वज्रपात -प्रेमचंद

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

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dilli ki galiyaan dilli-nivasiyoan ke rudhir se plavit ho rahi haian. nadirashah ki sena ne sare nagar mean atank jama rakha hai. jo koee samane a jata hai, use unaki talavar se ghat utarana p data hai. nadirashah ka prachand krodh kisi bhaanti shaant hi nahian hota. rakt ki varsha bhi usake kop ki ag ko bujha nahian sakati.

nadirashah darabare-am mean takht par baitha hua hai. usaki aankhoan se jaise jvalaean nikal rahi haian. dillivaloan ki itani himmat ki usake sipahiyoan ka apaman karean ! un kapurushoan ki yah majal. vah kaphir to usaki sena ki ek lalakar par ranakshetr se nikal bhage the ! nagar-nivasiyoan ka arttanad sun-sunakar svayan sena ke dil kaanp jate haian; magar nadirashah ki krodhagni shaant nahian hoti. yahaan tak ki usaka senapati bhi usake sammukh jane ka sahas nahian kar sakata. vir purush dayalu hote haian. asahayoan par, durbaloan par, striyoan par unhean krodh nahian ata. in par krodh karana ve apani shan ke khilaf samajhate haian; kiantu nishthur nadirashah ki virata dayashoony thi.

dilli ka badashah sir jhukaye nadirashah ke pas baitha hua tha. haramasara mean vilas karane vala badashah nadirashah ki avinayapoorn batean sun raha tha; par majal n thi ki jaban khol sake. use apani hi jan ke lale p de hue the, pi dit praja ki raksha kaun kare ? vah sochata tha, mere muanh se kuchh nikale aur vah mujhi ko daant baithate the !

aant mean jab sena ki paishachik kroorata parakashtha ko pahuanch gayi, to muhammadashah ke vajir se n raha gaya. vah kavita ka marmajn tha, khud bhi kavi tha. jan parakhel kar nadirashah ke samane pahuancha aur yah sher padha-

kase n maand ki digar v tege naj kushi;

magar ki zianda kuni khalkara v baz kushi.

arthath teri nigahoan ki talavar se koee nahian bacha. ab yahi upay hai ki murdoan ko phir jilakar katl kar.

sher ne dil par chot kiya. patthar mean bhi surakh hote haian; paha doan mean bhi hariyali hoti hai; pashan hridayoan mean bhi ras hota hai. is sher ne patthar ko pighala diya. nadirashah ne senapati ko bulakar katleam band karane ka hukm diya. ekadam talavarean myan mean chali gayian. katiloan ke uthe hue hath uthe hi rah gaye. jo sipahi jahaan tha; vahian but ban gaya.

sham ho gayi thi. nadirashah shahi bag mean sair kar raha tha. bar-bar vahi sher padhata aur jhoomata-

kase n maand ki digar v tege naj kushi;

magar ki zianda kuni khalkara v baz kushi.

2

dilli ka khazana lut raha hai. shahi mahal par pahara hai. koee aandar se bahar ya bahar se aandar a-ja nahian sakata. begamean bhi apane mahaloan se bahar bag mean nikalane ki himmat nahian kar sakatian. mahaj khazane par hi aphat nahian ayi huee hai, sone-chaandi ke baratanoan, beshakimat tasaviroan aur araish ki any samagriyoan par bhi hath saf kiya ja raha hai. nadirashah takht par baitha hua hire aur javaharat ke dheroan ko gaur se dekh raha hai; par vah chiz najar nahian ati, jisake lie muddat se usaka chitt lalayit ho raha tha. usane mugaleajam nam ke hire ki prashansa, usaki karamatoan ki characha suni thi- usako dharan karane vala manushy dirghajivi hota hai, koee rog usake nikat nahian ata, us ratn mean putradayini shakti hai, ityadi. dilli par akraman karane ke jahaan aur anek karan the, vahaan is ratn ko prapt karana bhi ek karan tha. sone-chaandi ke dheroan aur bahumooly ratnoan ki chamak-damak se usaki aankhean bhale hi chauandhiya jayan, par hriday ullasit n hota tha. use to mugaleajam ki dhun thi aur mugaleajam ka vahaan kahian pata n tha. vah krodh se unmatt hokar shahi mantriyoan ki or dekhata aur apane aphasaroan ko jhi dakiyaan deta tha. par apana abhipray khol kar n kah sakata tha. kisi ki samajh mean n ata tha ki vah itana atur kyoan ho raha hai. yah to khushi se phoole n samane ka avasar hai. atul sampatti samane p di huee hai, sankhya mean itani samarthy nahian ki usaki ganana kar sake ! sansar ka koee bhi mahipati is vipul dhan ka ek aansh bhi pakar apane ko bhagyashali samajhata; parantu yah purush jisane is dhanarashi ka shataansh bhi pahale kabhi aankhoan se n dekha hoga, jisaki umr bhe dean charane mean hi gujari, kyoan itana udasin hai ? akhir jab rat huee, badashah ka khazana khali ho gaya aur us ratn ke darshan n hue, to nadirashah ki krodhagni phir bh dak uthi. usane badashah ke mantri ko- usi mantri ko, jisaki kavy-marmajnata ne praja ke pran bachaye the- ekaant mean bulaya aur kaha- mera gussa tum dekh chuke ho ! agar phir use nahian dekhana chahate to lajim hai ki mere sath kamil saphaee ka baratav karo. varana dobara yah shola bh daka, to dilli ki khairiyat nahian.

