पाप का अग्निकुंड- प्रेमचंद

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

kuanvar prithvisianh maharaj yashavantasianh ke putr the. roop gun aur vidya mean prasiddh the. eeran mi. shyam adi deshoan mean paribhraman kar chuke the aur kee bhashaoan ke pandit samajhe jate the. inaki ek bahin thi jisaka nam rajanandini tha. yah bhi jaisi suroopavati aur sarvagunasanpanna thi vaisi hi prasannavadana aur mridubhashini bhi thi. k davi bat kah kar kisi ka ji dukhana use pasand nahian tha. pap ko to vah apane pas bhi nahian phatakane deti thi. yahaan tak ki kee bar maharaj yashavant se bhi vad-vivad kar chuki thi aur jab kabhi unhean kisi bahane koee anuchit kam karate dekhati to use yathashakti rokane ki cheshta karati. isaka byah kuanvar dharmasianh se hua tha. yah ek chhoti riyasat ka adhikari aur maharaj yashavantasianh ki sena ka uchch padadhikari tha. dharmasianh b da udar aur karmavir tha. ise honahar dekh kar maharaj ne rajanandini ko isake sath byah diya tha aur donoan b de prem se apana vaivahik jivan bitate the. dharmasianh adhikatar jodhapur mean hi rahata tha. prithvisianh usake gadhe mitr the. inamean jaisi mitrata thi vaisi bhaiyoan mean bhi nahian hoti. jis prakar in donoan rajakumaroan mean mitrata thi usi prakar donoan rajakumariyaan bhi ek doosari par jan deti thian. prithvisianh ki stri durgakuanvari bahut sushila aur chatur thi. nanad-bhavaj mean anaban hona lok-riti hai par in donoan mean itana sneh tha ki ek ke bina doosari ko kabhi kal nahian p data tha. donoan striyaan sanskrit se prem rakhati thian.

ek din donoan rajakumariyaan bag ki sair mean magn thian ki ek dasi ne rajanandini ke hath mean ek kagaz la kar rakh diya. rajanandini ne use khola to vah sanskrit ka ek patr tha. use padh kar usane dasi se kaha ki unhean bhej de. tho di der mean ek stri sir se pair tak chadar odhe ati dikhayi di. isaki umr 25 sal se adhik n thi par rang pila tha. aankhean b di aur oanth sookhe. chal-dhal mean komalata thi aur usake dil-daul ki gathan bahut manohar thi. anuman se jan p data tha ki samay ne isaki vah dasha kar rakhi hai. par ek samay vah bhi hoga jab yah b di suandar hogi. is stri ne a kar chaukhat choomi aur ashirvad de kar pharsh par baith gayi. rajanandini ne ise sir se pair tak b de dhyan se dekha aur poochha tumhara nam kya hai

usane uttar diya mujhe brajavilasini kahate haian.

kahaan rahati ho

yahaan se tin din ki rah par ek gaanv vikramanagar hai vahaan mera ghar hai.

sanskrit kahaan padhi hai

mere pita ji sanskrit ke b de pandit the unhoanne tho di-bahut padha di hai.

tumhara byah to ho gaya hai n

byah ka nam sunate hi brajavilasini ki aankhoan se aansoo bahane lage. vah avaz samhal kar boli-isaka javab maian phir kabhi dooangi meri ramakahani b di duahkhamay hai. use sun kar apako duahkh hoga isalie is samay kshama kijie.

aj se brajavilasini vahian rahane lagi. sanskrit-sahity mean usaka bahut pravesh tha. vah rajakumariyoan ko pratidin rochak kavita padh kar sunati thi. usake rang roop aur vidya ne dhire-dhire rajakumariyoan ke man mean usake prati prem aur pratishtha utpann kar di. yahaan tak ki rajakumariyoan aur brajavilasini ke bich b daee-chhotaee uth gayi aur ve saheliyoan ki bhaanti rahane lagian.

