine se khush the. kee makan the, unhian ke kiraye par gujar hota tha. idhar kiraye badh gaye the, unhoanne apani savari bhi rakh li thi. bahut vicharashil adami the, achchhi shiksha payi thi. sansar ka kafi tajuraba tha, par kriyatmak shakti se vanchit the, sabakuchh n janate the. samaj unaki aankhoan mean ek bhayankar bhoot tha jisase sadaiv darate rahana chahie. use jara bhi rusht kiya to phir jan ki khair nahian. unaki stri jageshvari unaka pratibimb thi, pati ke vichar usake vichar aur pati ki ichchha usaki ichchha thi, donoan praniyoan mean kabhi matabhed n hota tha. jageshvari shiv ki upasak thi, hridayanath vaishnav the, par dan aur vrat mean donoan ko saman shradhda thi, donoan dharmanishth the, usase kahian adhik, jitana samanyat: shikshit log hua karate haian. isaka kadachith yah karan tha ki ek kanya ke siva unake aur koee santan n thi. usaka vivah terahavean varsh mean ho gaya tha aur mata-pita ki ab yahi lalasa thi ki bhagavanh ise putravati karean to ham log navase ke nam apana sab-kuchh likh-likhakar nishchiant ho jayean.

kiantu vidhata ko kuchh aur hi manjoor tha. kailasakumari ka abhi gauna bhi n hua tha, vah abhi tak yah bhi n janane payi thi ki vivah ka ashay kya hai, ki usaka sohag uth gaya. vaidhavy ne usake jivan ki abhilashaoan ka dipak bujha diya.

mata aur pita vilap kar rahe the, ghar mean kuharam macha hua tha, par kailasakumari bhauanchakki ho-hokar sabake muanh ki or takati thi. usaki samajh hi mean n ata tha ki yah log rote kyoan haian? maan-bap ki ikalauti beti thi. maan-bap ke atirikt vah kisi tisare vyakti ko apane lie avashyak n samajhati thi. usaki sukh-kalpanaoan mean abhi tak pati ka pravesh n hua tha. vah samajhati thi, striyaan pati ke marane par isalie roti haian ki vah unaka aur unake bachchoan ka palan karata hai. mere ghar mean kis bat ki kami hai? mujhe isaki kya chinta hai ki khayeange kya, pahaneange kya? mujhe jis chiz ki zaroorat hogi babooji turant la deange, amma se jo chiz maangooangi vah de deangi. phir roooan kyoan? yah apani maan ko rote dekhati to roti, pati ke shok se nahian, maan ke prem se. kabhi sochati, shayad yah log isalie rote haian ki kahian maian koee aisi chiz n maang baithooan jise vah de n sakean. to maian aisi chiz maangooangi hi kyoan? maian ab bhi to unase kuchh nahian maangati, vah ap hi mere lie ek n ek chiz nity late rahate haian. kya maian ab kuchh aur ho jaooangi? idhar mata ka yah hal tha ki beti ki soorat dekhate hi aankhoan se aansoo ki jh di lag jati. bap ki dasha aur bhi karunajanak thi. ghar mean ana-jana chho d diya. sir par hath dhare kamare mean akele udas baithe rahate. use vishesh du:kh is bat ka tha ki saheliyaan bhi ab usake sath khelane n atian. usane unake ghar jane ki mata se ajna maangi to vah phoot-phoot kar rone lagian. mata-pita ki yah dasha dekhi to usane unake samane jana chho d diya, baithi kisse-kahaniyaan padha karati. usaki ekaantapriyata ka maan-bap ne kuchh aur hi arth samajha. l daki shok ke mare ghuli jati hai, is vajrapat ne usake hriday ko tuk de-tuk de kar dala hai.

ek din hridayanath ne jageshvari se kaha- ji chahata hai,ghar chho dakar kahian bhag jaooan. isaka kasht ab nahian dekha jata.

jageshvari- meri to bhagavanh se yahi prarthana hai ki mujhe sansar se utha lean. kahaan tak chhati par patthar ki sil rakhooan.

hridayanath- kisi bhaanti isaka man bahalana chahie, jisamean shokamay vichar anehi n payean. ham logoan ko du:khi aur rote dekhakar usaka du:kh aur bhi darun ho jatahai.

jageshvari- meri to budhdi kuchh kam nahian karati.