vajir- jahaanpanah, gulamoan se to koee khata sarajad nahian huee. khazane ki sab kuanjiyaan janabeali ke sipahasalar ke havalekar di gayi haian.

nadir- tumane mere sath daga ki hai.

vajir- (tyori chadhakar) apake hath mean talavar hai aur ham kamazor haian, jo chahe pharamavean; par iljam ke tasalim karane mean mujhe ujr hai.

nadir- kya usake saboot ki zaroorat hai ?

vajir- ji haan, kyoanki daga ki saza katl hai aur koee bila sabab apane katl par rajamand n hoga.

nadir- isaka saboot mere pas hai, halaanki nadir ne kabhi kisi ko saboot nahian diya. vah apani maraji ka badashah hai aur kisi ko saboot dena apani shan ke khilaf samajhata hai. par yahaan jati muamila hai. tumane mugalajame hira kyoan chhipa diya ?

vajir ke chehare ka rang u d gaya. vah sochane laga- yah hira badashah ko jan se bhi zyada ajij hai. vah ise ek kshan bhi apane pas se juda nahian karate. unase kyoankar kahooan ? unhean kitana sadama hoga ! mulk gaya, khazana gaya, ijjat gayi. badashahi ki yahi ek nishani unake pas rah gayi hai. unase kaise kahooan ? mumakin hai vah gusse mean akar ise kahian pheank dean, ya tu dava dalean. insan ki adat hai ki vah apani chiz dushman ko dene ki apeksha use nasht kar dena achchha samajhata hai. badashah badashah haian, mulk n sahi, adhikar n sahi, sena n sahi; par ziandagi bhar ki svechchhacharita ek din mean nahian mit sakati. yadi nadir ko hira n mila, to vah n-jane dilli par kya sitam dhaye. ah ! usaki kalpana hi se romaanch ho jata hai. khuda n kare, dilli ko phir yah din dekhana p de.

sahasa nadir ne poochha- maian tumhare javab ka muantajir hooan kya yah tumhari daga ka kafi saboot nahian hai ?

vajir- jahaanpanah, vah hira badashah salamat ko jan se zyada ajij hai. vah hamesha apane pas rakhate haian.

nadir- jhooth mat bolo, hira badashah ke lie hai, badashah hire ke lie nahian. badashah ko hira jan se zyada ajij hai- ka matalab sirph itana hai ki vah badashah ko bahut ajij hai, aur yah koee vajah nahian ki maian us hire ko unase n looan. agar badashah yoan n deange, to maian janata hooan ki mujhe kya karana hoga. tum jakar is muamile mean najukafahami se kam lo, jo tumane kal dikhaee thi. ah, kitana la-javab sher tha-

kase n maand ki digar v tege naj kushi;

magar ki zianda kuni khalkara v baz kushi.

