अलंकार उपन्यास भाग-2

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

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thayas ne svadhin, lekin nirdhan aur moortipoojak matapita ke ghar janm liya tha. jab vah bahut chhotisi l daki thi to usaka bap ek saray ka bhatiyara tha. us saray mean parayah mallah bahut ate the. balyakal ki ashriankhal, kintu sajiv smritiyaan usake man mean ab bhi sanchit thian. use apane bap ki yad ati thi jo pair par pair rakhe aangithi ke samane baitha rahata tha. lamba, bharibharakam, shant parakriti ka manushy tha, un phir oonoan ki bhaanti jinaki kirti s dak ke nukk doan par bhatoan ke mukh se nity amar hoti rahati thi. use apani durbal mata ki bhi yad ati thi jo bhookhi billi ki bhaanti ghar mean charoan or chakkar lagati rahati thi. sara ghar usake tikshn kanth svar mean gooanjata aur usake uddipt netroan ki jyoti se chamakata rahata tha. p dos vale kahate the, yah dayan hai, rat ko ulloo ban jati hai aur apane paremiyoan ke pas u d jati hai. yah aphimachiyoan ki gap thi. thamas apani maan se bhalibhaanti parichit thi aur janati thi ki vah jadootona nahian karati. haan, use lobh ka rog tha aur din ki kamaee ko ratabhar ginati rahati thi. asali pita aur lobhini mata thayas ke lalanapalan ki or vishesh dhyan n dete the. vah kisi jangali paudhe ke saman apani ba़ se b़ti jati thi. vah matavale mallahoan ke kamaraband se ekek karake paise nikalane mean nipun ho gayi. vah apane ashlil vakyoan aur bazari gitoan se unaka manoranjan karati thi, yadyapi vah svayan inaka ashay n janati thi. ghar sharab ki mahak se bhara rahata tha. jahaantahaan sharab ke cham de ke pipe rakhe rahate the aur vah mallahoan ki god mean baithati phirati thi. tab muanh mean sharab ka lasaka lagaye vah paise lekar ghar se nikalati aur ek buyi se gulagule lekar khati. nityaparati ek hi abhinay hota rahata tha. mallah apani janajokhim yatraoan ki katha kahate, tab chausar khelate, devataoan ko galiyaan dete aur unmatt hokar 'sharab, sharab, sabase uttam sharab !' ki rat lagate. nityaparati rat ko mallahoan ke hull d se balika ki niand uchat jati thi. ekadoosare ko ve ghoanghe pheankakar marate jisase maans kat jata tha aur bhayankar kolahal machata tha. kabhi talavarean bhi nikal p dati thian aur raktapat ho jata tha.

thayas ko yah yad karake bahut duahkh hota tha ki balyavastha mean yadi kisi ko mujhase sneh tha to vah saral, sahriday ahamad tha. ahamad is ghar ka habshi gulam tha, tave se bhi zyada kala, lekin b da sajjan, bahut nek jaise rat ki mithi niand. vah bahudha thamas ko ghutanoan par baitha leta aur purane jamane ke tahakhanoan ki adbhut kahaniyaan sunata jo dhanalolup rajemaharaje banavate the aur banavakar shilpiyoan aur karigaroan ka vadh kar dalate the ki kisi ko bata n dean. kabhikabhi aise chatur choroan ki kahaniyaan sunata jinhoanne rajaoan ki kanya se vivah kiya aur minar banavaye. balika thayas ke lie ahamad bap bhi tha, maan bhi tha, daee tha aur kutta bhi tha. vah ahamad ke pichhepichhe phira karati; jahaan vah jata, parachhaeean ki tarah sath lagi rahati. ahamad bhi us par jan deta tha. bahut rat ko apane pual ke gadde par sone ke badale baitha hua vah usake lie kagaz ke gubbare aur naukaean banaya karata.

ahamad ke sath usake svamiyoan ne ghor nirdayata ka bartav kiya tha. ek kan kata hua tha aur deh par ko doan ke dag hi-dag the. kintu usake mukh par nity sukhamay shanti khela karati thi aur koee usase n poochhata tha ki is atma ki shanti aur hriday ke santosh ka strot kahaan tha. vah balak ki tarah bhola tha. kam karatekarate thak jata to apane bhadde svar mean dharmik bhajan gane lagata jinhean sunakar balika kaanp uthati aur vahi batean svapn mean bhi dekhati.

'hamase bat meri beti, too kahaan gayi thi aur kya dekha tha ?'

'maianne kafan aur saphed kap de dekhe. svargadoot kabar par baithe hue the aur maianne parabhu masih ki jyoti dekhi.

thayas usase poochhati-'dada, tum kabar mean baithai hue dootoan ka bhajan kyoan gate ho.'

ahamad javab deta-'meri aankhoan ki nanhi putali, maian svargadootoan ke bhajan isalie gata hooan ki hamare parabhu masih svargalok ko u d gaye haian.'

ahamad eesaee tha. usaki yathochit riti se diksha ho chuki thi aur eesaiyoan ke samaj mean usaka nam bhi thiyodor parasiddh tha. vah ratoan ko chhipakar apane sone ke samay mean unaki sangitoan mean shamil hua karata tha.

us samay eesaee dharm par vipatti ki ghataean chhaee huee thian. roos ke badashah ki ajna se eesaiyoan ke giraje khodakar pheank diye gaye the, pavitr pustakean jala dali gayi thian aur pooja ki samagirayaan loot li gayi thian. eesaiyoan ke sammanapad chhin liye gaye the aur charoan or unhean mautahi-maut dikhaee deti thi. iskandriya mean rahane vale samast eesaee samaj ke log sankat mean the. jisake vishay mean eesavalambi hone ka jara bhi sandeh hota, use turant kaid mean dal diya jata tha. sare desh mean in khabaroan se hahakar macha hua tha ki syam, arab, eeran adi sthanoan mean eesaee bishapoan aur varatadharini kumariyoan ko ko de mare gaye haian, sooli di gayi haian aur jangal ke janavaroan ke saman dal diya gaya hai. is darun vipatti ke samay jab aisa nishchay ho raha tha ki eesaiyoan ka nam nishan bhi n rahega; enthoni ne apane ekantavas se nikalakar mano murajhaye hue dhan mean pani dal diya. enthoni mistranivasi eesaiyoan ka neta, vidvanh, siddhapurush tha, jisake alaukik krityoan ki khabarean dooradoor tak phaili huee thian. vahatmajnani aur tapasvi tha. usane samast desh mean bharaman karake eesaee samparaday matr ko shradgha aur dhamortsah se plavit kar diya. vidharmiyoan se gupt rahakar vah ek samay mean eesaiyoan ki samast sabhaoan mean pahuanch jata tha, aur sabhi mean us shakti aur vicharashilata ka sanchar kar deta tha jo usake romarom mean vyapt thi. gulamoan ke sath asadharan kathorata ka vyavahar kiya gaya tha. isase bhayabhit hokar kitane hi dharmavimukh ho gaye, aur adhikaansh jangal ko bhag gaye. vahaan ya to ve sadhu ho jayeange ya dake marakar nivarh kareange. lekin ahamad poorvavat in sabhaoan mean sammilit hota, kaidiyoan se bheant karata, ahat purushoan ka kriyakarm karata aur nirbhay hokar eesaee dharm ki ghoshana karata tha. paratibhashali enthoni ahamad ki yah dri़ta aur nishchalata dekhakar itana parasann hua ki chalate samay use chhati se laga liya aur b de parem se ashivard diya.

jab thayas sat varsh ki huee to ahamad ne use eeshvarachachar karani shuroo ki. usaki katha saty aur asaty ka vichitr mishran lekin balyahriday ke anukool thi.

eeshvar phiroon ki bhaanti svarg mean, apane haram ke khemoan aur apane bag ke vrikshoan ki chhaanh mean rahata hai. vah bahut parachin kal se vahaan rahata hai, aur duniya se bhi purana hai. usake keval ek hi beta hai, jisaka nam parabhu eesoo hai. vah svarg ke dootoan se aur ramani yuvatiyoan se bhi sundar hai. eeshvar use hriday se pyar karata hai. usane ek din parabhu masih se kaha-'mere bhavan aur haram, mere chhuhare ke vrikshoan aur mithe pani ki nadiyoan ko chho dakar prithvi par jao aur dinaduahkhi paraniyoan ka kalyan karo ! vahaan tujhe chhote balak ki bhaanti rahana hoga. vahaan duahkh ho tera bhojan hoga aur tujhe itana rona hoga ki tujhe aansuoan se nadiyaan bah nikalean, jinamean dinaduahkhi jan nahakar apani thakan ko bhool jaean. jao pyare putr !'

parabhu masih ne apane poojy pita ki ajna man li aur akar bethaleham nagar mean avatar liya. vah khetoan aur jangaloan mean phirate the aur apane sathiyoan se kahate the-mubarak haian ve log jo bhookhe rahate haian, kyoanki maian unhean apane pita ki mej par khana khilaooanga. mubarak haian ve log jo pyase rahate haian, kyoanki vah svarg ki nirmal nadiyoan ka jal piyeange aur mubarak haian ve jo rote haian, kyoanki maian apane daman se unake aansoo poanchhooanga.

yahi karan hai ki dinahin parani unhean pyar karate haian aur un par vishvas karate haian. lekin dhani log unase darate haian ki kahian yah gariboan ko unase zyada dhani n bana dean. us samay kliyopetra aur sijar prithvi par sabase balavan the. ve donoan hi masih se jalate the, isilie pujariyoan aur nyayadhishoan ko hukm diya ki parabhu masih ko mar dalo. unaki ajna se logoan ne ek salib kh di ki aur parabhu ko sooli par ch़a diya. kintu parabhu masih ne kabar ke dvar ko to d dala aur phir apane pita eeshvar ke pas chale gaye.

usi samay se parabhu masih ke bhakt svarg ko jate haian. eeshvar parem se unaka svagat karata hai aur unase kahata hai-'ao, maian tumhara svagat karata hooan kyoanki tum mere bete ko pyar karate ho. hath dhokar mej par baith jao.' tab svarg apsaraean gati haian aur jab tak mehaman log bhojan karate haian, nach hota rahata hai. unhean eeshvar apani aankhoan ki jyoti se adhik pyar karata hai, kyoanki ve usake mehaman hote haian aur unake vishram ke lie apane bhavan ke galiche aur unake svadan ke lie apane bag ka anar paradan karata hai.