hridayanath- ham log yoan hi matam karate rahe to l daki ki jan par ban ayegi. ab kabhi-kabhi use lekar sair karane chali jaya karo. kabhi-kabhi thietar dikha diya, kabhi ghar mean gana-bajana kara diya. in batoan se usaka dil bahalata rahega.

jageshvari- maian to use dekhate hi ro p dati hooan. lekin ab zabt karooangi. tumhara vichar bahut achchha hai. bina dil-bahalav ke usaka shok n door hoga.

hridayanath- maian bhi ab usase dil bahalanevali batean kiya karooanga. kal ek sairabian laooanga, achchhe-achchhe drishy jama karooanga. gramophon to aj hi mangavaye deta hooan. bas use har vakt kisi n kisi kam mean lagaye rahana chahie. ekaantavas shok-jvala ke lie samir ke saman hai.

us din se jageshvari ne kailasakumari ke lie vinod aur pramod ke saman jama karane shuroo kiye. kailasi maan ke pas ati to usaki aankhoan mean aansoo ki booandean n dekhati, hoanthoan par hansi ki abha dikhaee deti. vah muskara kar kahati- beti, aj thietar mean bahut achchha tamasha hone vala hai, chalo dekh ayean. kabhi ganga-snan ki thaharati, vahaan maan-beti kishti par baithakar nadi mean jal-vihar karatian, kabhi donoan sandhya -samay park ki or chali jatian. dhire-dhire saheliyaan bhi ane lagian. kabhi sab-ki-sab baithakar tash khelatian, kabhi gati-bajatian. pandit hridayanath ne bhi vinod ki samagriyaan jutayian. kailasi ko dekhate hi magn hokar bolate- beti ao, tumhean aj kashmir ke drishy dikhaooan; kabhi kahate, ao aj svitjaralaiand ki anupam jhaanki aur jharanoan ki chhata dekhean; kabhi gramophon bajakar use sunate. kailasi in sair-sapatoan ka khoob anand uthati. itane sukh se usake din kabhi n gujare the.

2

is bhaanti do varsh bit gaye. kailasi sair-tamashe ki itani adi ho gayi ki ek din bhi thietar n jati to bekal-si hone lagati. manoranjan navinata ka das hai aur samanata ka shatru. thietaroan ke bad sinema ki sanak savar huee. sinema ke bad mismerijm aur hipnotijm ke tamashoan ki! gramophon ke naye rikard ane lage. sangit ka chaska p d gaya. biradari mean kahian utsav hota to maan-beti avashy jatian. kailasi nity isi nashe mean doobi rahati, chalati to kuchh gunagunati huee, kisi se batean karati to vahi thietar ki aur sinema ki. bhautik sansar se ab koee vasta n tha, ab usaka nivas kalpana-sansar mean tha. doosare lok ki nivasini hokar use praniyoan se koee sahanubhooti n rahi, kisi ke du:kh par jara daya n ati. svabhav mean uchchhriankhalata ka vikas hua, apani suruchi par garv karane lagi. saheliyoan se diange marati, yahaan ke log moorkh haian, yah sinema ki kadr kya kareange. isaki kadr to pashchim ke log karate haian. vahaan manoranjan ki samagriyaan utani hi avashyak haian jitani hava. jabhi to ve utane prasann-chitt rahate haian, mano kisi bat ki chianta hi nahian. yahaan kisi ko isaka ras hi nahian. jinhean bhagavanh ne samarthy bhi diya hai vah bhi saresham se muanh dhaankakar p d rahate haian. saheliyaan kailasi ki yah garvapoorn batean sunatian aur usaki aur bhi prashansa karatian. vah unaka apaman karane ke aveg mean ap hi hasyaspad ban jati thi.

p dosiyoan mean in sair-sapatoan ki charcha hone lagi. lok-sammati kisi ki riayat nahian karati. kisi ne sir par topi tedhi rakhi aur p dosiyoan ki aankhoan mean khuba, koee jara ak dakar chala aur p dosiyoan ne avajean kasian. vidhava ke lie pooja-path hai, tirth-vrat hai, mota khana hai, mota pahanana hai; use vinod aur vilas, rag aur rang ki kya zaroorat? vidhata ne usake sukh ke dvar band kar diye haian. l daki pyari sahi, lekin sharm aur haya bhi to koee chiz hai. jab maan-bap hi use sir chadhaye hue haian to usaka kya dosh? magar ek din aankhean khuleangi avashy. mahilaean kahatian, bap to mard hai, lekin maan kaisi hai usako jara bhi vichar nahian ki duniya kya kahegi. kuchh unhian ki ek dulari beti tho de hi hai, is bhaanti man badhana achchha nahian.