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kee mahine bit gaye. kuanvar prithvisianh aur dharmasianh donoan maharaj ke sath afaganistan ki muhim par gaye hue the. yah virah ki gh diyaan meghadoot aur raghuvansh ke padhane mean katian. brajavilasini ko kalidas ke devata se bahut prem tha aur vah usake kavyoan ki vyakhya uttamata se karati aur usamean aisi barikiyaan nikalati ki donoan rajakumariyaan mugdh ho jatian.

ek din sandhya ka samay tha donoan rajakumariyaan phulava di mean sair karane gayian to dekha ki brajavilasini hari-hari ghas par leti huee hai aur usaki aankhoan se aansoo bah rahe haian. rajakumariyoan ke achchhe bartav aur snehapoorn batachit se usaki suandarata kuchh chamak gayi thi. inake sath ab vah bhi rajakumari jan p dati thi par in sabhi batoan ke rahate bhi vah bechari bahudha ekaant mean baith kar roya karati. usake dil par ek aisi chot thi ki vah use dam bhar bhi chain nahian lene deti thi. rajakumariyaan us samay use roti dekh kar b di sahanubhooti ke sath usake pas baith gayian. rajanandini ne usaka sir apani jaangh par rakh liya aur usake gulab-se galoan ko thapathapakar kaha-sakhi tum apane dil ka hal hamean n bataogi kya ab bhi ham gair haian tumhara yoan akele duahkh ki ag mean jalana hamase nahian dekha jata.

brajavilasini avaz samhal kar boli-bahan maian abhagini hooan. mera hal mat suno.

raj.-agar bura n mano to ek bat poochhooan.

braj.-kya kaho

raj.-vahi jo maianne pahale din poochha tha tumhara byah hua hai ki nahian

braj.-isaka javab maian kya dooan abhi nahian hua.

raj.-kya kisi ka prem-ban hriday mean chubha hua hai

braj.-nahian bahan eeshvar janata hai.

raj.-to itani udas kyoan rahati ho kya prem ka anand uthane ko ji chahata hai

braj.-nahian duahkh ke siva man mean prem ko sthan hi nahian.

raj.-ham prem ka sthan paida kar deangi.

brajavilasini ishara samajh gayi aur boli-bahan in batoan ki charcha n karo.

raj.-maian ab tumhara byah rachaooangi. divan jayachand ko tumane dekha hai

brajavilasini aankhoan mean aansoo bhar kar boli-rajakumari maian vratadharini hooan aur apane vrat ko poora karana hi mere jivan ka uddeshy hai. pran ko nibhane ke lie maian jiti hooan nahian to maianne aisi aphatean jheli haian ki jine ki ichchha ab nahian rahi. mere bap vikramanagar ke jagiradar the. mere siva unake koee santan n thi. ve mujhe pranoan se adhik pyar karate the. mere hi lie unhoanne barasoan sanskrit-sahity padha tha. yuddh-vidya mean ve b de nipun the aur kee bar l daiyoan par gaye the.

ek din godhooli-bela mean jab gayean jangal se laut rahi thian maian apane dvar par kh di thi. itane mean ek javan baanki pag di baandhe hathiyar sajaye jhoomata ata dikhayi diya. meri pyari mohini is samay jangal se lauti thi aur usaka bachcha idhar kilolean kar raha tha. sanyogavash bachcha us naujavan se takara gaya. gay us adami par jhapati. rajapoot b da sahasi tha. usane shayad socha ki bhagata hooan to kalank ka tika lagata hai turant talavar myan se khianch li aur vah gay par jhapata. gay jhallayi huee to thi hi kuchh bhi n dari. meri aankhoan ke samane us rajapoot ne us pyari gay ko jan se mar dala. dekhate-dekhate saik doan adami jama ho gaye aur usako tedhi-sidhi sunane lage. itane mean pita ji bhi a gaye. ve sandhya karane gaye the. unhoanne a kar dekha ki dvar par saik doan adamiyoan ki bhi d lagi hai gay t dap rahi hai aur usaka bachcha kh da ro raha hai. pita ji ki ahat sunate hi gay karahane lagi aur unaki or usane kuchh aisi drishti se dekha ki unhean krodh a gaya. mere bad unhean vah gay hi pyari thi. ve lalakar kar bole-meri gay kisane mari hai naujavan lajja se sir jhukaye samane aya aur bola-maianne.

pitaji-tum kshatriy ho

rajapoot-haan !