ahamad is parakar thayas se eeshvar chachar karata tha. vah vismit hokar kahati thi-'mujhe eeshvar ke bag ke anar milean to khoob khaooan.'

ahamad kahata tha-'svarg ke phal vahi parani kha sakate haian jo bapatisma le lete haian.'

tab thayas ne bapatisma lene ki akaanksha parakat ki. parabhu masih mean usaki bhakti dekhakar ahamad ne use aur bhi dharmakathaean sunani shuroo kian.

is parakar ek varsh tak bit gaya. eestar ka shubh saptah aya aur eesaiyoan ne dhamortsav manane ki taiyari ki. isi saptah mean ek rat ko thayas niand se chauanki to dekha ki ahamad use god mean utha raha hai. usaki aankhoan mean is samay adbhut chamak thi. vah aur dinoan ki bhaanti phate hue pajame nahian, balki ek shvet lamba ila choga pahane hue tha. usake thayas ko usi choge mean chhipa liya aur usake kan mean bola-'a, meri aankhoan ki putali, a. aur bapatisma ke pavitr vastr dharan kar.'

vah l daki ko chhati se lagaye hue chala. thayas kuchh dari, kintu utsuk bhi thi. usane sir choge se bahar nikal liya aur apane donoan hath ahamad ki mardan mean dal diye. ahamad use liye veg se dau da chala jata tha. vah ek tang aandheri gali se hokar gujara; tab yahoodiyoan ke muhalle ko par kiya, phir ek kabirastan ke gird mean ghoomate hue ek khule maidan mean pahuancha jahaan, eesaee, dhamarhatoan ki lashean saliboan par lataki huee thian. thayas ne apana sir choge mean chhipa liya aur phir raste bhar use muanh bahar nikalane ka sahas n hua. use shighar jnat ho gaya ki ham log kisi tahakhane mean chale ja rahe haian. jab usane phir aankhean kholian to apane ko ek tang khoh mean paya. ral ki mashalean jal rahi thian. khoh ki divaroan par eesaee siddh mahatmaoan ke chitr bane hue the jo mashaloan ke asthir parakash mean chalatephirate, sajiv maloom hote the. unake hathoan mean khajoor ki dalean thian aur unake irdagird memane, kabootar, phakhate aur aangoor ki belean chitrit thian. inhian chitroan mean thayas ne eesoo ko pahachana, jisake pairoan ke pas phooloan ka er laga hua tha.

khoh ke madhy mean, ek patthar ke jalakund ke pas, ek vriddh purush lal rang ka ila kurata pahane kh da tha. yadyapi usake vastr bahumooly the, par vah atyant din aur saral jan p data tha. usaka nam bishap jivan tha, jise badashah ne desh se nikal diya tha. ab vah bhe d ka oon katakar apana nivarh karata tha. usake samip do l dake kh de the. nikat hi ek buyi habshin ek chhotasa saphed kap da liye kh di thi. ahamad ne thayas ko zamin par baitha diya aur bishap ke samane ghutanoan ke bal baithakar bola-'poojy pita, yahi vah chhoti l daki hai jise maian paranoan se bhi adhik chahata hooan. maian use apaki seva mean laya hooan ki ap apane vachananusar, yadi ichchha ho to, use bapatisma paradan kijie.'

yah sunakar bishap ne hath phailaya. unaki uangaliyoan ke nakhoon ukha d liye gaye the kyoanki apatti ke dinoan mean vah rajajna ki paravah n karake apane dharm par aऱu rahe the. thayas dar gayi aur ahamad ki god mean chhip gayi, kintu bishap ke in snehamay shabdoan ne us ashvast kar diya-'piray putri, daro mat. ahamad tera dharmapita hai jise ham log thiyodora kahate haian, aur yah vridgha stri teri mata hai jisane apane hathoan se tere lie ek saphed vastr taiyar kiya. isaka nam nitida hai. yah is janm mean gulam hai; par svarg mean yah parabhu masih ki pareyasi banegi.'

tab usane thayas se poochha-'thayas, kya too eeshvar par, jo ham saboan ka param pita hai, usake ikalaute putr parabhu masih par jisane hamari mukti ke lie paran arpan kiye, aur masih ke shishyoan par vishvas karati haian ?'

habshi aur habshin ne ek svar se kaha-'haan.'

tab bishap ke adesh se nitida ne thayas ke kap de utare. vah nagn ho gayi. usake gale mean keval ek yantr tha. vishap ne use tin bar jalakund mean gota diya, aur tab nitida ne deh ka pani poanchhakar apana saphed vastr pahana diya. is parakar vah balika eesa sharan mean ayi jo kitani parikshaoan aur paralobhanoan ke bad amar jivan parapt karane vali thi.

jab yah sanskar samapt ho gaya aur sab log khoh ke bahar nikale to ahamad ne bishap se kaha-'poojy pita, hamean aj anand manana chahie; kyoanki hamane ek atma ko parabhu masih ke charanoan par samarpit kiya. ajna ho to ham apake shubhasthan par chalean aur shesh ratri utsav manane mean katean.'

bishap ne parasannata se is parastav ko svikar kiya. log bishap ke ghar aye. isamean keval ek kamara tha. do charakhe rakhe hue the aur ek phati huee dari bichhi thi. jab yah log andar pahuanche to bishap ne nitida se kaha-'choolha aur tel ki botal lao. bhojan banayean.'

yah kahakar usane kuchh machhaliyaan nikalian, unhean tel mean bhoona, tab sabake-sab pharsh par baithakar bhojan karane lage. bishap ne apani yantranaoan ka vrittant kaha aur eesaiyoan ki vijay par vishvas parakat kiya. usaki bhasha bahut hi pechadar, alankrit, ulajhi huee thi. tattv kam, shabdadambar bahut tha. thayas mantramugdh-si baithi sunati rahi.

bhojan samapt ho jane ka bishap ne mehamanoan ko tho disi sharab pilaee. nasha ch़a to ve bahakabahakakar batean karane lage. ek kshan ke bad ahamad aur nitida ne nachana shuroo kiya. yah paretanrity tha. donoan hath hilahilakar kabhi ekadoosare ki taraph lapakate, kabhi door hat jate. jab seva hone mean tho di der rah gayi to ahamad ne thayas ko phir god mean uthaya aur ghar chala aya.

any balakoan ki bhaanti thayas bhi amodapiray thi. dinabhar vah galiyoan mean balakoan ke sath nachatigati rahati thi. rat ko ghar ati tab bhi vah git gaya karati, jinaka sirapair kuchh n hota.

ab use ahamad jaise shant, sidhesidhe adami ki apeksha l dakel dakiyoan ki sangati adhik ruchikar maloom hoti ! ahamad bhi usake sath kam dikhaee deta. eesaiyoan par ab badashah ki krur drishti n thi, isalie vah abadharoop se dharm sanbhaean karane lage the. dharmanishth ahamad in sabhaoan mean sammilit hone se kabhi n chookata. usaka dhamortsah dinoandin b़ne laga. kabhikabhi vah bazar mean eesaiyoan ko jama karake unhean ane vale sukhoan ki shubh soochana deta. usaki soorat dekhate hi shahar ke bhikhari, mazadoor, gulam, jinaka koee ashray n tha, jo ratoan mean s dak par sote the, ekatr ho jate aur vah unase kahata-'gulamoan ke mukt hone ke badan nikat haian, nyay jald ane vala hai, dhan ke matavale chain ki niand n so sakeange. eeshvar ke rajy mean gulamoan ko taja sharab aur svadisht phal khane ko mileange, aur dhani log kutte ki bhaanti dubake hue mej ke niche baithe raheange aur unaka joothan khayeange.'

yah shubhasandesh shahar ke konekone mean gooanjane lagata aur dhani svamiyoan ko shanka hoti ki kahian unake gulam uttejit hokar bagavat n kar baithean. thayas ka pita bhi usase jala karata tha. vah kutsit bhavoan ko gupt rakhata.

ek din chaandi ka ek namakadan jo devataoan ke yajn ke lie alag rakha hua tha, chori ho gaya. ahamad hi aparadhi thaharaya gaya. avashy apane svami ko hani pahuanchane aur devataoan ka apaman karane ke lie usane yah adharm kiya hai ! chori ko sabit karane ke lie koee paraman n tha aur ahamad pukarapukarakar kahata tha-mujh par vyarth hi yah dosharopan kiya jata hai. tis par bhi vah adalat mean kh da kiya gaya. thayas ke pita ne kaha-'yah kabhi man lagakar kam nahian karata.' nyayadhish ne use paranadand ka hukm de diya. jab ahamad adalat se chalane laga to nyayadhish ne kaha-'tumane apane hathoan se achchhi tarah kam nahian liya isalie ab yah salib mean thoank diye jayeange !'

ahamad ne shantipoorvak phaisala suna, dinata se nyayadhish ko paranam kiya aur tab karagar mean band kar diya gaya. usake jivan ke keval tin din aur the aur tinoan dinoan din yah kaidiyoan ko upadesh deta raha. kahate haian usake upadeshoan ka aisa asar p da ki sare kaidi aur jel ke karmachari masih ki sharan mean a gaye. yah usake avichal dhamarnurag ka phal tha.

chauthe din vah usi sthan par pahuanchaya gaya jahaan se do sal pahale, thayas ko god mean liye vah b de anand se nikala tha. jab usake hath salib par thoank diye gaye, to usane 'uph' tak n kiya, aur ek bhi apashabd usake muanh se n nikala ! ant mean bola-'maian pyasa hooan !'

tin din aur tin rat use asahy paranapi da bhogani p di. manavasharir itana dussah aganvichchhed sah sakata hai, asambhavasa paratit hota tha. barabar logoan ko khayal hota tha ki vah mar gaya. makkhiyaan aankhoan par jama ho jatian, kintu sahasa usake raktavarn netr khul jate the. chauthe din paratahkal usane balakoan kese saral aur mridusvar mean gana shuroo kiya-mariyam, bata too kaha gayi thi, aur vahaan kya dekha? tab usane muskarakar kaha-

'vah svarg ke doot tujhe lene ko a rahe haian. unaka mukh kitana tejasvi hai. vah apane sath phal aur sharab liye ate haian. unake paroan se kaisi nirmal, sukhad vayu chal rahi hai.'

aur yah kahatekahate usaka paranant ho gaya.