kuchh dinoan tak to yah khich di apas mean pakati rahi. aant ko ek din kee mahilaoan ne jageshvari ke ghar padarpan kiya. jageshvari ne unaka b da adar-satkar kiya. kuchh der tak idhar-udhar ki batean karane ke bad ek mahila boli- mahilaean rahasy ki batean karane mean bahut abhyast hoti haian- bahan, tumhian maje mean ho ki hansi-khushi mean din kat deti ho. hamean to din paha d ho jata hai. n koee kam n dhandha, koee kahaan tak batean kare?

doosari devi ne aankhean matakate hue kaha- are, to yah to bade ki bat hai. sabhi ke din hansi-khushi se katean to roye kaun. yahaan to subah se sham tak chakki-choolhe se chhutti nahian milati; kisi bachche ko dast a rahe haian; to kisi ko jvar chadha hua hai; koee mithaiyoan ki rat raha hai; to koee paisoan ke lie mahanamath machaye hue hai. din bhar hay-hay karate bit jata hai. sare din kathaputaliyoan ki bhaanti nachati rahati hooan.

tisari ramani ne is kathan ka rahasyamay bhav se virodh kiya- bade ki bat nahian, vaisa dil chahie. tumhean to koee rajasianhasan par bitha de tab bhi taskin n hogi. tab aur bhi hay-hay karogi.

is par ek vridhda ne kaha- nauj aisa dil! yah bhi koee dil hai ki ghar mean chahe ag lag jay, duniya mean kitana hi upahas ho raha ho, lekin adami apane rag-rang mean mast rahe. vah dil hai ki patthar! ham grihini kahalati haian, hamara kam hai apani grihasthi mean rat rahana. amod-pramod mean din katana hamara kam nahian.

aur mahilaoan ne is nirday vyangy par lajjit hokar sir jhuka liya. ve jageshvari ki chutakiyaan lena chahati thian, usake sath billi aur choohe ki nirdayi kri da karana chahati thian. ahat ko t dapana unaka uddeshy tha. is khuli huee chot ne unake par-pi dan prem ke lie koee guanjaish n chho di; kiantu jageshvari ko ta dana mil gayi. striyoan ke vida hone ke bad usane jakar pati se yah sari katha sunayi. hridayanath un purushoan mean n the jo pratyek avasar par apani atmik svadhinata ka svaang bharate haian, hathadharmi ko atm-svatantry ke nam se chhipate haian. vah sanchit bhav se bole- to ab kya hoga?

jageshvari- tumhian koee upay socho.

hridayanath- p dosiyoan ne jo akshep kiya hai vah sarvatha uchit hai. kailasakumari ke svabhav mean mujhe ek vichitr aantar dikhaee de raha hai. mujhe svayan jnat ho raha hai ki usake manabahalav ke lie ham logoan ne jo upay nikala hai vah munasib nahian hai. unaka yah kathan saty hai ki vidhavaoan ke lie yah amod-pramod varjit hai. ab hamean yah paripati chho dani p degi.

jageshvari- lekin kailasi to in khel-tamashoan ke bina ek din bhi nahian rah sakati.

hridayanath- usaki manovrittiyoan ko badalana p dega.

3

shanai:-shanai: yah vilasonmad shaant hone laga. vasana ka tiraskar kiya jane laga. panditaji sandhyaai samay gramophon n bajakar koee dharm granth padhakar sunate. svadhyay, sanyam, upasana mean maan-beti rat rahane lagian. kailasi ko guru ji ne diksha di, muhalle aur biradari ki striyaan ayian, utsav manaya gaya.