pitaji-to kisi kshatriy se hath milate

rajapoot ka chehara tamatama gaya. bola-koee kshatriy samane a jay. hajaroan adami kh de the par kisi ka sahas n hua ki us rajapoot ka samana kare. yah dekh kar pitaji ne talavar khianch li aur ve us par toot p de. usane bhi talavar nikal li aur donoan adamiyoan mean talavarean chalane lagian. pita ji boodhe the sine par jakham gahara laga. gir p de. utha kar log ghar par laye. unaka chehara pila tha par unaki aankhoan se chinagariyaan nikal rahi thian. maian roti huee unake samane ayi. mujhe dekhate hi unhoanne sab adamiyoan ko vahaan se hat jane ka sanket kiya. jab maian aur pita ji akele rah gaye to ve bole-beti tum rajapootani ho

maian-ji haan.

pita ji-rajapoot bat ke dhani hote haian

maian-ji haan.

pita ji-is rajapoot ne meri gay ki jan li hai isaka badala tumhean lena hoga.

maian-apaki ajna ka palan karooangi.

pita ji-agar mera beta jita hota to maian yah bojh tumhari gardan par n rakhata.

maian-apaki jo kuchh ajna hogi maian sir-aankhoan se poori karooangi.

pita ji-tum pratijna karati ho

maian-ji haan.

pita ji-is pratijna ko poora kar dikhaogi.

maian-jahaan tak mera vash chalega maian nishchay yah pratijna poori karooangi.

pita ji-yah meri talavar lo. jab tak tum yah talavar us rajapoot ke kaleje mean n bhoank do tab tak bhog-vilas n karana.

yah kahate-kahate pita ji ke pran nikal gaye. maian usi din se talavar ko kap doan mean chhipaye us naujavan rajapoot ki talash mean ghoomane lagi. varshoan bit gaye. maian kabhi bastiyoan mean jati kabhi paha doan-jangaloan ki khak chhanati par us naujavan ka kahian pata n milata. ek din maian baithi huee apane phoote bhag par ro rahi thi ki vahi naujavan adami ata hua dikhaee diya. mujhe dekhakar usane poochha too kaun hai maianne kaha maian dukhiya brahmani hooan ap mujh par daya kijie aur mujhe kuchh khane ko dijie. rajapoot ne kaha achchha mere sath a !

maian uth kh di huee. vah adami besudh tha. maianne bijali ki tarah lapak kar kap doan mean se talavar nikali aur usake sine mean bhoank di. itane mean kee adami ate dikhayi p de. maian talavar chho dakar bhagi. tin varsh tak paha doan aur jangaloan mean chhipi rahi. bar-bar ji mean aya ki kahian doob marooan par jan b di pyari hoti hai. n jane kya-kya musibatean aur kathinaiyaan bhogani haian jinako bhogane ko abhi tak jiti hooan. aant mean jab jangal mean rahate-rahate ji ukata gaya to jodhapur chali ayi. yahaan apaki dayaluta ki charcha suni. apaki seva mean a pahuanchi aur tab se apaki kripa se maian aram se jivan bita rahi hooan. yahi meri ramakahani hai.

rajanandini ne lambi saans le kar kaha-duniya mean kaise-kaise log bhare hue haian. khair tumhari talavar ne usaka kam to tamam kar diya

brajavilasini-kahaan bahan ! vah bach gaya jakham ochha p da tha. usi shakl ke ek naujavan rajapoot ko maianne jangal mean shikar khelate dekha tha. nahian maloom vah tha ya aur koee shakl bilakul milati thi.

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kee mahine bit gaye. rajakumariyoan ne jab se brajavilasini ki ramakahani suni hai usake sath ve aur bhi prem aur sahanubhooti ka bartav karane lagi haian. pahale bina sankoch kabhi-kabhi chhe dachha d ho jati thi par ab donoan haradam usaka dil bahalaya karati haian. ek din badal ghire hue the rajanandini ne kaha-aj biharilal ki satasee sunane ko ji chahata hai. varsharritu par usamean bahut achchhe dohe haian.