3

mantri sochata hua chala ki yah samasya kyoankar hal karooan ? badashah ke divanakhane mean pahuancha to dekha, badashah usi hire ko hath mean liye chianta mean magn baithe hue haian.

badashah ko is vakt isi hire ki fikr thi. lute hue pathik ki bhaanti vah apani vah lak di hath se n dena chahata tha. vah janata tha ki nadir ko is hire ki khabar hai. vah yah bhi janata tha ki khazane mean ise n pa kar usake krodh ki sima n rahegi. lekin sabakuchh janate hue bhi, vah hire ko hath se n jane dena chahata tha. aant ko usane nishchay kiya, maian ise n dooanga, chahe meri jan hi par kyoan n ban jay. rogi ki is aantim saans ko n nikalane dooanga. hay kahaan chhipaooan ? itana b da makan hai ki usamean ek nagar sama sakata hai, par is nanhi-si chiz ke lie kahian jagah nahian, jaise kisi abhage ko itani b di duniya mean bhi kahian panah nahian milati. kisi surakshit sthan mean n rakhakar kyoan n ise kisi aisi jagah rakh dooan, jahaan kisi ka khayal hi n pahuanche. kaun anuman kar sakata hai ki maianne hire ko apani surahi mean rakha hoga ? achchha, hukke ki pharshi mean kyoan n dal dooan ? pharishtoan ko bhi khabar n hogi.

yah nishchay karake usane hire ko pharshi mean dal diya. par turant hi shanka huee ki aise bahumooly ratn ko is jagah rakhana uchit nahian. kaun jane, jalim ko meri yah gu dagu di hi pasand a jay. usane turant gu dagu di ka pani tashtari mean uandel diya aur hire ko nikal liya. pani ki durgandh u di par itani himmat n p dati thi ki khidamatagar ko bulakar pani phiankava de. bhay hota tha, kahian vah ta d n jay.

vah isi duvidha mean p da hua tha ki mantri ne akar bandagi ki. badashah ko us par poora vishvas tha; kiantu use apani kshudrata par itani lajja ayi ki vah is rahasy ko us par bhi prakat n kar saka. gumashum hokar usaki or takane laga.

mantri ne bat chhe di- aj khazane mean hira n mila, to nadir bahut jhallaya. kahane laga, tumane mere sath daga ki hai; maian shahar lutava dooanga, katleam kara dooanga, sare shahar ko khak siyah kar dalooanga. maianne kaha, janabeali ko akhtiyar hai, jo chahe karean. par hamane khazane ki sab kuanjiyaan apake sipahasalar ko de di haian. vah kuchh saph-saph to kahata n tha, bas kanayoan mean batean kar raha tha aur bhoole gid d ki tarah idhar-udhar baukhalaya phirata tha ki kise paye, aur noch khaye.

muhammadashah- mujhe to usake samane baithate hue aisa khauph maloom hota hai, goya kisi sher ka samana ho. jalim ki aankhean kitani tuandr aur gajabanak hai. adami kya hai, shaitan hai. khair, maian bhi udhe dabun mean p da hua hooan phir ise kyoankar chhipaooan. saltanat jay gam nahian; par is hire ko maian us vakt tak n dooanga, jab tak koee garadan par savar hokar ise chhin n le.

vajir- khuda n kare ki huzoor ke dushmanoan ko yah jillat uthani p de. maian ek tarakib batalaooan. huzoor ise apane amame (pag di) mean rakh lean. vahaan tak usake pharishtoan ka bhi khayal n pahuanchega.

muhammadashah- (uchhalakar) vallah, tumane khoob socha; vakee tumhean khoob soojhi. hajarat idhar-udhar tatolane ke bad apana-sa muanh lekar rah jayange. mere amame ko kaun dekhega? isi se to maianne tumhean lukaman ka khitab diya hai. bas, yahi tay raha. kahian tum jara der pahale a jate, to mujhe itana darde-sar n uthana p data.

4

doosare hi din donoan badashahoan mean sulah ho gayi. vajir nadirashah ke kadamoan par gir p da aur arj ki- ab is doobati huee kishti ko ap hi par laga sakate haian; varana isaka allah hi vali hai ! hianduoan ne sir uthana shuroo kar diya hai; marahathe, rajapoot, sikh sabhi apani-apani takatoan ko mukammil kar rahe haian. jis din unamean mel-milap hua usi din yah nav bhanvar mean p d jayagi, aur do-char chakkar khakar hamesha ke lie niche baith jayagi.