maan-beti ab kishti par sair karane ke lie ganga n jatian, balki snan karane ke lie. mandiroan mean nity jatian. donoan ekadashi ka nirjal vrat rakhane lagian. kailasi ko guruji nity sandhya -samay dharmopadesh karate. kuchh dinoan tak to kailasi ko vah vichar-parivartan bahut kashtajanak maloom hua, par dharmanishtha nariyoan ka svabhavik gun hai, tho de hi dinoan mean use dharm se ruchi ho gayi. ab use apani avastha ka jnan hone laga tha. vishay-vasana se chitt ap hi ap khianchane laga. 'pati' ka yatharth ashay samajh mean ane laga tha. pati hi stri ka sachcha mitr, sachcha path-pradarshak aur sachcha sahayak hai. pativihin hona kisi ghor pap ka prayashchitt hai. maianne poorvajanm mean koee akarm kiya hoga. patidev jivit hote to maian phir maya mean phans jati. prayashchitt ka avasar kahaan milata. guruji ka vachan saty hai ki paramatma ne tumhean poorvakarmoan ke prayashchitt ka yah avasar diya hai. vaidhavy yatana nahian hai, jivodhdar ka sadhan hai. mera udhdar tyag, virag, bhakti aur upasana se hoga.

kuchh dinoan ke bad usaki dharmik vritti itani prabal ho gayi, ki any praniyoan se vah prithakh rahane lagi. kisi ko n chhooti, mahariyoan se door rahati, saheliyoan se gale tak n milati, din mean do-do, tin-tin bar snan karati, hamesha koee n koee dharm-granth padha karati. sadhu-mahatmaoan ke seva-satkar mean use atmik sukh prapt hota. jahaan kisi mahatma ke ane ki khabar pati, unake darshanoan ke lie vikal ho jati. unaki amritavanhi sunane se ji n bharata. man sansar se virakt hone laga. tallinata ki avastha prapt ho gayi. ghantoan dhyan aur chiantan mean magn rahati. samajik bandhanoan se ghrina ho gayi. hriday svadhinata ke lie lalayit ho gaya; yahaan tak ki tin hi barasoan mean usane sannyas grahan karane ka nishchay kar liya.

maan-bap ko yah samachar jnat hua to hosh u d gaye. maan boli- beti, abhi tumhari umr hi kya hai ki tum aisi batean sochati ho.

kailasakumari- maya-moh se jitani jald nivritti ho jay utana hi achchha.

hridayanath- kya apane ghar mean rahakar maya-moh se mukt nahian ho sakati ho? maya-moh ka sthan man hai, ghar nahian.

jageshvari- kitani badanami hogi.

kailasakumari- apane ko bhagavanh ke charanoan par arpan kar chuki to badanami ki kya chianta?

jageshvari- beti, tumhean n ho, hamako to hai. hamean to tumhara hi sahara hai. tumane jo sannyas le liya to ham kis adhar par jiyeange?

kailasakumari- paramatma hi sabaka adhar hai. kisi doosare prani ka ashray lena bhool hai.

doosare din yah bat muhallevaloan ke kanoan mean pahuanch gayi. jab koee avastha asadhy ho jati hai to ham us par vyangy karane lagate haian. 'yah to hona hi tha, nayi bat kya huee, l dakiyoan ko is tarah svachchhand nahian kar diya jata, phoole n samate the ki l daki ne kul ka nam ujjval kar diya. puran padhati hai, upanishadh aur vedaant ka path karati hai, dharmik samasyaoan par aisi-aisi dalilean karati hai ki b de-b de vidvanoan ki jaban band ho jati hai, to ab kyoan pachhatate haian?' bhadr purushoan mean kee dinoan tak yahi alochana hoti rahi.lekin jaise apane bachche ke dau date-dau date dham se gir p dane par ham pahale krodh ke avesh mean use jhi dakiyaan sunate haian, isake bad god mean bithakar aansoo poanchhane aur phusalane lagate haian; usi tarah in bhadr purushoan ne vyangy ke bad is gutthi ke sulajhane ka upay sochana shuroo kiya. kee sajjan hridayanath ke pas aye aur sir jhukakar baith gaye. vishay ka arambh kaise ho?

kee minat ke bad ek sajjan ne kaha- suna hai daktar gau d ka prastav aj bahumat se svikrit ho gaya.

doosare mahashay bole- yah log hiandoo-dharm ka sarvanash karake chho deange.

tisare mahanubhav ne pharamaya- sarvanash to ho hi raha hai, ab aur koee kya karega! jab hamare sadhu-mahatma, jo hiandoo-jati ke stambh haian, itane patit ho gaye haian ki bholi-bhali yuvatiyoan ko bahakane mean sankoch nahian karate to sarvanash hone mean rah hi kya gaya.