durgakuanvari-b di anamol pustak hai. sakhi tumhari bagal mean jo alamari rakhi hai usi mean vah pustak hai jara nikalana. brajavilasini ne pustak utari aur usaka pahala prishth khola tha ki usake hath se pustak chhoot kar gir p di. usake pahale prishth par ek tasavir lagi huee thi. vah usi nirday yuvak ki tasavir thi jo usake bap ka hatyara tha. brajavilasini ki aankhean lal ho gayian. tyori par bal p d gaye. apani pratijna yad a gayi par usake sath hi yah vichar utpann hua ki is adami ka chitr yahaan kaise aya aur isaka in rajakumariyoan se kya sambandh hai kahian aisa n ho ki mujhe itana kritajn ho kar apani pratijna to dani p de. rajanandini ne usaki soorat dekh kar kaha-sakhi kya bat hai yah krodh kyoan brajavilasini ne savadhani se kaha-kuchh nahian n jane kyoan chakkar a gaya tha.

aj se brajavilasini ke man mean ek aur chinta utpann huee-kya mujhe rajakumariyoan ka kritajn ho kar apana pran to dana p dega

poore solah mahine ke bad afaganistan se prithvisianh aur dharmasianh laute. badashah ki sena ko b di-b di kathinaiyoan ka samana karana p da. barf adhikata se p dane lagi. paha doan ke dar barf se dhak gaye. ane-jane ke raste band ho gaye. rasad ke saman kam milane lage. sipahi bhookhoan marane lage. ab afaganoan ne samay pa kar rat ko chhape marane shuroo kiye. akhir shahajade muhiuddin ko himmat har kar lautana p da.

donoan rajakumar jyoan-jyoan jodhapur ke nikat pahuanchate the utkantha se unake man um d ate the. itane dinoan ke viyog ke bad phir bheant hogi. milane ki trishna badhati jati hai. rat-din manzil katate chale ate haian n thakavat maloom hoti hai n maandagi. donoan ghayal ho rahe haian par phir bhi milane ki khushi mean jakhamoan ki takaliph bhoole hue haian. prithvisianh durgakuanvari ke lie ek afagani katar laye haian. dharmasianh ne rajanandini ke lie kashmir ka ek bahumooly shal jo da mol liya hai. donoan ke dil umang se bhare hue haian.

rajakumariyoan ne jab suna ki donoan vir vapas ate haian to ve phoole aangoan n samayian. shrriangar kiya jane laga, maangean motiyoan se bhari jane lagian unake chehare khushi se damakane lage. itane dinoan ke bichhoh ke bad phir milap hoga khushi aankhoan se ubali p dati hai. ek-doosare ko chhe dati haian aur khush ho kar gale milati haian.

agahan ka mahina tha baragad ki daliyoan mean mooange ke dane lage hue the. jodhapur ke kile se salamiyoan ki ghanagaraj avajean ane lagian. sare nagar mean dhoom mach gayi ki kuanvar prithvisianh sakushal afaganistan se laut aye. donoan rajakumariyaan thali mean arati ke saman liye daravaze par kh di thian. prithvisianh darabariyoan ke mujare lete hue mahal mean aye. durgakuanvari ne arati utari aur donoan ek-doosare ko dekh kar khush ho gaye. dharmasianh bhi prasannata se aianthate hue apane mahal mean pahuanche par bhitar pair rakhane n paye the ki chhiank huee aur bayian aankh ph dakane lagi. rajanandini arati ka thal le kar lapaki par usaka pair phisal gaya aur thal hath se chhoot kar gir p da. dharmasianh ka matha thanaka aur rajanandini ka chehara pila ho gaya. yah asagun kyoan

brajavilasini ne donoan rajakumaroan ke ane ka samachar sun kar un donoan ko dene ke lie do abhinandan-patr banava rakhe the. sabere jab kuanvar prithvisianh sandhya adi nity-kriya se nipat kar baithe to vah unake samane ayi aur usane ek sundar kush ki changeli mean abhinandan-patr rakh diya. prithvisianh ne use prasannata se le liya. kavita yadyapi utani badhiya n thi par vah nayi aur virata se bhari huee thi. ve viraras ke premi the usako padh kar bahut khush hue aur unhoanne motiyoan ka har upahar diya.