marane par bhi usaka mukhamandal atmollas se uddipt ho raha tha. yahaan tak ki ve sipahi bhi jo salib ki raksha kar rahe the, vismat ho gaye. bishap jivan ne akar shav ka mritakasanskar kiya aur eesaee samuday ne mahatma thiyodor ki kirti ko paramajjval aksharoan mean aankit kiya.

ahamad ke paranadand ke samay thayas ka gyarahavaan varsh poora ho chuka tha. is ghatana se usake hriday ko gahara sadama pahuancha. usaki atma abhi itani pavitr n thi ki vah ahamad ki mrityu ko usake jivan ke saman hi mubarak samajhati, usaki mrityu ko udghar samajhakar parasann hoti. usake abodh man mean yah bharant bij utpann hua ki is sansar mean vahi parani dayadharm ka palan kar sakata hai jo kathinase-kathin yatanaean sahane ke lie taiyar rahe. yahaan sajjanata ka dand avashy milata hai. use satkarm se bhay hota tha ki kahian meri bhi yahi dasha n ho. usaka komal sharir pi da sahane mean asamarth tha.

vah chhoti hi umar mean badashah ke yuvakoan ke sath kri da karane lagi. sandhya samay vah boo़e adamiyoan ke pichhe lag jati aur unase kuchhan-kuchh le marati thi. is bhaanti jo kuchh milata usase mithaiyaan aur khilaune mol leti. par usaki lobhini mata chahati thi ki vah jo kuchh paye vah mujhe de. thayas ise n manati thi. isalie usaki mata use marapita karati thi. mata ki mar se bachane ke lie vah bahudha ghar se bhag jati aur shaharapanah ki divar ki dararoan mean vany jantuoan ke sath chhipi rahati.

ek din usaki mata ne itani nirdayata se use pita ki vah ghar se bhagi aur shahar ke phatak ke pas chupachap p di sisak rahi thi ki ek buyi usake samane jakar kh di ho gayi. vah tho di der tak mugdhabhav se usaki or takati rahi aur tab boli-'o meri gulab, meri gulab, meri phoolasi bachchi ! dhany hai tera pita jisane tujhe paida kiya aur dhany hai teri mata jisane tujhe pala.'

thayas chupachap baithi zamin ki or dekhati rahi. usaki aankhean lal thian, vah ro rahi thi.

buyi ne phir kaha-'meri aankhoan ki putali, munni, kya teri mata tujhajaisi devakanya ko palaposakar anand se phool nahian jati, aur tera pita tujhe dekhakar gaurav se unmatt nahian ho jata ?'

thayas ne is tarah bhunabhunakar uttar diya, mano man hi mean kah rahi hai-mera bap sharab se phoola hua pipa hai aur mata rakt choosane vali joank hai.

buyi ne dayeanbayean dekha ki koee sun to nahian raha hai, tab nissank hokar atyant mridu kanth se boli-'are meri pyari aankhoan ki jyoti, o meri khili huee gulab ki kali, mere sath chalo. kyoan itana kasht sahati ho ? aise maanbap ki jha d maro. mere yahaan tumhean nachane aur hansane ke sivay aur kuchh n karana p dega. maian tumhean shahad ke rasagulle khilaooangi, aur mera beta tumhean aankhoan ki putali banakar rakhega. vah b da sundar sajila jaban hai, usaki da़i par abhi bal bhi nahian nikale, gore rang ka komal svabhav ka pyara l daka hai.'

thayas ne kaha-'maian shauq se tumhean sath chalooangi.' aur uthakar buyi ke pichhe shahar ke bahar chali gayi.

buyi ka nam mira tha. usake pas kee l dakel dakiyoan ki ek mandali thi. unhean usane nachana, gana, nakalean karana sikhaya tha. is mandali ko lekar vah nagaranagar ghoomati thi, aur amiroan ke jalasoan mean unaka nachagana karake achchha puraskar liya karati thi.

usaki chatur aankhoan ne dekh liya ki yah koee sadharan l daki nahian hai. usaka uthan kahe deta tha ki age chalakar vah atyant roopavati ramani hogi. usane use ko de marakar sangit aur piangal ki shiksha di. jab sitar ke taloan ke sath usake pair n uthate to vah usaki komal piandaliyoan mean cham de ke tasmean se marati. usaka putr jo hij da tha, thayas se dvesh rakhata tha, jo use stri matr se tha. par vah nachane mean, nakal karane mean, manogat bhavoan ko sanket, sain, akriti dvara vyakt karane mean, parem ki ghatoan ke darshane mean, atyant kushal tha. hij doan mean yah gun parayah eeshvaradatt hote haian. usane thayas ko yah vidya sikhaee, khushi se nahian, balki isalie ki is tarakib se vah ji bharakar thayas ko galiyaan de sakata tha. jab usane dekha ki thayas nachanegane mean nipun hoti jati hai aur rasik log usake nrityagan se jitane mugdh hote haian utana mere nrityakaushal se nahian hote to usaki chhati par saanp katane laga. vah usake galoan ko noch leta, usake hathapair mean chutakiyaan katata. par usaki jalan se thayas ko leshamatr bhi duahkh n hota tha. nirday vyavahar ka use abhyas ho gaya tha. antiyokas us samay bahut abad shahar tha. mira jab is shahar mean ayi to usane reesoan se thayas ki khoob parashansa ki. thayas ka roopalavany dekhakar logoan ne b de chav se use apani ragarang ki majalisoan mean nimantrit kiya, aur usake nrityagan par mohit ho gaye. shanai:shanai: yahi usaka nity ka kam ho gaya! nrityagan samapt hone par vah parayah sethasahookaroan ke sath nadi ke kinare, ghane kunjoan mean vihar karati. us samay tak use parem ke mooly ka jnan n tha, jo koee bulata usake pas jati, mano koee jauhari ka l daka dhanarashi ko kau diyoan ki bhaanti luta raha ho. usaka ekek kataksh hriday ko kitana udvign kar deta hai, usaka ekek kar sparsh kitana romaanchakari hota hai, yah usake ajnat yauvan ko vidit n tha.

ek rat ko usaka mujara nagar ke sabase dhani rasik yuvakoan ke samane hua. jab nrity band hua to nagar ke paradhan rajyakarmachari ka beta, javani ki umang aur kamachetana se vihval hokar usake pas aya aur aise madhur svar mean bola jo paremaras mean sani huee thi-

'thayas, yah mera param saubhagy hota yadi tere alakoan mean guanthi huee pushpamala ya tere komal sharir ka abhooshan, athava tere charanoan ki paduka maian hota. yah meri param lalasa hai ki paduka ki bhaanti tere sundar charanoan se kuchala jata, mera paremaliangan tere sukomal sharir ka abhooshan aur teri alakarashi ka pushp hota. sundari ramani, maian paranoan ko hath mean liye teri bheant karane ko utsuk ho raha hooan. mere sath chal aur ham donoan parem mean magn hokar sansar ko bhool jayean.'

jab tak vah bolata raha, thayas usaki or vismit hokar takati rahi. use jnat hua ki usaka roop manohar hai. akasmat use apane mathe par thanda pasina bahata hua jan p da. vah hari ghas ki bhaanti ardr ho gayi. usake sir mean chakkar ane lage, aankhoan ke samane meghaghatasi uthati huee jan p di. yuvak ne phir vahi paremakaanksha parakat ki, lekin thayas ne phir inakar kiya. usake atur netr, usaki paremayachana bas nishphal huee, aur jab usane adhir hokar use apani god mean le liya aur balat khianch le jana chaha to usane nishthurata se use hata diya. tab vah usake samane baithakar rone laga. par usake hriday mean ek navin, ajnat aur alakshit chaitanyata udit ho gayi thi. vah ab bhi duragarah karati rahi.

mehamanoan ne suna to bole-'yah kaisi pagali hai ? lolas kulin, roopavan, dhani hai, aur yah nachane vali yuvati usaka apaman karati haian !'

lolas ka rat ghar lauta to paremamad to matavala ho raha tha. paratahkal vah phir thayas ke ghar aya, to usaka mukh vivarn aur aankhean lal thian. usane thayas ke dvar par phooloan ki mala ch़aee. lekin thayas bhayabhit aur ashant thi, aur lolas se muanh chhipati rahati thi. phir bhi lolas ki smriti ek kshan ke lie bhi usaki aankhoan se n utarati. use vedana hoti thi par vah isaka karan n janati thi. use ashchary hota tha ki maian itani khinn aur anyamanask kyoan ho gayi hooan. yah any sab paremiyoan se door bhagati thi. unase use ghrina hoti thi. use din ka parakash achchha n lagata, sare din akele bichhavan par p di, takiye mean muanh chhipaye roya karati. lolas kee bar kisin-kisi yukti se usake pas pahuancha, par usaka paremagarah, ronadhona, ek bhi use n pighala saka. usake samane vah tak n sakati, keval yahi kahati-'nahian, nahian.'

lekin ek paksh ke bad usaki jidd jati rahi. use jnat hua ki maian lolas ke paremapash mean phans gayi hooan. vah usake ghar gayi aur usake sath rahane lagi. ab unake anand ki sima n thi. din bhar ekadoosare se aankhean milaye baithe paremalap kiya karate. sandhya ko nadi ke nirav nirjan tat par hathamean-hath dale tahalate. kabhikabhi arunoday ke samay uthakar paha diyoan par sambul ke phool batorane chale jate. unaki thali ek thi. pyala ek tha, mej ek thi. lolas usake muanh ke aangoor nikalakar apane muanh mean kha jata.

tab mira lolas ke pas akar ronepitane lagi ki meri thayas ko chho d do. vah meri beti hai, meri aankhoan ki putali ! maianne isi udar se use nikal, is god mean usaka lalanapalan kiya aur ab too use meri god se chhin lena chahata hai.

lolas ne use parachur dhan dekar vida kiya, lekin jab vah dhanatrishna se lolup hokar phir ayi to lolas ne use kaid kara diya. nyayadhikariyoan ko jnat hua ki vah kutani hai, bholi l dakiyoan ko bahaka le jana hi usaka udyam hai to use paranadand de diya aur vah jangali janavaroan ke samane pheank di gee.

lolas apani akhand, sampoorn kamana se thayas ko pyar karata tha. usaki parem kalpana ne virat roop dharan kar liya tha, jisase usaki kishor chetana sashank ho jati thi. thayas antahkaran se kahati-'maianne tumhare sivay aur kisi se parem nahian kiya.'