hridayanath- yah vipatti to mere sir hi p di huee hai. ap logoan ko to maloom hoga.

pahale mahashay- ap hi ke sir kyoan, ham sabhi ke sir p di huee hai.

doosare mahashay- samast jati ke sir kahie.

hridayanath- udhdar ka koee upay sochie.

pahale mahashay- apane samajhaya nahian?

hridayanath- samajha ke har gaya. kuchh sunati hi nahian.

tisare mahashay- pahale hi bhool huee. use is raste par dalana hi n chahie tha.

pahale mahashay- us par pachhatane se kya hoga? sir par jo p di hai usaka upay sochana chahie. apane samachar-patroan mean dekha hoga, kuchh logoan ki salah hai ki vidhavaoan se adhyapakoan ka kam lena chahie. yadyapi maian ise bhi bahut achchha nahian samajhata, par sannyasini banane se to kahian achchha hai. l daki apani aankhoan ke samane to rahegi. abhipray keval yahi hai ki koee aisa kam hona chahie jisamean l daki ka man lage. kisi avalamb ke bina manushy ko bhatak jane ki shanka sadaiv bani rahati hai. jis ghar mean koee nahian rahata usamean chamagad d basera lete haian.

doosare mahashay- salah to achchhi hai. muhalle ki das-paanch kanyaean padhane ke lie bula li jayean. unhean kitabean, gu diyaan adi inam milata rahe to b de shauq se ayeangi. l daki ka man to lag jayaga.

hridayanath- dekhana chahie. bharasak samajhaooanga.

jyoan hi yah log vida hue, hridayanath ne kailasakumari ke samane yah tajavij pesh ki. kailasi ko sannyast ke uchchapad ke samane adhyapika banana apamanajanak jan p data tha. kahaan vah mahatmaoan ka satsang, vah parvatoan ki gupha, vah suramy prakritik drishy, vah himarashi ki jnanamay jyoti, vah manasarovar aur kailas ki shubh chhata, vah atmadarshan ki vishal kalpanaean, aur kahaan balikaoan ko chi diyoan ki bhaanti padhana. lekin hridayanath kee dinoan tak lagatar sevadharm ka mahatmy usake hriday par aankit karate rahe. seva hi vastavik sannyas hai. sannyasi keval apani mukti ka ichchhuk hota hai, seva-vratadhari svayan ki paramarth ki vedi par bali de deta hai. isaka gaurav kahian adhik hai. dekho, rrishiyoan mean dadhichi ka jo yash hai, harishchandr ki jo kirti hai, usaki tulana aur kahaan ki ja sakati hai. sannyas svarth hai, seva tyag hai, adi. unhoanne is kathan ki upanishadoan aur vedamantroan se pushti ki. yahaan tak ki dhire-dhire kailasi ke vicharoan mean parivartan hone laga. panditaji ne muhallevaloan ki l dakiyoan ko ekatr kiya, pathashala ka janm ho gaya. nana prakar ke chitr aur khilaune mangaye. panditaji svayan kailasakumari ke sath l dakiyoan ko padhate. kanyaean shauq se atian. unhean yahaan ki padhaee khel maloom hoti. tho de hi dinoan mean pathashala ki dhoom ho gayi, any muhalloan ki kanyaean bhi ane lagian.

4

kailasakumari ki seva-pravritti dinoandin tivr hone lagi. din-bhar l dakiyoan ko liye rahati; kabhi padhati, kabhi unake sath khelati, kabhi sina-pirona sikhati. pathashala ne parivar ka roop dharan kar liya. koee l daki bimar ho jati to turant usake ghar jati, usaki seva-sushroosha karati, gakar ya kahaniyaan sunakar usaka dil bahalati.

