अलंकार उपन्यास भाग-5

chitr:Icon-edit.gif

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

papanashi ne ek nauka par baithakar, jo sirapiyan ke dhamarshram ke lie khadyapadarth liye ja rahi thi, apani yatra samapt ki aur nij sthan ko laut aya. jab vah kishti par se utara to usake shishy usaka svagat karane ke lie nadi tat par a pahuanche aur khushiyaan manane lage. kisi ne akash ki or hath uthaye, kisi ne dharati par sir jhukakar guru ke charanoan ko sparsh kiya. unhean pahale hi se apani guru ke kritakary hone ka atmajnan ho gaya tha. yogiyoan ko kisi gupt aur ajnat riti se apane dharm ki vijay aur gaurav ke samachar mil jate the, aur itani jald ki logoan ko ashchary hota tha. yah samachar bhi samast dhamarshramoan mean, jo us parant mean sthit the, aandhi ke veg ke sath phail gaya.

jab papanashi baluve marg par chala to usake shishy usake pichhepichhe eeshvarakirtan karate hue chale. leviyan us sanstha ka sabase vriddh sadasy tha. vah dhamornmatt hokar uchchasvar se yah svarachit git gane laga-

aj ka shubh din hai,

ki hamare poojy pita ne phir hamean god mean liya.

vah dharm ka sehara sir baandhe hue aye haian,

jisane hamara gaurav b़a diya hai.

kyoanki pita ka dharm hi,

santan ka yatharth dhan hai.

hamare pita ki sukirti ki jyoti se,

hamari kutiyoan mean parakash phail gaya hai.

hamare pita papanashi,

parabhu masih ke lie nayi ek dulhan laye haian.

apane alaukik tej aur siddhi se,

unhoanne ek kali bhe d ko.

jo aandheri ghatiyoan se marimari phirati thi,

ujali bhe d bana diya hai.

is bhaanti eesaee dharm ki dhvaja phaharate hue,

vah phir hamare oopar hath rakhane ke lie laut aye haian.

un madhumakkhiyoan ki bhaanti,

jo apane chhattoan se u d jati hai.

aur phir jangaloan se phooloan ki,

madhusudha liye hue lautati haian.

nyubiya ke mesh ki bhaanti,

jo apane hi oon ka bojh nahian utha sakata.

ham aj ke din anandotsav manayean,

apane bhojan mean tel ko chup dakar..

jab vah log papanashi ki kuti ke dvar par aye to sabake-sab ghutane tekakar baith gaye aur bole-'poojy pita ! hamean ashivard dijie aur hamean apani rotiyoan ko chup dane ke lie tho dasa tel paradan kijie ki ham apake kushalapoorvak laut ane par anand manayean.'

moorkh p aaul akela chupachap kh da raha. usane n ghat hi par anand parakat kiya tha, aur n is samay zamin par gira. vah papanashi ko pahachanata hi n tha aur sabase poochhata tha, 'yah kaun adami hai ?' lekin koee usaki or dhyan nahian deta tha, kyoanki sabhi janate the ki yadyapi yah siddhi parapt hai, par hai jnanashoony.

papanashi jab apani kuti mean savadhan hokar baitha to vichar karane laga-ant mean maian apane anand aur shanti ke uddisht sthan par pahuanch gaya. maian apane santosh se surakshit g mean paravisht ho gaya, lekin yah kya bat hai ki yah tinakoan ka jhoanp da jo mujhe itana piray hai, mujhe mitrabhav se nahian dekhata aur divarean mujhase harshit hokar nahian kahatian-'tera ana mubarak ho !' meri anupasthiti mean yahaan kisi parakar ka antar hota hua nahian dikh p data. jhoanp da jyoanka-tyoan hai, yahi purani mej aur meri purani khat hai. vah masaloan se bhara sir hai, jisane kitani hi bar mere man mean pavitr vicharoan ki pararena ki hai. vah pustak rakhi huee hai jisake dvara maianne saik doan bar eeshvar ka svaroop dekha hai. tis par bhi yah sabhi chizean n jane kyoan mujhe aparichitasi jan p dati haian, inaka vah svaroop nahian raha. aisa paratit hota hai ki unaki svabhavikata shobha ka apaharan ho gaya hai, mano mujh par unaka sneh hi nahian raha. aur maian pahali hi bar unhean dekh raha hooan. jab maian is mej aur is palang par, jo maianne kisi samay apane hathoan se banaye the, in masaloan se sukhaee khop di par, is bhojapatr ke pulindoan par jin par eeshvar ke pavitr vaky aankit haian, nigah dalata hooan to mujhe aisa jnat hota hai ki yah sab kisi mrit parani ki vastuean haian. inase itana ghanishth sambandh hone par bhi, inase ratadin ka sang rahane par bhi maian ab inhean pahachan nahian sakata. ah ! yah sab chizean jyoanki-tyoan haian inamean jara bhi parivartan nahian hua. atev mujhamean hi parivartan ho gaya hai, maian jo pahale tha vah ab nahian raha. maian koee aur hi parani hooan. maian hi mrit atma hooan ! he bhagavan ! yah kya rahasy hai ? mujhamean se kaunasi vastu lupt ho gayi hai, mujhamean ab kya shesh rah gaya hai ? maian kaun hooan ?