lolas javab deta-'tum sansar mean advitiy ho.' donoan par chhah mahine tak yah nasha savar raha. ant mean toot gaya. thayas ko aisa jan p data ki mera hriday shoony aur nirjan hai. vahaan se koee chiz gayab ho gayi hai. lolas usaki drishti mean kuchh aur maloom hota tha. vah sochati-mujhamean sahasa yah antar kyoan ho gaya ? yah kya bat hai ki lolas ab aur manushyoan kasa ho gaya hai, apanasa nahian raha ? mujhe kya ho gaya hai ?

yah dasha use asahy paratit hone lagi. akhand parem ke asvadan ke bad ab yah niras, shushk vyapar usaki trishna ko tript n kar saka. vah apane khoye hue lolas ko kisi any parani mean khojane ki gupt ichchha ko hriday mean chhipaye hue, lolas ke pas se chali gayi. usane socha parem rahane par bhi kisi purush ke sath rahana. us adami ke sath rahane se kahian sukhakar hai jisase ab parem nahian raha. vah phir nagar ke vishayabhogiyoan ke sath un dhamortsavoan mean jane lagi jahaan vastrahin yuvatiyaan mandiroan mean nrity kiya karati thian, ya jahaan veshyaoan ke golake-gol nadi mean taira karate the. vah us vilasapiray aur rangile nagar ke ragarang mean dil kholakar bhag lene lagi. vah nity rangashalaoan mean ati jahaan chatur gavaiye aur nartak deshadeshantaroan se akar apane karatab dikhate the aur uttejana ke bhookhe darshakavrind vahavah ki dhvani se asaman sir par utha lete the.

thayas gayakoan, abhinetaoan, visheshatah un striyoan ke chalal ko b de dhyan se dekha karati thi jo duahkhant natakoan mean manushy se parem karane vali deviyoan ya devataoan se parem karane vali striyoan ka abhinay karati thian. shighar hi use vah latake maloom ho gaye, jinake dvara vah patraean darshakoan ka man har leti thian, aur usane socha, kya maian jo un saboan se roopavati hooan, aisa hi abhinay karake darshakoan ko parasann nahian kar sakati? vah rangashala vyavasthapak ke pas gayi aur usase kaha ki mujhe bhi is natyamandali mean sammilit kar lijie. usake saundary ne usaki poorvashiksha ke sath milakar usaki sipharish ki. vyavasthapak ne usaki pararthana svikar kar li. aur vah pahali bar rangamanch par ayi.

pahale darshakoan ne usaka bahut ashajanak svagat n kiya. ek to vah is kam mean abhyast n thi, doosare usaki parashansa ke pul baandhakar janata ko pahale hi se utsuk n banaya gaya tha. lekin kuchh dinoan tak gaun charitroan ka part khelane ke bad usake yauvan ne vah hathapaanv nikale ki sara nagar lotapot ho gaya. rangashala mean kahian til rakhane bhar ki jagah n bachati. nagar ke b deb de hakim, rees, amir, lokamat ke parabhav se rangashala mean ane par majaboor hue. shahar ke chaukidar, palledar, mehatar, ghat ke mazadoor, dinadin bhar upavas karate the ki apani jagah surakshit kara lean. kavijan usaki parashansa mean kavitt kahate. lambi dayioan vale vijnanashastri vyayamashalaoan mean usaki ninda aur upeksha karate. jab usaka tamajham s dak par se nikalata to eesaee padari muanh pher lete the. usake dvar ki chaukhat pushpamalaoan se ki rahati thi. apane paremiyoan se use itana atul dhan milata ki use ginana mushkil tha. tarajoo par taul liya jata tha. kripan boo़oan ki sangarah ki huee samast sampatti usake oopar kau diyoan ki bhaanti lutaee jati thi. par use garv n tha. aianth n thi. devataoan ki kripadrishti aur janata ki parashansadhvani se usake hriday ko gauravayukt anand hota tha. sabaki pyari banakar vah apane ko pyar karane lagi thi.

kee varsh tak aintiokavasiyoan ke parem aur parashansa ka sukh uthane ke bad usake man mean parabal utkantha huee ki iskandriya chalooan aur us nagar mean apana thatabat dikhaooan, jahaan bachapan mean maian nangi aur bhookhi, daridr aur durbal, s dakoan par marimari phirati thi aur galiyoan ki khak chhanati thi. iskandriyaan aankhean bichhaye usaki rah dekhata tha. usane b de harsh se usaka svagat kiya aur us par moti barasaye. vah kri dabhoomi mean ati to dhoom mach jati. paremiyoan aur vilasiyoan ke mare use saans n milati, par vah kisi ko muanh n lagati. doosara, lolas use jab n mila to usane usaki chinta hi chho d di. us svargasukh ki ab use asha n thi.

usake any paremiyoan mean tattvajnani nisiyas bhi tha jo virakt hone ka dava karane par bhi usake parem ka ichchhuk tha. vah dhanavan tha par any dhanapatiyoan ki bhaanti abhimani aur mandabuddhi n tha. usake svabhav mean vinay aur sauhard ki abha jhalakati thi, kintu usaka madhurahasy aur mridukalpanaean use rijhane mean saphal n hotian. use nisiyas se parem n tha, kabhikabhi usake subhashitoan se use chi hoti thi. usake shankavad se usaka chitt vyagar ho jata tha, kyoanki nisiyas ki shradgha kisi par n thi aur thayas ki shradgha sabhi par thi. vah eeshvar par, bhootaparetoan par jadootone par, jantramantr par poora vishvas karati thi. usaki bhakti parabhu masih par bhi thi, syam valoan ki punita devi par bhi use vishvas tha ki rat ko jab amuk paret galiyoan mean nikalata hai to kutiyaan bhooankati haian. maran, uchchatan, vashikaran ke vidhanoan par aur shakti par use atal vishvas tha. usaka chitt ajnat n lie utsuk rahata tha. vah devataoan ki manautiyaan karati thi aur sadaiv shubhashaoan mean magn rahati thi bhavishy se yah shanka rahati thi, phir bhi use janana chahati thi. usake yahaan, ojhe, sayane, taantrik, mantr jagane vale, hath dekhane vale jama rahate the. vah unake hathoan nity dhokha khati par satark n hoti thi. vah maut se darati thi aur usase satark rahati thi. sukhabhog ke samay bhi use bhay hota tha ki koee nirday kathor hath usaka gala dabane ke lie b़a ata hai aur vah chilla uthati thi.

nisiyas kahata tha-'piraye, ek hi bat hai, chahe ham rugn aur jarjar hokar maharatri ki god mean sama jayean, athava yahian baithe, anandabhog karate, hansatekhelate, sansar se parasthan kar jayean. jivan ka uddeshy sukhabhog hai. ao jivan ki bahar lootean. parem se hamara jivan saphal ho jayega. indriyoan dvara parapt jnan hi yatharth jnan hai. isake sivay sab mithya ke lie apane jivan sukh mean kyoan badha dalean ?'

thayas sarosh hokar uttar deti-'tum jaise manushyoan se bhagavan bachaye, jinhean koee asha nahian, koee bhay nahian. maian parakash chahati hooan, jisase mera antahkaran chamak uthe.'

jivan ke rahasy ko samajhane ke lie use darshanagaranthoan ko pॄna shuroo kiya, par vah usaki samajh mean n aye. jyoanjyoan balyavastha usase door hoti jati thi, tyoantyoan usaki yad use vikal karati thi. use ratoan ko bhesh badalakar un s dakoan, galiyoan, chaurahoan par ghoomana bahut piray maloom hota jahaan usaka bachapan itane duahkh se kata tha. use apane matapita ke marane ka duahkh hota tha, is karan aur bhi ki vah unhean pyar n kar saki thi.

jab kisi eesaee poojak se usaki bheant ho jati to use apana bapatisma yad ata aur chitt ashant ho jata. ek rat ko vah ek lamba labada o़e, sundar keshoan ko ek kale top se chhipaye, shahar ke bahar vichar rahi thi ki sahasa vah ek girajaghar ke samane pahuanch gayi. use yad aya, maianne ise pahale bhi dekha hai. kuchh log andar ga rahe the aur divar ki dararoan se ujjval parakasharekhaean bahar jhaank rahi thian. isamean koee navin bat n thi, kyoanki idhar lagabhag bis varshoan se eesaeedharm mean ko vighnabadha n thi, eesaee log nirapad roop se apane dhamortsav karate the. lekin in bhajanoan mean itani anurakti, karun svargadhvani thi, jo marmasthal mean chutakiyaan leti huee jan p dati thian. thayas antahkaran ke vashibhoot hokar is tarah dvar, kholakar bhitar ghus gayi mano kisi ne use bulaya hai. vahaan use bal, vriddh, naranariyoan ka ek b da samooh ek samadhi ke samane sijada karata hua dikhaee diya. yah kabar keval patthar ki ek taboot thi, jis par aangoor ke guchchhoan aur beloan ke akar bane hue the. par us par logoan ki asim shradgha thi. vah khajoor ki tahaniyoan aur gulab ki pushpamalaoan se ki huee thi. charoan taraph dipak jal rahe the aur usake malin parakash mean loban, ood adi ka dhuaan svargadootoan ke vastroan ki tahoansa dikhata tha, aur divar ke chitr svarg ke drishyoan kese. kee shvet vastradhari padari kabar ke pairoan par pet ke bal p de hue the. unake bhajan duahkh ke anand ko parakat karate the aur apane shokollas mean duahkh aur sukh, harsh aur shok ka aisa samavesh kar rahe the ki thayas ko unake sunane se jivan ke sukh aur mrityu ke bhay, ek sath hi kisi jalastrot ki bhaanti apani sachintasnayuoan mean bahate hue jan p de.

jab gana band hua to bhaktajan uthe aur ek katar manean kabar ke pas jakar use chooma. yah samany parani the; jo majoori karake nivarh karate the. kya hi dhiredhire pag uthate, aankhoan mean aansoo bhare, sir jhukaye, ve age b़te aur baribari se kabar ki parikrama karate the. striyoan ne apane balakoan ko god mean uthakar kabar par unake hoanth rakh diye.

thayas ne vismit aur chintit hokar ek padari se poochha-'poojy pita, yah kaisa samaroh hai ?'

padari ne uttar diya-'kya tumhean nahian maloom ki ham aj sant thiyodor ki jayanti mana rahe haian ? unaka jivan pavitr tha. unhoanne apane ko dharm ki balivedi par ch़a diya, aur isilie ham shvet vastr pahanakar unaki samadhi par lal gulab ke phool ch़ane aye haian.'