brajavilasini yahaan se chhutti pa kar kuanvar dharmasianh ke pas pahuanchi. ve baithe hue rajanandini ko l daee ki ghatanaean suna rahe the par jyoan hi brajavilasini ki aankh un par p di vah sann hokar pichhe hat gayi. usako dekh kar dharmasianh ke chehare ka bhi rang u d gaya hoanth sookh gaye aur hath-pair sanasanane lage. brajavilasini to ulate paanv lauti par dharmasianh ne charapaee par let kar donoan hathoan se muanh dhank liya. rajanandini ne yah drishy dekha aur usaka phool-sa badan pasine se tar ho gaya. dharmasianh sare din palang par chupachap p de karavatean badalate rahe. unaka chehara aisa kumhala gaya jaise ve barasoan ke rogi hoan. rajanandini unaki seva mean lagi huee thi. din to yoan kata rat ko kuanvar sahab sandhya hi se thakavat ka bahana karake let gaye. rajanandini hairan thi ki majara kya hai. brajavilasini inhian ke khoon ki pyasi hai kya yah sambhav hai ki mera pyara mera mukut dharmasianh aisa kathor ho nahian nahian aisa nahian ho sakata. vah yadyapi chahati hai ki apane bhavoan se unake man ka bojh halaka kare par nahian kar sakati. ant ko niand ne usako apani god mean le liya.

rat bahut bit gayi hai. akash mean aandhera chha gaya hai. saras ki duahkh se bhari boli kabhi-kabhi sunayi de jati hai aur rah-rah kar kile ke santariyoan ki avaz kan mean a p dati hai. rajanandini ki aankh ekaek khuli to usane dharmasianh ko palang par n paya. chianta huee vah jhat uth kar brajavilasini ke kamare ki or chali aur daravaze par kh di ho kar bhitar ki or dekhane lagi. sandeh poora ho gaya. kya dekhati hai ki brajavilasini hath mean tega liye kh di hai aur dharmasianh donoan hath jo de usake samane dinoan ki tarah ghutane teke baithe haian. vah drishy dekhate hi rajanandini ka khoon sookh gaya aur usake sir mean chakkar ane laga pair l dakh dane lage. jan p data tha ki giri jati hai. vah apane kamare mean ayi aur muanh dhank kar let rahi par usaki aankhoan se aansoo ki ek booand bhi n nikali.

doosare din prithvisianh bahut sabere hi kuanvar dharmasianh ke pas gaye aur muskara kar bole-bhaiya mausam b da suhavana hai shikar khelane chalate ho

dharmasianh-haan chalo.

donoan rajakumaroan ne gho de kasavaye aur jangal ki or chal diye. prithvisianh ka chehara khila hua tha jaise kamal ka phool. ek-ek aang se teji aur chusti tapaki p dati thi par kuanvar dharmasianh ka chehara maila ho gaya tha mano badan mean jan hi nahian hai. prithvisianh ne unhean kee bar chhe da par jab dekha ki ve bahut duahkhi haian to chup ho gaye. chalate-chalate donoan adami jhil ke kinare pahuanche. ekaek dharmasianh thithake aur bole-maianne aj rat ko ek dridh pratijna ki hai. yah kahate-kahate unaki aankhoan mean pani a gaya. prithvisianh ne ghabara kar poochha-kaisi pratijna

tumane brajavilasini ka hal suna hai maianne pratijna ki hai ki jis adami ne usake bap ko mara hai use bhi jahannum mean pahuancha dooan.

tumane sachamuch vir-pratijna ki hai.

haan yadi maian poori kar sakooan. tumhare vichar mean aisa adami marane yogy hai ya nahian

aise nirdayi ki gardan gutthal chhuri se katani chahie.

beshak yahi mera bhi vichar hai. yadi maian kisi karan yah kam n kar sakooan to tum meri pratijna poori kar doge

b di khushi se. use pahachanate ho n

haan achchhi tarah.

to achchha hoga yah kam mujhako hi karane do tumhean shayad us par daya a jay.

bahut achchha par yah yad rakho ki vah adami b da bhagyashali hai ! kee bar maut ke muanh se bach kar nikala hai. kya ashchary hai ki tumako bhi us par daya a jay. isalie tum pratijna karo ki use zaroor jahannum pahuanchaoge.

maian durga ki shapath kha kar kahata hooan ki us adami ko avashy marooanga.

bas to ham donoan mil kar kary siddh kar leange. tum apani pratijna par dridh rahoge n

kyoan kya maian sipahi nahian hooan ek bar jo pratijna ki samajh lo ki vah poori karooanga chahe isamean apani jan hi kyoan n chali jay.