nadirashah ko eeran se chale arasa ho gaya tha. vahaan se rojana bagiyoan ki bagavat ki khabarean a rahi thian. nadirashah jald vahaan laut jana chahata tha. is samay use dilli mean apani saltanat qayam karane ka avakash n tha. sulah par raji ho gaya. sandhi-patr par donoan badashahoan ne hastakshar kar diye.

donoan badashahoan ne ek hi sath namaz padhi, ek hi dastarakhvan par khana khaya, ek hi huqqa piya, aur ek-doosare se gale milakar apane-apane sthan ko chale.

muhammadashah khush tha. rajy bach jane ki utani khushi n thi, jitani hire ke bach jane ki.

magar nadirashah hira n pakar bhi duahkhi n tha. sabase hans-hansakar batean karata tha, mano shil aur vinay ka sakshath avatar ho.

5

pratahkal; dilli mean naubatean baj rahi haian. khushi ki mahaphilean sajaee ja rahi haian. tin din pahale yahaan rakt ki nadi bahi thi. aj anand ki laharean uth rahi haian. aj nadirashah dilli se rukhsat ho raha hai.

asharphiyoan se lade hue ooantoan ki katar shahi mahal ke samane ravana hone ko taiyar kh di hai. bahumooly vastuean ga diyoan mean ladi huee haian. donoan taraph ki faujean gale mil rahi haian. abhi kal donoan paksh ek-doosare ke khoon ke pyase the. aj bhaee-bhaee ho rahe haian.

nadirashah takht par baitha hua hai. muhammadashah bhi usi takht par usaki bagal mean baithe hue haian. yahaan bhi paraspar prem ka vyavahar hai. nadirashah ne muskarakar kaha- khuda kare, yah sulah hamesha qayam rahe aur logoan ke diloan se in khooni dinoan ki yad mit jay.

muhammadashah- meri taraph se aisi koee bat n hogi jo sulah ko khatare mean dale. maian khuda se yah dosti qayam rakhane ke lie hamesha duakarata rahooanga.

nadirashah- sulah ki jitani shartean thian, sab poori ho chukian. sirph ek bat baki hai ! mere yahaan dastoor hai ki sulah ke vakt amame badal diye jate haian. isake bagair sulah ki karravaee poori nahian hoti. aie, ham log bhi apane-apane amame badal lean. lijie, yah mera amama hajir hai.

yah kah kar nadir ne apana amama utarakar muhammadashah ki taraph badhaya. badashah ke hathoan ke tote u d gaye. samajh gaya, mujhase daga ki gayi, donoan taraph ke shoor-samant samane kh de the. n kuchh kahate banata tha n sunate. bachane ka koee upay n tha aur n koee upay soch nikalane ka avasar hi. koee javab n soojha. inakar ki guanjaish n thi. man masosakar rah gaya. chupake se amama sir se utara, aur nadirashah ki taraph badha diya. hath kaanp rahe the, aankhoan mean krodh aur vishad ke aansoo bhare hue the. mukh par halaki-si muskarahat jhalak rahi thi- vah muskarahat, jo ashrupat se bhi kahian adhik karun aur vyatha-poorn hoti hai. kadachith apane pran nikalakar dene mean bhi use isase adhik pi da n hoti.

6

nadirashah paha doan aur nadiyoan ko laanghata hua eeran ko chala ja raha tha. 77 ooantoan aur itani hi bailaga diyoan ki katar dekh-dekhakar usaka hriday baansoan uchhal raha tha. vah bar-bar khuda ko dhanyavad deta tha, jisaki asim kripa ne aj usaki kirti ko ujjval banaya tha. ab vah keval eeran hi ka badashah nahian, hiandustan jaise vistrit pradesh ka bhi svami tha. par sabase zyada khushi use mugaleajam hira pane ki thi, jise bar-bar dekhakar bhi usaki aankhean tript n hoti thian. sochata tha, jis samay maian darabar mean yah ratn dharan karake aooanga sabaki aankhean jhapak jayeangi, log ashchary se chakit rah jayeange.

usaki sena ann-jal ke kathin kasht bhog rahi thi. sarahadoan ki vidrohi senaean pichhe se usako dik kar rahi thian. nity das-bis adami mar jate ya mare jate the, par nadirashah ko thaharane ki phurasat n thi. vah bhaga-bhaga chala ja raha tha.