pathashala ko khule hue sal-bhar hua tha. ek l daki ko, jisase vah bahut prem karati thi, chechak nikal ayi. kailasi use dekhane gayi. maan-bap ne bahut mana kiya, par usane n mana. kaha- turant laut aooangi. l daki ki halat kharab thi. kahaan to rote-rote taloo sookhata tha, kahaan kailasi ko dekhate hi mano sare kasht bhag gaye. kailasi ek ghante tak vahaan rahi. l daki barabar usase batean karati rahi. lekin jab vah chalane ko uthi to l daki ne rona shuroo kiya. kailasi majaboor hokar baith gayi. tho di der ke bad jab vah phir uthi to phir l daki ki yahi dasha ho gayi. l daki use kisi tarah chho dati hi n thi. sara din gujar gaya. rat ko bhi l daki ne n jane diya. hridayanath use bulane ko bar-bar adami bhejate, par vah l daki ko chho dakar n ja sakati. use aisi shanka hoti thi ki maian yahaan se chali aur l daki hath se gayi. usaki maan vimata thi. isase kailasi ko usake mamatv par vishvas n hota tha. is prakar vah tin dinoan tak vahaan rahi. athoan pahar balika ke sirahane baithi pankha jhalati rahati. bahut thak jati to divar se pith tek leti! chauthe din l daki ki halat kuchh sanbhalati huee maloom huee to vah apane ghar ayi. magar abhi snan bhi n karane payi thi ki adami pahuancha- jald chalie, l daki ro-rokar jan de rahi hai. hridayanath ne kaha- kah do, aspatal se koee nars bula lean!

kailasakumari- dada, ap vyarth mean jhuanjhalate haian. us bechari ki jan bach jay, maian tin din nahian, tin mahine usaki seva karane ko taiyar hooan. akhir yah deh kis din kam ayegi.

hridayanath- to kanyaean kaise padheangi?

kailasi- do-ek din mean vah achchhi ho jayagi, dane murajhane lage haian, tab tak ap jara in l dakiyoan ki dekhabhal karate rahiega.

hridayanath- yah bimari chhoot se phailati hai.

kailasi- (hansakar) mar jaooangi to apake sir se ek vipatti tal jayagi. yah kahakar usane udhar ki rah li. bhojan ki thali parasi rah gayi.

tab hridayanath ne jageshvari se kaha- jan p data hai, bahut jald yah pathashala bhi band karani p degi.

jageshvari- bina maanjhi ke nav par lagana bahut kathin hai. jidhar hava pati hai, udhar hi bah jati hai.

hridayanath- jo rasta nikalata hooan vahi kuchh dinoan ke bad kisi daladal mean phansa deta hai. ab phir badanami ke saman hote najar a rahe haian. log kaheange, l daki doosaroan ke ghar jati hai aur kee-kee din p di rahati hai kya karooan, kah dooan, l dakiyoan ko n padhaya karo?

jageshvari- isake siva aur ho kya sakata hai.

kailasakumari do din bad lauti to hridayanath ne pathashala band kar dene ki samasya usake samane rakhi. kailasi ne tivr svar se kaha- agar apako badanami ka itana bhay hai to mujhe vish de dijie. isake siva badanami se bachane ka aur koee upay nahian hai.

hridayanath- beti, sansar mean rahakar to sansar ki-si karani hi p degi.

kailasi- to kuchh maloom bhi to ho ki sansar mujhase kya chahata hai. mujhamean jiv hai, chetana hai, j d kyoankar ban jaooan! mujhase yah nahian ho sakata ki apane ko abhagini, dukhiya samajhooan aur ek tuk da roti khakar p di rahooan. aisa kyoan karooan? sansar mujhe jo chahe samajhe, maian apane ko abhagini nahian samajhati. maian apane atm-samman ki raksha ap kar sakati hooan. maian ise apana ghor apaman samajhati hooan ki pag-pag par mujh par shanka ki jay, nity koee charavahoan ki bhaanti mere pichhe lathi lie ghoomata rahe ki kisi khet mean n ja p dooan. yah dasha mere lie asahy hai.

yah kahakar kailasakumari vahaan se chali gayi ki kahian muanh se anargal shabd n nikal p de. idhar kuchh dinoan se use apani bekasi ka yatharth jnan hone laga tha. stri purush ki kitani adhin hai, mano stri ko vidhata ne isilie banaya hai ki purushoan ke adhin rahe. yah sochakar vah samaj ke atyachar par daant pisane lagati thi.