yah sunate hi thayas ghutanoan ke bal baith gayi aur zor se ro p di. ahamad ki ardhavismrit smritiyaan jagarat ho gayian. us din, dukhi, abhage parani ki kirti kitani ujjval hai ! usake nam par dipak jalate haian, gulab ki lapatean ati haian, havan ke sugandhit dhuean uthate haian, mithe svaroan ka nad hota hai aur pavitr atmaean mastak jhukati haian. thayas ne socha-apane jivan mean vah pushyatma tha, par ab vah poojy aur upasy ho gaya haian ! vah any paraniyoan ki apeksha kyoan itana shradghaspad hai ? vah kaunasi ajnat vastu hai jo dhan aur bhog se bhi bahumooly hai ?

vah ahista se uthi aur us sant ki samadhi ki or chali jisane use god mean khelaya tha. usaki apoorv aankhoan mean bhare hue ashrubindu dipak ke alok mean chamak rahe the. tab vah sir jhukakar, dinabhav se kabar ke pas gayi aur us par apane adharoan se apani hardik shradgha aankit kar di-unhian adharoan se jo aganit trishnaoan ka kri dakshetr the !

jab vah ghar ayi to nisiyas ko bal sanvare, vastroan manean sugandh male, kaba ke band khole baithe dekha. vah usake intajar mean samay katane ke lie ek nitigaranth pॄ raha tha. use dekhate hi vah baanhean khole usaki b़a aur mriduhasy se bola-'kahaan gayi thian, chanchala devi ? tum janati ho tumhare intajar mean baitha hua, maian is nitigaranth mean kya pॄ raha tha?' niti ke vaky aur shudghacharan ke upadesh ?' 'kadapi nahian. garanth ke pannoan par aksharoan ki jagah aganit chhotichhoti thayasean nrity kar rahi thian. unamean se ek bhi meri uangali se b di n thi, par unaki chhavi apar thi aur sab ek hi thayas ka paratibimb thian. koee to ratnaj dit vastr pahane ak dati huee chalati thi, koee shvet meghasamooh ke sadrishy svachchh avaran dharan kiye hue thi; koee aisi bhi thian jinaki nagnata hriday mean vasana ka sanchar karati thi. sabake pichhe do, ek hi rangaroop ki thian. itani anuroop ki unamean bhed karana kathin tha. donoan hathamean-hath milaye hue thian, donoan hi hansati thian. pahali kahati thi-maian parem hooan. doosari kahati thi-maian nrity hooan.'

yah kahakar nisiyas ne thayas ko apane karapash mean khianch liya. thayas ki aankhean jhuki huee thian. nisiyas ko yah jnan n ho saka ki unamean kitana rosh bhara hua hai. vah isi bhaanti sooktiyoan ki varsha karata raha, is bat se bekhabar ki thayas ka dhyan hi idhar nahian hai. vah kah raha tha-'jab meri aankhoan ke samane yah shabd aye-apani atmashuddhi ke marg mean koee badha mat ane do, to maianne pॄa 'thayas ke adharasparsh agni se dahak aur madhu se madhur haian.' isi bhaanti ek pandit doosare panditoan ke vicharoan ko ulatapalat deta hai; aur yah tumhara hi dosh hai. yah sarvatha saty hai ki jab tak ham vahi haian jo haian, tab tak ham doosaroan ke vicharoan mean apane hi vicharoan ki jhalak dekhate raheange.'

vah ab bhi idhar mukhatib n huee. usaki atma abhi tak habshi ki kabar ke samane jhuki huee thi. sahasa use ah bharate dekhakar usane usaki gardan ka chumban kar liya aur bola-'piraye, sansar mean sukh nahian hai jab tak ham sansar ko bhool n jayean. ao, ham sansar se chhal karean, chhal karake usase sukh lean-parem mean sabakuchh bhool jayean.'

lekin usane use pichhe hata diya aur vyathit hokar boli-'tum parem ka marm nahian janate ! tumane kabhi kisi se parem nahian kiya. maian tumhean nahian chahati, jara bhi nahian chahati. yahaan se chale jao, mujhe tumase ghrina hoti hai. abhi chale jao, mujhe tumhari soorat se napharat hai. mujhe un sab paraniyoan se ghrina hai, dhani hai, anandabhogi haian. jao, jao. daya aur parem unhian mean hai jo abhage haian. jab maian chhoti thi to mere yahaan ek habshi tha jisane salib par jan di. vah sajjan tha, vah jivan ke rahasyoan ko janata tha. tum usake charan dhone yogy bhi nahian ho. chale jao. tumhara striyoan kasa shrriangar mujhe ek aankh nahian bhata. phir mujhe apani soorat mat dikhana.'

yah kahatekahate vah pharsh par muanh ke bal gir p di aur sari rat rokar kati. usane sankalp kiya ki maian sant thiyodor ki bhaanti aur daridr dasha mean jivan vyatit karuangi.

doosare din vah phir unhian vasanaoan mean lipt ho gayi jinaki use chat p d gayi thi. vah janati thi ki usaki roopashobha abhi poore tej par hai, par sthayi nahian isilie isake dvara jitana sukh aur jitani khyati parapt ho sakati thi use parapt karane ke lie vah adhir ho uthi. thiyetar mean vah pahale ki apeksha aur der tak baithakar pustakavalokan kiya karati. vah kaviyoan, moortikaroan aur chitrakaroan ki kalpanaoan ko sajiv bana deti thi, vidvanoan aur tattvajnaniyoan ko usaki gati, aganvinyas aur us parakritik madhury ki jhalak najar ati thi jo samast sansar mean vyapak hai aur unake vichar mean aisi arpoov shobha svayan ek pavitr vastu thi. din, daridr, moorkh log use ek svagiry padarth samajhate the. koee kisi roop mean usaki upasana karata tha, koee kisi roop mean. koee use bhogy samajhata tha, koee stuty aur koee poojy. kintu is parem, bhakti aur shradgha ki patra hokar bhi vah duahkhi thi, mrityu ki shanka use ab aur bhi adhik hone lagi. kisi vastu se use is shanka se nivritti n hoti. usaka vishal bhavan aur upavan bhi, jinaki shobha akathaniy thi aur jo samast nagar mean janashruti bane hue the, use ashvast karane mean asaphal the.

is upavan mean eeran aur hindustan ke vriksh the, jinake lane aur palane mean aparimit dhan vyay hua tha. unaki sianchaee ke lie ek nirmal jal dhara bahayi gayi thi. samip hi ek jhil bani huee thi. jisamean ek kushal kalakar ke hathoan sajaye hue stambhachihnoan aur kritrim paha diyoan tak tat par ki sundar moortiyoan ka paratibimb dikhaee deta tha. upavan ke madhy mean 'pariyoan ka kuanj' tha. yah nam isalie p da tha ki us bhavan ke dvar par tin poore qad ki striyoan ki moortiyaan kh di thian. vah sashank hokar pichhe tak rahi thian ki koee dekhata n ho. moortikar ne unaki chitavanoan dvara moortiyoan mean jan dal di thi. bhavan mean jo parakash ata tha vah pani ki patali chadaroan se chhanakar maddhim aur rangin ho jata tha. divaroan par bhaantibhaanti ki jhalarean, malaean aur chitr latake hue the. bich mean ek hathidaant ki param manohar moorti thi jo nisiyas ne bheant ki thi. ek tipaee par ek kale shpaan ki bakari ki moorti thi, jisaki aankhean nilam ki bani huee thian. usake thanoan ko ghere hue chhah chini ke bachche kh de the, lekin bakari apane phate hue khur uthakar oopar ki paha di par uchak jana chahati thi. pharsh par eerani kalinean bichhi huee thian, masanadoan par kaithe ke bane hue sunahare belaboote the. sone ke dhoopadan se sugandhit dhuean uth rahe the, aur b deb de chini gamaloan mean phooloan se lade hue paudhe sajaye hue the. sire par, oodi chhaya mean, ek b de hindustani kachhue ke sunahare nakh chamak rahe the jo pet ke bal ulat diya gaya tha. yahi thayas ka shayanagar tha. isi kachhue ke pet par leti huee vah is sugandh aur sajavat aur sushama ka anand uthati thi, mitroan se batachit karati thi aur ya to abhinayakala ka manan karati thi, ya bite hue dinoan ka.

tisara pahar tha. thayas pariyoan ke kuanj mean shayan kar rahi thi. usane aine mean apane saundary ki avanati ke paratham chihn dekhe the, aur use is vichar se pi da ho rahi thi ki jhurriyoan aur shvet baloan ka akraman hone vala hai usane is vichar se apane ko ashvasan dene ki viphal cheshta ki ki maian j dibootiyoan ke havan karake mantroan dvara apane varn ki komalata ko phir se parapt kar looangi. usake kanoan mean in shabdoan ki nirday dhvani ayi-'thayas, too buyi ho jayegi !' bhay se usake mathe par thandathanda pasina a gaya. tab usane punah apane ko sanbhalakar aine mean dekha aur use jnat hua ki maian ab bhi param sundari aur pareyasi banane ke yogy hooan. usane pulakit man se muskarakar man mean kaha-aj bhi iskandriya mean kaee aisi ramani nahian hai jo aangoan ki chapalata aur lachak mean mujhase takkar le sake. meri baanhoan ki shobha ab bhi hriday ko khianch sakati hai, yatharth mean yahi parem ka pash hai !

vah isi vichar mean magn thi ki usane ek aparichit manushy ko apane samane ate dekha. usaki aankhoan mean jvala thi, da़i b़i huee thi aur vastr bahumooly the. usake hath mean aeena chhootakar gir p da aur vah bhay se chikh uthi.

papanashi stambhit ho gaya. usaka apoorv saundary dekhakar usane shuddh antahkaran se pararthana ki-bhagavan mujhe aisi shakti dijie ki is stri ka mukh mujhe lubdh n kare, varanh tere is das ki paratijna ko aur bhi dri़ kare.