eeran ki sthiti b di bhayankar thi. shahajada khud vidroh shaant karane ke lie gaya hua tha; par vidroh din-din ugr roop dharan karata jata tha. shahi sena kee yuddhoan mean parast ho chuki thi. har gh di yahi bhay hota tha ki kahian vah svayan shatruoan ke bich ghir n jay.

par vah re pratap ! shatruoan ne jyohi suna ki nadirashah eeran a pahuancha, tyohi unake hausale past ho gaye. usaka sianhanad sunate hi unake hath-paanv phool gaye. idhar nadirashah ne teharan mean pravesh kiya udhar vidrohiyoan ne shahajade se sulah ki prarthana ki, sharan mean a gaye. nadirashah ne yah shubh samachar suna, to use nishchay ho gaya ki sab usi hire ki karamat hai. yah usi ka chamatkar hai, jisane shatruoan ka sir jhuka diya, hari huee bazi jita di.

shahajada vijayi hokar ghar lauta, to praja ne b de samaroh se usaka svagat aur abhivadan kiya. sara teharan dipavali ki jyoti se jagamaga utha. mangalagan ki dhvani se sab gali aur kooche gooanj uthe.

darabar sajaya gaya. shayaroan ne kaside sunaye. nadirashah ne garv se uth kar shahajade ke taj ko mugaleajam hire se alankrit kar diya. charoan or maharaba ! maharaba ! ki avajean buland hueean. shahajade ke mukh ki kaanti hire ke prakash se dooni chamak uthi. pitrisneh se hriday pulakit ho utha. nadir- vah nadir, jisane dilli mean khoon ki nadi bahayi thi- putr-prem se phoola n samata tha. usaki aankhoan se garv aur hardik ullas ke aansoo bah rahe the.

7

sahasa bandook ki avaz ayi- dhaany ! dhaany ! darabar hil utha. logoan ke kaleje dh dak uthe. hay ! vajrapat ho gaya ! hay re durbhagy ! bandook ki avaje kanoan mean gooanj hi rahi thi ki shahajada kate hue pe d ki tarah gir p da. sath hi vah ratnajatit mukut bhi nadirashah ke pairoan ke pas a gira.

nadirashah ne unmatt ki bhaanti hath uthakar kaha- katiloan ko pak do ! sath hi shok se vihval hokar vah shahajade ke pranahin sharir par gir p da. jivan ki sari abhilashaoan ka aant ho gaya.

log katiloan ki taraph dau de. phir dhaany-dhaany ki avaz ayi aur donoan katil gir p de. unhoanne atmahatya kar li. donoan vidrohipaksh ke neta the.

hay re manushy ka manorath, teri bhitti kitani asthir hai ! baloo par ki divar to varsha mean girati hai. par teri divar bina pani-booand ke dhah jati hai. aandhi mean dipak ka kuchh bharosa kiya ja sakata hai, par tera nahian. teri asthirata ke age balakoan ka gharauanda achal parvat hai, veshya ka prem sati ki pratijna ki bhaanti atal !

nadirashah ko logoan ne lash par se uthaya. usaka karun krandan hridayoan ko hilaye deta tha. sabhi ki aankhoan se aansoo bah rahe the. honahar kitana prabal, kitana nishthur, kitana nirday aur kitana nirmam hai !

nadirashah ne hire ko zamin se utha liya. ek bar use vishadapoorn netroan se dekha. phir mukut ko shahajade ke sir par rakh diya aur vajir se kaha- yah hira isi lash ke sath daphan hoga.

rat ka samay tha. teharan mean matam chhaya hua tha. kahian dipak ya agni ka prakash n tha. n kisi ne diya jalaya, aur n bhojan banaya. aphimachiyoan ki chilamean bhi aj thandi ho rahi thian. magar qabristan mean mashalean roshan thian- shahajade ki aantim kriya ho rahi thi.

jab phatiha khatam hua, nadirashah ne apane hathoan se mukut ko lash ke sath qabr mean rakh diya. raj aur sangatarash hajir the. usi vakt qabr par eeant-patthar aur choone ka majar banane laga.

nadir ek mahine tak ek kshan ke lie bhi vahaan se n hata. vahian sota, vahian se rajy karata. usake dil mean yah bat baith gayi thi ki mera ahit isi hire ke karan hua. yahi mere sarvanash aur achanak vajrapat ka karan hai.

sanbandhit lekh

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