pathashala to doosare hi din se band ho gayi, kiantu usi din kailasakumari ko purushoan se jalan hone lagi. jis sukh-bhog se prarabdh hamean vanchit kar deta hai usase hamean dvesh ho jata hai. garib adami isilie to amiroan se jalata hai aur dhan ki nianda karata hai. kailasi bar-bar jhuanjhalati ki stri kyoan purush par itani avalambit hai? purush kyoan stri ke bhagy ka vidhayak hai? stri kyoan nity purushoan ka ashray chahe, unaka muanh take? isalie n ki striyoan mean abhiman nahian hai, atm-samman nahian hai. nari-hriday ke komal bhav, use kutto ka dum hilana maloom hone lage. prem kaisa? yah sab dhoang hai, stri purush ke adhin hai, usaki khushamad n kare, seva n kare, to usaka nirvah kaise ho.

ek din usane apane bal gooanthe aur joo de mean gulab ka phool laga liya. maan ne dekha to oanth se jibh daba li. mahariyoan ne chhati par hath rakhe.

isi tarah usane ek din rangin reshami sa di pahan li. p dosinoan mean is par khoob alochanaean hueean.

usane ekadashi ka vrat rakhana chho d diya jo pichhale ath barasoan se rakhati ayi thi. kanghi aur aine ko vah ab tyajy n samajhati thi.

sahalag ke din aye. nity-prati usake dvar par se baratean nikalatian. muhalle ki striyaan apani apani atariyoan par kh di hokar dekhatian. var ke rang-roop, akar-prakar par tikaean hotian, jageshvari se bhi bina ek aankh dekhe n raha jata. lekin kailasakumari kabhi bhoolakar bhi in jaloosoan ko n dekhati. koee barat ya vivah ki bat chalata to vah muanh pher leti. usaki drishti mean vah vivah nahian, bholi-bhali kanyaoan ka shikar tha. batoan ko vah shikariyoan ke kutto samajhati. yah vivah nahian hai, stri ka balidan hai.

5

tij ka vrat aya. gharoan ki saphaee hone lagi. ramaniyaan is vrat ko rakhane ki taiyariyaan karane lagian. jageshvari ne bhi vrat ka saman kiya. nayi-nayi sa diyaan mangavayian. kailasakumari ke sasural se is avasar par kap de, mithaiyaan aur khilaune aya karate the. abaki bhi aye. yah vivahita striyoan ka vrat hai. isaka phal hai pati ka kalyan. vidhavaean bhi is vrat ko yathochit riti se palan karati haian. pati se unaka sambandha sharirik nahian, varanh adhyatmik hota hai. usaka is jivan ke sath aant nahian hota, anant kal tak jivit rahata hai. kailasakumari ab tak yah vrat rahati ayi thi. abaki usane nishchay kiya, maian vrat n rakhooangi. maan ne to matha thok liya. boli- beti, yah vrat rakhana dharm hai.

kailasakumari- purush bhi striyoan ke lie koee vrat rakhate haian?

jageshvari- mardoan mean isaki pratha nahian hai.

kailasakumari- isilie n ki purushoan ko striyoan ki jan utani pyari nahian hoti jitani striyoan ko purushoan ki jan.

jageshvari- striyaan purushoan ki barabari kaise kar sakati haian? unaka to dharm hai apane purush ki seva karana.

kailasakumari- maian ise apana dharm nahian samajhati. mere lie apani atma ki raksha ke siva aur koee dharm nahian.

jageshvari- beti, gajab ho jayaga, duniya kya kahegi?

kailasakumari- phir vahi duniya? apani atma ke siva mujhe kisi ka bhay nahian.

hridayanath ne jageshvari se yah batean sunian to chianta-sagar mean doob gaye. in batoan ka kya ashay? kya atm-samman ka bhav jagrit hua hai ya nairashy ki kroor kri da hai? dhanahin prani ko jab kasht-nivaran ka koee upay nahian rah jata to vah lajja ko tyag deta hai. nissandeh nairashy ne yah bhishan roop dharan kiya hai. samany dashaoan mean nairashy apane yatharth roop mean ata hai, par garvashil praniyoan mean vah parimarjit roop grahan kar leta hai. yahaan par hridayagat komal bhavoan ka apaharan kar leta hai- charitr mean asvabhavik vikas utpann kar deta hai- manushy lok-laj aur upahas ki or se udasin ho jata hai, naitik bandhan toot jate haian. yah nairashy ki aantim avastha hai.

hridayanath inhian vicharoan mean magn the ki jageshvari ne kaha- ab kya karana hoga?

hridayanath- kya bataooan.

jageshvari- koee upay hai?

hridayanath- bas, ek hi upay hai, par use jaban par nahian la sakata.