tab apane ko sanbhalakar vah bola-'thayas, maian ek door desh mean rahata hooan, tere saundary ki parashansa sunakar tere pas aya hooan. maianne suna tha tumase chatur abhinetri aur tumase mugdhakar stri sansar mean nahian hai. tumhare paremarahasyoan aur tumhare dhan ke vishay mean jo kuchh kaha jata hai vah ashcharyajanak hai, aur usase 'rodop' ki katha yad ati hai, jisaki kirti ko nil ke maanjhi nity gaya karate haian. isalie mujhe bhi tumhare darshanoan ki abhilasha huee aur ab maian dekhata hooan ki paratyaksh sunisunaee batoan se kahian b़kar hai. jitana mashahoor hai usase tum hazar guna chatur aur mohini ho. vastav mean tumhare samane bina matavaloan ki bhaanti dagamagaye ana asambhav hai.'

yah shabd kritrim the, kintu yogi ne pavitr bhakti se parabhavit hokar sachche josh se unaka uchcharan kiya. thayas ne parasann hokar is vichitr parani ki or taka jisase vah pahale bhayabhit ho gayi thi. usake abhadr aur uddand vesh ne use vismit kar diya. use ab tak jitane manushy mile the, yah un saboan se nirala tha. usake man mean aise adbhut parani ke jivanavrittant janane ki parabal utkantha huee. usane usaka majak u date hue kaha-'mahashay, ap paremaparadarshan mean b de kushal maloom hote haian. hoshiyar rahiyega ki meri chitabanean apake hriday ke par n ho jayean. mere parem ke maidan mean jara sanbhalakar qadam rakhiyega.'

papanashi bola-'thamas, mujhe tumase agadh parem hai. tum mujhe jivan aur atma se bhi piray ho. tumhare lie maianne apana vanyajivan chho da hai, tumhare lie mere hoanthoan se, jinhoanne maunavarat dharan kiya tha, apavitr shabd nikale haian. tumhare lie maianne vah dekha jo n dekhana chahie tha, vah suna hai jo mere lie varjit tha. tumhare lie meri atma t dap rahi hai, mera hriday adhir ho raha hai aur jalastrot ki bhaanti vichar ki dharaean paravahit ho rahi haian. tumhare lie maian apane nange pair sarpoan aur bichchhuoan par rakhate hue bhi nahian hichaka hooan. ab tumhean maloom ho gaya hoga ki mujhe tumase kitana parem hai. lekin mera parem un manushyoan kasa nahian hai jo vasana ki agni se jalate hue tumhare pas jivabhakshi vyagharoan ki, aur unmatt saan doan ki bhaanti dau de ate haian. unaka vahi parem hota hai jo sianh ko mrigashavak se. unaki pashavik kamalipsa tumhari atma ko bhi bhasmibhoot kar dalegi. mera parem pavitr hai, anant hai, sthayi hai. maian tumase eeshvar ke nam par, saty ke nam par parem karata hooan. mera hriday patitodghar aur eeshvariy daya ke bhav se paripoorn hai. maian tumhean phaloan se ki huee sharab ki masti se aur ek alparatri ke sukhasvapn se kahian uttam padarthoan ka vachan dene aya hooan. maian tumhean mahaparasad aur sudharasapan ka nimantran dene aya hooan. maian tumhean us anand ka sukhasanvad sunane aya hooan jo nity, amar, akhand hai. mrityulok ke parani yadi usako dekh lean to ashchary se bhar jayean.'

thayas ne kutil hasy karake uttar diya-'mitr, yadi vah aisa adbhut parem hai to turant dikha do. ek kshan bhi vilamb n karo. lambilambi vaktritaoan se mere saundary ka apaman hoga. maian anand ka svad uthane ke lie ro rahi hooan. kintu jo mere dil ki bat poochho, to mujhe is kori parashansa ke siva aur kuchh hath n ayega. vade karana asan hai; unhean poora karana mushkil hai. sabhi manashyoan mean koeen-koee gun vishesh hota hai. aisa maloom hota hai ki tum vani mean nipun ho. tum ek ajnat parem ka vachan dete ho. mujhe yah vyapar karate itane din ho gaye aur usaka itana anubhav ho gaya hai ki ab usamean kisi navinata ki kisi rahasy ki asha nahian rahi. is vishay ka jnan paremiyoan ko darshanikoan se adhik hota hai.'

'thayas, dillagi ki bat nahian hai, maian tumhare lie achhoota parem laya hooan.'

'mitr, tum bahut der mean aye. maian sabhi parakar ke paremoan ka svad le chuki hooan.'

'maian jo parem laya hooan, vah ujjval hai, shrey hai! tumhean jis parem ka anubhav hua hai vah niandy aur tyajy hai.'

thayas ne garv se gardan uthakar kaha-'mitr, tum muanhaphat jan p date ho. tumhean grihasvamini ke parati mukh se aise shabd nikalane mean jara bhi sankoch nahian hota ? meri or aankh uthakar dekho aur tab batao ki mera svaroop nindit aur patit paraniyoan hi kasa hai. nahian, maian apane krityoan par lajjit nahian hooan. any striyaan bhi, jinaka jivan mere hi jaisa hai, apane ko nich aur patit nahian samajhatian, yadyapi, unake pas n itana dhan hai aur n itana roop. sukh mere pairoan ke niche aankhean bichhaye rahata hai, ise sara jagath janata hai. maian sansar ke mukutadhariyoan ko pair ki dhooli samajhati hooan. un saboan ne inhian pairoan par shish navaye haian. aankhean uthao. mere pairoan ki or dekho. lakhoan parani unaka chumban karane ke lie apane paran bheant kar deange. mera diladaul bahut b da nahian hai, mere lie prithvi par bahut sthan ki zaroorat nahian. jo log mujhe devamandir ke shikhar par se dekhate haian, unhean maian baloo ke kan ke saman dikhati hooan, par is kan ne manushyoan mean jitani eershyarh, jitana dvesh, jitani nirasha, jitani abhilasha aur jitane papoan ka sanchar kiya hai unake bojh se atal parvat bhi dab jayega. jab meri kirti samast sansar mean parasarit ho rahi hai to tumhari lajja aur nidra ki bat karana pagalapan nahian to aur kya hai ?'

papanashi ne avichalit bhav se uttar diya-'sundari, yah tumhari bhool hai. manushy jis bat ki sarahana karate haian vah eeshvar ki drishti mean pap hai. hamane itane bhinnabhinn deshoan mean janm liya hai ki yadi hamari bhasha aur vichar anuroop n hoan to koee ashchary ki bat nahian. lekin maian eeshvar ko sakshi dekar kahata hooan ki maian tumhare pas se jana nahian chahata. kaun mere mukh mean aise agney shabdoan ko parerit karega jo tumhean mom ki bhaanti pighala dean ki meri uangaliyaan tumhean apani ichchha ke anusar roop de sakean ? o nariratn ! yah kaunasi shakti hai jo tumhean mere hathoan mean sauanp degi ki mere antahkaran mean nihit sadparerana tumhara punasaranskar karake tumhean aisa naya aur parishkrit saundary paradan kare ki tum anand se vihval ho pukar utho, mera phir se naya sanskar hua ? kaun mere hriday mean us sudhastrot ko paravahit karega ki tum usamean nahakar phir apani maulik pavitrata labh kar sako ? kaun mujhe mardan ki nirmal dhara mean parivartit kar dega jisaki laharoan ka sparsh tumhean anant saundary se vibhooshit kar de ?'

thayas ka krodh shant ho gaya. usane socha-yah purush anant jivan ke rahasyoan mean parichit hai, aur jo kuchh vah kah sakata hai usamean rrishivakyoan kisi paratibha hai. yah avashy koee kimiyagar hai aur aise guptamantr janata hai jo jirnavastha ka nivaran kar sakate haian. usane apani deh ko usaki ichchhaoan ko samarpit karane ka nishchay kar liya. vah ek sashank pakshi ki bhaanti kee qadam pichhe hat gayi aur apane palang patti par baithakar usaki paratiksha karane lagi. usaki aankhean jhuki huee thian aur lambi palakoan ki malin chhaya kapaloan par p d rahi thi. aisa jan p data tha ki koee balak nadi ke kinare baitha hua kisi vichar mean magn hai.

kintu papanashi keval usaki or takataki lagaye takata raha, apani jagah se jau bhar bhi n hila. usake ghutane tharathara rahe the aur maloom hota tha ki ve use sanbhal n sakeange. usaka taloo sookh gaya tha, kanoan mean tivar bhanabhanahat ki avaz ane lagi. akasmat usaki aankhoan ke samane andhakar chha gaya, mano samast bhavan meghachchhadit ho gaya hai. use aisa bhashit hua ki parabhu masih ne is stri ko chhipane ke nimitt usaki aankhoan par parada dal diya hai. is gupt karavalamb se ashvast aur sashakt hokar usane aise gambhir bhav se kaha jo kisi vriddh tapasvi ke yathayogy tha-kya tum samajhati ho ki tumhara yah atmahanan eeshvar ki nigahoan se chhipa hua hai ?'

usane sir hilakar kaha-'eeshvar ? eeshvar se kaun kahata hai ki sadaiv pariyoan ke kuanj par aankhean jamaye rakhe ? yadi hamare kam use nahian bhate to vah yahaan se chala kyoan nahian jata ? lekin hamare karm use bure lagate hi kyoan haian ? usi ne hamari srishti ki hai. jaisa usane banaya hai vaise hi ham haian. jaisi vrittiyaan usane hamean di haian usi ke anusar ham acharan karate haian ! phir use hamase rusht hone ka, athava vismit hone ka kya adhikar hai ? usaki taraph se log bahutasi managant batean kiya karate haian aur usako aiseaise vicharoan ka shrey dete haian jo usake man mean kabhi n the. tumako usake man ki batean janane ka dava hai. tumako usake charitr ka yatharth jnan hai. tum kaun ho ki usake vakil banakar mujhe aisiaisi ashaean dilate ho ?'

papanashi ne mangani ke bahumooly vastr utarakar niche ka mota kurata dikhate hue kaha-'maian dhamarshram ka yogi hooan. mera nam papanashi hai. maian usi pavitr tapobhoomi se a raha hooan. eeshvar ki ajna se maian ekantasevan karata hooan. maianne sansar se aur sansar ke paraniyoan se muanh mo d liya tha. is papamay sansar mean nirlipt rahana hi mera uddisht marg hai. lekin teri moorti meri shantikutir mean akar mere sammukh kh di huee aur maianne dekha ki too pap aur vasana mean lipt hai, mrityu tujhe apana garas banane ko kh di hai. meri daya jagrit ho gayi aur tera udghar karane ke lie a upasthit hua hooan. maian tujhe pukarakar kahata hooan-thayas, uth, ab samay nahian hai.'