sab avasthaoan mean

haan sab avasthaoan mean.

yadi vah tumhara koee bandhu ho to

prithvisianh ne dharmasianh ko vicharapoorvak dekh kar kaha-koee bandhu ho to

dharmasianh-haan sambhav hai ki tumhara koee natedar ho.

prithvisianh-(josh mean) koee ho yadi mera bhaee bhi ho to bhi jita chunava dooan.

dharmasianh gho de se utar p de. unaka chehara utara hua tha aur oanth kaanp rahe the. unhoanne kamar se tega khol kar zamin par rakh diya aur prithvisianh ko lalakar kar kaha-prithvisianh taiyar ho jao. vah dusht mil gaya. prithvisianh ne chauank kar idhar-udhar dekha to dharmasianh ke sivay aur koee dikhayi n diya.

dharmasianh-tega khiancho.

prithvisianh-maianne use nahian dekha.

dharmasianh-vah tumhare samane kh da hai. vah dusht kukarmi dharmasianh hi hai.

prithvisianh-(ghabara kar) aian tum ! -maian-

dharmasianh-rajapoot apani pratijna poori karo.

itana sunate hi prithvisianh ne bijali ki tarah apane kamar se tega khianch liya aur use dharmasianh ke sine mean chubha diya. mooth tak tega chubh gaya. khoon ka favvara bah nikala. dharmasianh zamin par gir kar dhire se bole-prithvisianh maian tumhara bahut kritajn hooan. tum sachche vir ho. tumane purush ka karttavy purush ki bhaanti palan kiya.

prithvisianh yah sun kar zamin par baith gaye aur rone lage.

ab rajanandini sati hone ja rahi hai. usane solahoan shrriangar kiye haian aur maang motiyoan se bharavayi hai. kalaee mean sohag ka kangan hai pairoan mean mahavar lagayi hai aur lal chunari odhi hai. usake aang se sugandhi u d rahi hai kyoanki aj vah sati hone jati hai.

rajanandini ka chehara soory ki bhaanti prakashaman hai. usaki or dekhane se aankhoan mean chakachauandh lag jati hai. prem-mad se usaka roaan-roaan mast ho gaya hai usaki aankhoan se alaukik prakash nikal raha hai. vah aj svarg ki devi jan p dati hai. usaki chal b di madamati hai. vah apane pyare pati ka sir apani god mean leti hai aur us chita mean baith jati hai jo chandan khas adi se banayi gayi hai.

sare nagar ke log yah drishy dekhane ke lie um de chale ate haian. baje baj rahe haian phooloan ki vrishti ho rahi hai. sati chita par baith chuki thi ki itane mean kuanvar prithvisianh aye aur hath jo dakar bole-maharani mera aparadh kshama karo.

sati ne uttar diya-kshama nahian ho sakata. tumane ek naujavan rajapoot ki jan li hai tum bhi javani mean mare jaoge.

sati ke vachan kabhi jhoothe hue haian ekaek chita mean ag lag gayi. jayajayakar ke shabd gooanjane lage. sati ka mukh ag mean yoan chamakata tha jaise sabere ki lalaee mean soory chamakata hai. tho di der mean vahaan rakh ke dher ke siva aur kuchh n raha.

is sati ke man mean kaisa sat tha ! parasoan jab usane brajavilasini ko jhijhak kar dharmasianh ke samane jate dekha tha usi samay se usake dil mean sandeh ho gaya tha. par jab rat ko usane dekha ki mera pati isi stri ke samane dukhiya ki tarah baitha hua hai tab vah sandeh nishchay ki sima tak pahuanch gaya aur yahi nishchay apane sath sat leta aya tha. sabere jab dharmasianh uthe tab rajanandini ne kaha tha ki maian brajavilasini ke shatru ka sir chahati hooan tumhean lana hoga. aur aisa hi hua. apane sati hone ke sab karan rajanandini ne jan-boojh kar paida kiye the kyoanki usake man mean sat tha. pap ki ag kaise tej hoti hai ek pap ne kitani janean lian rajavansh ke do rajakumar aur do kumariyaan dekhate-dekhate is agnikuand mean svaha ho gayian. sati ka vachan sach hua. sat hi saptah ke bhitar prithvisianh dilli mean katl kiye gaye aur durgakumari sati ho gayi.