yogi ke yah shabd sunakar thayas bhay se tharathar kaanpane lagi. usaka mukh shrihin ho gaya, vah kesh chhitakaye, donoan hath jo de roti aur vilap karati huee usake pairoan par gir p di aur boli-'mahatma ji, eeshvar ke lie mujh par daya kijie. ap yahaan kyoan aye haian ? apaki kya ichchha hai ? mera sarvanash n kijie. maian janata hooan ki tapobhoomi ke rrishigan ham jaisi striyoan se ghrina karate haian, jinaka janm hi doosaroan ko parasann rakhane ke lie hota hai. mujhe bhay ho raha hai ki ap mujhase ghrina karate haian aur mera sarvanash karane par udyat haian. kripaya yahaan se sidharie. maian apaki shakti aur siddhi ke samane sir jhukati hooan. lekin apaka mujh par kop karana uchit nahian hai, kyoanki maian any manushyoan ki bhaanti ap logoan ki bhikshavritti aur sanyam ki ninda nahian karati. ap bhi mere bhogavilas ko pap n samajhie. maian roopavati hooan aur abhinay karane mean chatur hooan. mera kaboo n apani dasha par hai, aur n apani parakriti par. maian jis kam ke yogy banayi gayi hooan vahi karati hooan. manushyoan ki mugdh karane hi ke nimitt meri srishti huee hai. ap bhi to abhi kah rahe the ki maian tumhean pyar karata hooan. apani siddhiyoan se mera anupakar n kijie. aisa mantr n chalaie ki mera saundary nasht ho jay, ya maian patthar tatha namak ki moorti ban jaooan. mujhe bhayabhit n kijie. mere to pahale hi se paran sookhe hue haian. mujhe maut ka muanh n dikhaie, mujhe maut se bahut dar lagata hai.'

papanashi ne use uthane ka ishara kiya aur bola-'bachcha, dar mat. tere parati apaman ya ghrina ka shabd bhi mere muanh se n nikalega. maian us mahanh purush ki or se aya hooan, jo papiyoan ko gale lagata tha, veshyaoan ke ghar bhojan karata tha, hatyaroan se parem karata tha, patitoan ko santvana deta tha. maian svayan papamukt nahian hooan ki doosaroan par patthar pheankooan. maianne kitani hi bar us vibhooti ka durupayog kiya hai jo eeshvar ne mujhe paradan ki hai. krodh ne mujhe yahaan ane par utsahit nahian kiya. maian daya ke vashibhoot hokar aya hooan. maian nishkapat bhav se parem ke shabdoan mean tujhe ashvasan de sakata hooan, kyoanki mera pavitr dharmasneh hi mujhe yahaan laya hai. mere hriday mean vatsaly ki agni parajvalit ho rahi hai aur yadi teri aankhean jo vishay ke sthool, apavitr drishyoan ke vashibhoot ho rahi haian, vastuoan ko unake adhyatmik roop mean dekhatian to tujhe vidit hota ki maian us jalati huee jha di ka ek pallav hooan jo eeshvar ne apane parem ka parichay dene ke lie moosa ko parvat par dikhaee thi-jo samast sansar mean vyapt hai, aur jo vastuoan ko bhasm kar dene ke badale, jis vastu mean paravesh karati hai use sada ke lie nirmal aur sugandhamay bana deti hai.'

thayas ne ashvast hokar kaha-'mahatma ji, ab mujhe ap par vishvas ho gaya hai. mujhe apase kisi anisht ya amangal ki ashanka nahian hai. maianne dhamarshram ke tapasviyoan ki bahut chachar suni hai. aintoni aur p aaul ke vishay mean b di adbhut kathaean sunane mean ayi haian. apake nam se bhi maian aparichit nahian hooan aur maianne logoan ko kahate suna hai ki yadyapi apaki umar abhi kam hai, ap dharmanishtha mean un tapasviyoan se bhi shreshth haian jinhoanne apana samast jivan eeshvar aradhana mean vyatit kiya. yadyapi mera apase parichay n tha, kintu apako dekhate hi maian samajh gayi ki ap koee sadharan purush nahian haian. bataiye, ap mujhe vah vastu paradan kar sakate haian jo sare sansar ke siddh aur sadhu, ojhe aur sayane, kapalik aur vaitalik nahian kar sake ? apake pas maut ki dava hai ? ap mujhe amar jivan de sakate haian ? yahi saansarik ichchhaoan ka saptam svarg hai.'

papanashi ne uttar diya-'kamini, amar jivan labh karana paratyek parani ki ichchha ke adhin hai. vishayavasanaoan ko tyag de, jo teri atma ka sarvanash kar rahe haian. us sharir ko pishachoan ke panje se chhu da le jise eeshvar ne apane muanh ke pani se sana aur apane shvas se jilaya, anyatha paret aur pishach use b di krurata se jalayeange. nity ke vilas se tere jivan ka strot kshin ho gaya hai. a, aur ekant ke pavitr sagar mean use phir paravahit kar de. a, aur marubhoomi mean chhipe hue sotoan ka jal sevan kar jinaka uphan svarg tak pahuanchata hai. o chintaoan mean doobi huee atma ! a, apani ichchhit vastu ko parapt kar ! jo anand ki bhookhi stri ! a, aur sachche anand ka asvadan kar. daridrata ka, virag ka, tyag kar, eeshvar ke charanoan mean atmasamarpan kar ! a, o stri, jo aj parabhu masih ki drohini hai, lekin kal usako pareyasi hogi. a, usaka darshan kar, use dekhate hi too pukar uthegi-mujhe paremadhan mil gaya !'

thamas bhavishyachintan mean khoyi huee thi. boli-'mahatma, agar maian jivan ke sukhoan ko tyag dooan aur kathin tapasya karuan to kya yah saty hai ki maian phir janm looangi aur mere saundary ko aanch n ayegi ?'

papanashi ne kaha-'thayas, maian tere lie anantajivan ka sandesh laya hooan. vishvas kar, maian jo kuchh kahata hooan, sarvatha saty hai.'

thayas-'mujhe usaki satyata par vishvas kyoankar aye ?'

papanashi-'daood aur any nabi usaki sakshi deange, tujhe alaukik drishy dikhaee deange, vah isaka samarthan kareange.'

thayas-'yogi ji, apaki batoan se mujhe bahut sanshtoa ho raha hai, kyoanki vastav mean mujhe is sansar mean sukh nahian mila. maian kisi rani se kam nahian hooan, kintu phir bhi meri durashaoan aur chintaoan ka ant nahian hai. maian jine se ukata gayi hooan. any striyaan mujh par eershyar karati haian, par maian kabhikabhi us duahkh ki mari, popali buyi par eershyar karati hooan jo shahar ke phatak ki chhaanh mean baithi talashe becha karati hai. kitani hi bar mere man mean aya hai ki garib hi sukhi, sajjan aur sachche hote haian, aur din, hin, nishparabh rahane mean chitt ko b di shanti milati hai. apane meri atma mean ek toofanasa paida kar diya hai aur jo niche dabi p di thi use oopar kar diya hai. haan ! maian kisaka vishvas karuan ? mere jivan ka kya ant hoga-jivan hi kya hai ?'

papanashi ne use uthane ka ishara kiya aur bola-'bachcha, dar mat. tere parati apaman ya ghrina ka shabd bhi mere muanh se n nikalega. maian us mahanh purush ki or se aya hooan, jo papiyoan ko gale lagata tha, veshyaoan ke ghar bhojan karata tha, hatyaroan se parem karata tha, patitoan ko santvana deta tha. maian svayan papamukt nahian hooan ki doosaroan par patthar pheankooan. maianne kitani hi bar us vibhooti ka durupayog kiya hai jo eeshvar ne mujhe paradan ki hai. krodh ne mujhe yahaan ane par utsahit nahian kiya. maian daya ke vashibhoot hokar aya hooan. maian nishkapat bhav se parem ke shabdoan mean tujhe ashvasan de sakata hooan, kyoanki mera pavitr dharmasneh hi mujhe yahaan laya hai. mere hriday mean vatsaly ki agni parajvalit ho rahi hai aur yadi teri aankhean jo vishay ke sthool, apavitr drishyoan ke vashibhoot ho rahi haian, vastuoan ko unake adhyatmik roop mean dekhatian to tujhe vidit hota ki maian us jalati huee jha di ka ek pallav hooan jo eeshvar ne apane parem ka parichay dene ke lie moosa ko parvat par dikhaee thi-jo samast sansar mean vyapt hai, aur jo vastuoan ko bhasm kar dene ke badale, jis vastu mean paravesh karati hai use sada ke lie nirmal aur sugandhamay bana deti hai.'

thayas ne ashvast hokar kaha-'mahatma ji, ab mujhe ap par vishvas ho gaya hai. mujhe apase kisi anisht ya amangal ki ashanka nahian hai. maianne dhamarshram ke tapasviyoan ki bahut chachar suni hai. aintoni aur p aaul ke vishay mean b di adbhut kathaean sunane mean ayi haian. apake nam se bhi maian aparichit nahian hooan aur maianne logoan ko kahate suna hai ki yadyapi apaki umar abhi kam hai, ap dharmanishtha mean un tapasviyoan se bhi shreshth haian jinhoanne apana samast jivan eeshvar aradhana mean vyatit kiya. yadyapi mera apase parichay n tha, kintu apako dekhate hi maian samajh gayi ki ap koee sadharan purush nahian haian. bataiye, ap mujhe vah vastu paradan kar sakate haian jo sare sansar ke siddh aur sadhu, ojhe aur sayane, kapalik aur vaitalik nahian kar sake ? apake pas maut ki dava hai ? ap mujhe amar jivan de sakate haian ? yahi saansarik ichchhaoan ka saptam svarg hai.'

papanashi ne uttar diya-'kamini, amar jivan labh karana paratyek parani ki ichchha ke adhin hai. vishayavasanaoan ko tyag de, jo teri atma ka sarvanash kar rahe haian. us sharir ko pishachoan ke panje se chhu da le jise eeshvar ne apane muanh ke pani se sana aur apane shvas se jilaya, anyatha paret aur pishach use b di krurata se jalayeange. nity ke vilas se tere jivan ka strot kshin ho gaya hai. a, aur ekant ke pavitr sagar mean use phir paravahit kar de. a, aur marubhoomi mean chhipe hue sotoan ka jal sevan kar jinaka uphan svarg tak pahuanchata hai. o chintaoan mean doobi huee atma ! a, apani ichchhit vastu ko parapt kar ! jo anand ki bhookhi stri ! a, aur sachche anand ka asvadan kar. daridrata ka, virag ka, tyag kar, eeshvar ke charanoan mean atmasamarpan kar ! a, o stri, jo aj parabhu masih ki drohini hai, lekin kal usako pareyasi hogi. a, usaka darshan kar, use dekhate hi too pukar uthegi-mujhe paremadhan mil gaya !'

thamas bhavishyachintan mean khoyi huee thi. boli-'mahatma, agar maian jivan ke sukhoan ko tyag dooan aur kathin tapasya karuan to kya yah saty hai ki maian phir janm looangi aur mere saundary ko aanch n ayegi ?'

papanashi ne kaha-'thayas, maian tere lie anantajivan ka sandesh laya hooan. vishvas kar, maian jo kuchh kahata hooan, sarvatha saty hai.'

thayas-'mujhe usaki satyata par vishvas kyoankar aye ?'

papanashi-'daood aur any nabi usaki sakshi deange, tujhe alaukik drishy dikhaee deange, vah isaka samarthan kareange.'

thayas-'yogi ji, apaki batoan se mujhe bahut sanshtoa ho raha hai, kyoanki vastav mean mujhe is sansar mean sukh nahian mila. maian kisi rani se kam nahian hooan, kintu phir bhi meri durashaoan aur chintaoan ka ant nahian hai. maian jine se ukata gayi hooan. any striyaan mujh par eershyar karati haian, par maian kabhikabhi us duahkh ki mari, popali buyi par eershyar karati hooan jo shahar ke phatak ki chhaanh mean baithi talashe becha karati hai. kitani hi bar mere man mean aya hai ki garib hi sukhi, sajjan aur sachche hote haian, aur din, hin, nishparabh rahane mean chitt ko b di shanti milati hai. apane meri atma mean ek toofanasa paida kar diya hai aur jo niche dabi p di thi use oopar kar diya hai. haan ! maian kisaka vishvas karuan ? mere jivan ka kya ant hoga-jivan hi kya hai ?'

vah yah batean kar rahi thi ki papanashi ke mukh par tej chha gaya, sara mukhamandal adi jyoti se chamak utha, usake muanh se yah paratibhashali vaky nikale-'kamini, sun, maianne jab is ghar mean qadam rakha to maian akela n tha. mere sath koee aur bhi tha aur vah ab bhi mere bagal mean kh da hai. too abhi use nahian dekh sakati, kyoanki teri aankhoan mean itani shakti nahian hai. lekin shighar hi svagiry paratibha se too use alokit dekhegi aur tere muanh se apahi-ap nikal p dega-yahi mera aradhy dev hai. toone abhi usaki alaukik shakti dekhi ! agar usane meri aankhoan ke samane apane dayalu hath n phaila diye hote to ab tak maian tere sath papacharan kar chuka hota; kyoanki svatah maian atyant durbal aur papi hooan. lekin usane ham donoan ki raksha ki. vah jitana hi shaktishali hai utana hi dayalu hai aur usaka nam hai muktidata. daood aur any nabiyoan ne usake ane ki khabar di thi, charavahoan aur jyotishiyoan ne hiandole mean usake samane shish jhukaya tha. pharisiyoan ne use salib par ch़aya, phir vah uthakar svarg ko chala gaya. tujhe mrityu se itana sashank dekhakar vah svayan tere ghar aya hai ki tujhe mrityu se bacha le. parabhu masih ! kya is samay tum yahaan upasthit nahian ho, usi roop mean jo tumane gailili ke nivasiyoan ko dikhaya tha. kitana vichitr samay tha baitulaham ke balak taragan ko hath mean lekar khelate the jo us samay dharati ke nikat hi sthit the. parabhu masih, kya yah saty nahian hai ki tum is samay yahaan upasthit ho aur maian tumhari pavitr deh ko paratyaksh dekh raha hooan ? kya teri dayalu komal mukharabind yahaan nahian hai ? aur kya vah aansoo jo tere galoan par bah rahe haian, paratyaksh aansoo nahian haian ? haan, eeshvariy nyay ka kartta un motiyoan ke lie hath rope kh da hai aur unhian motiyoan se thayas ki atma ki mukti hogi. parabhu masih, kya too bolane ke lie hoanth nahian khole hue hai ? bol, maian sun raha hooan ! aur thayas, sulakshan thayas sun, parabhu masih tujhase kya kah rahe haian-ai meri bhataki huee meshasundari, maian bahut dinoan se teri khoj mean hooan. ant mean maian tujhe pa gaya. ab phir mere pas se n bhagana. a, maian tera hath pak d looan aur apane kandhoan par bithakar svarg ke ba de mean le chalooan. a meri thayas, meri pirayatama, a ! aur mere sath ro.'

yah kahatekahate papanashi bhakti se vihval hokar zamin par ghutanoan ke bal baith gaya. usaki aankhoan se atmollas ki jyotirekhaean nikalane lagian. aur thayas ko usake chehare par jitejagate masih ka svaroop dikhaee diya.

vah karun krandan karati huee boli-'o meri biti huee balyavastha, o mere dayalu pita ahamad ! o sant thiyodor, maian kyoan n teri god mean usi samay mar gayi jab too arunoday ke samay mujhe apani chadar mean lapete liye ata tha aur mere sharir se vapatisma ke pavitr jal ki booandean tapak rahi thian.'

papanashi yah sunakar chauank p da mano koee alaukik ghatana ho gayi hai aur donoan hath phailaye hue thayas ki or yah kahate hue b़a-'bhagavanh, teri mahima apar hai. kya too bapatisma ke jal se plavit ho chuki hai ? he paramapita, bhaktavatsal parabhu, o buddhi ke agadh sagar ! ab mujhe maloom hua ki vah kaunasi shakti thi jo mujhe tere pas khianchakar layi. ab mujhe jnat hua ki vah kaunasa rahasy tha jisane tujhe meri drishti mean itana sundar, itana chittakarshak bana diya tha. ab mujhe maloom hua ki maian tere paremapash mean kyoan is bhaanti jak d gaya tha ki apana shantivas chho dane par vivash hua. isi bapatismajal ki mahima thi jisane mujhe eeshvar ke dvar ko chhu dakar mujhe khojane ke lie is vishakt vayu se bhare hue sansar mean ane par badhy kiya jahaan mayamoh mean phanse hue log apana kalushit jivan vyatit karate haian. us pavitr jal ki ek booand-keval ek hi booand mere mukh par chhi dak di gayi hai jisamean toone snan kiya tha. a, meri pyari bahin, a, aur apane bhaee ke gale lag ja jisaka hriday tera abhivadan karane ke lie t dap raha hai.'

yah kahakar papanashi ne baraangana ke sundar lalat ko apane hoanthoan se sparsh kiya.

isake bad vah chup ho gaya ki eeshvar svayan madhur, saantvanaparad shabdoan mean thayas ko apani dayaluta ka vishvas dilaye. aur 'pariyoan ke ramanik kuanj' mean thayas ki sisakiyoan ke siva, jo jaladhara ki kalakal dhvani se mil gayi thian, aur kuchh n sunaee diya.

vah isi bhaanti der tak roti rahi. ashruparavah ko rokane ka parayatn usane n kiya. yahaan tak ki usake habshi gulam sundar vastr; phooloan ke har aur bhaantibhaanti ke itr liye a pahuanche.

usane muskarane ki cheshta karake kaha-'are rone ka samay bilkul nahian raha. aansuoan se aankhean lal ho jati haian, aur unamean chitt ko vikal karane vala pushp vikas nahian rahata, chehare ka rang phika p d jata hai, varn ki komalata nasht ho jati hai. mujhe aj kee rasik mitroan ke sath bhojan karana hai. maian chahati hooan ki meri mukhachandr solahoan kala se chamake, kyoanki vahaan kee aisi striyaan ayeangi jo mere mukh par chinta ya glani ke chihn ko turant bhaanp jayeangi aur man mean parasann hoangi ki ab inaka saundary tho de hi dinoan ka aur mehaman hai, nayika ab parau़a hua chahati hai. ye gulam mera shrriangar karane aye haian. poojy pita ap kripaya doosare kamare mean ja baithie aur in donoan ko apana kam karane dijie. yah apane kam mean b de paravin aur kushal haian. maian unhean yathesht puraskar deti hooan. vah jo sone ki aangoothiyaan pahane haian aur jinake moti kese daant chamak rahe haian, use maianne paradhanamantri ki patni se liya hai.'

papanashi ki pahale to yah ichchha huee ki thayas ko is bhoj mean sammilit hone se yathashakti roke. par punah vichar kiya to vidit hua ki yah utavali ka samay nahian hai. varshoan ka jama hua manomaliny ek rag d se nahian door ho sakata. rog ka moolanash shanai:shanai:, kramakram se hi hoga. isalie usane dhamortsah ke badale buddhimatta se kam lene ka nishchay kiya aur poochha-vah kinakin manushyoan se bheant hogi ?

usane uttar diya-'pahale to vayovriddh kota se bheant hogi jo yahaan ke jalasena ke senapati haian. unhian ne yah davat di hai. nisiyas aur any darshanik bhi ayeange jinhean kisi vishay ki mimaansa karane hi mean sabase adhik anand parapt hota hai. inake atirikt kavisamajabhooshan kalikrant, aur devamandir ke adhyaksh bhi ayeange. kee yuvak hoange jinako gho de nikalane hi mean param anand ata hai aur kee striyaan mileangi jinake vishay mean isake sivay aur kuchh nahian kaha ja sakata ki ve yuvatiyaan haian.'

papanashi ne aisi utsukata se jane ki sammati di mano use akashavani huee hai. bola-'to avashy jao thayas, avashy jao. maian tumhean saharsh ajna deta hooan. lekin maian tera sath n chhodooanga. maian bhi is davat mean tumhare sath chalooanga. itana janata hooan ki kahaan bolana aur kahaan chup rahana chahie. mere sath rahane se tumhean koee asuvidha athava jheanp n hogi.'

donoan gulam abhi usako abhooshan pahana hi rahe the ki thayas khilakhilakar hans p di aur boli-'vah dhamarshram ke ek tapasvi ko mere paremiyoan mean dekhakar kaheange ?'

sanbandhit lekh

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