aur sabase b di ashanka ki bat yah thi ki man ko barabar is shanka ki nimoorlata ka vishvas dilane par bhi use aisa bhashit hota tha ki usaki kuti bahut tang ho gayi yadyapi dharmik bhav se use is sthan ko anant samajhana chahie tha, kyoanki anant ka bhag bhi anant hi hota hai, kyoanki yahian baithakar vah eeshvar ki anantata mean vilin ho jata tha.

usane is shanka ke damanarth dharati par sir rakhakar eeshvar ki pararthana ki aur isase usaka chitt shant hua. use pararthana karate hue ek ghanta bhi n hua hoga ki thayas ki chhaya usaki aankhoan ke samane se nikal gayi. usane eeshvar ko dhanyavad dekar kaha-parabhoo masih, teri hi kripa se mujhe usake darshan hue. yah teri asim daya aur anugarah hai, ise maian svikar karata hooan. too us parani ko mere sammukh bhejakar, jise maianne teri bheant kiya hai, mujhe santusht, parasann aur ashvast karana chahata hai. too use meri aankhoan ke samane parastut karata hai, kyoanki ab usaki muskan ni:shastr, usaka saundary nishkalank aur usake havabhav uddeshyahin ho gaye haian. mere dayalu patitapavan parabhu, too mujhe parasann karane ke nimitt use mere sammukh usi shuddh aur parimarjit svaroop mean lata hai jo maianne teri ichchhaoan ke anukool use diya hai, jaise ek mitr parasann hokar doosare mitr ko usake diye hue upahar ki yad dilata hai. is karan maian is stri ko dekhakar anandit hota hooan, kyoanki too hi isaka parekshak hai. too is bat ko nahian bhoolata ki maianne use tere charanoan par sarmipat kiya hai. usase tujhe anand parapt hota hai, isalie use apani seva mean rakh aur apane sivay kisi any parani ko usake saundary se mugdh n hone de.

use rat bhar niand nahian ayi aur thayas ko usane usase bhi spasht roop mean dekha jaise pariyoan ke kuanj mean dekha tha. usane in shabdoan mean apani atmastuti ki-maianne jo kuchh kiya hai, eeshvar hi ke nimitt kiya hai.

lekin is ashvasan aur pararthana par bhi usaka hriday vikal tha. usane ah bharakar kaha-'meri atma, too kyoan itani shokasakt hai, aur kyoan mujhe yah yatana de rahi hai ?'

ab bhi usake chitt ki udvignata shant n huee. tin din tak vah aise mahanh shok aur duahkh ki avastha mean p da raha jo ekantavasi yogiyoan ki dussah parikshaoan ka poorvalakshan hai. thayas ki soorat athoan pahar usaki aankhoan ke age phira karati. vah ise apani aankhoan ke samane se hatana bhi n chahata tha, kyoanki ab tak vah samajhata tha ki yah mere oopar eeshvar ki vishesh kripa hai aur vastav mean yah ek yogini ki moorti hai. lekin ek din parabhat ki sushuptavastha mean usane thayas ko svapn mean dekha. usake keshoan par pushpoan ka mukut viraj raha tha aur usaka madhury hi bhayavah jnat hota tha ki vah bhayabhit hokar chikh utha aur jaga to thande pasine se tar tha, mano barf ke kuand mean se nikala ho. usaki aankheanan bhay ki nidra se bhari ho rahi thian ki use apane mukh par garmagarm saansoan ke chalane ka anubhav hua. ek chhotasa gid d usaki charapaee ki patti par donoan agale pair rakhe haanphahaanphakar apani durgandhayukt saansean usake mukh par chho d raha tha, aur use daant nikalanikalakar dikha raha tha.

papanashi ko atyant vismay hua. use aisa jan p da, mere pairoan ke niche ki zamin dhans gayi. aur vastav mean vah patit ho gaya tha. kuchh der tak to usamean vichar karane ki shakti hi n rahi aur jab vah phir sachet bhi hua to dhyan aur vichar se usaki ashanti aur bhi b़ gee.

usane socha-in do batoan mean se ek bat hai ya to vah svapn ki bhaanti eeshvar ka parerit kiya hua tha aur shubhasvapn tha, aur yah meri svabhavik duburddhi hai jisane use yah bhayankar roop de diya hai, jaise gande pyale mean aangoor ka ras khatta ho jata hai, maianne apane ajnanavash eeshvariy adesh ko eeshvariy tiraskar ka roop de diya aur is gid d roopi shaitan ne meri shankanvit dasha se labh uthaya, athava is svapn ka parerak eeshvar nahian, pishach tha. aisi dasha mean yah shanka hoti hai ki pahale ke svapnoan ko devakrit samajhane mean meri bharaanti thi. saraansh yah ki is samay mujhamean vah dhamardharm ka jnan nahian raha jo tapasvi ke lie paramavashyak hai aur jisake bina usake pagapag par thokar khane ki ashanka rahati hai ki eeshvar mere sath nahian raha-jisake kuphal maian bhog raha hooan, yadyapi usake karan nahian nishchit kar sakata.

is bhaanti tark karake usane b di glani ke sath jijnasa ki-dayalu pita! too apane bhakt se kya parayashchit karana chahata hai, yadi usaki bhavanaean hi usaki aankhoan par parada dal dean, durbhavanaean hi use vyathit karane lagean ? maian kyoan aise lakshanoan ka spashtikaran nahian kar deta jisake dvara mujhe maloom ho jaya kare ki teri ichchha kya hai, aur kyoan tere paratipakshi ki ?

kintu eeshvar ne, jisaki maya abhedy hai, apane is bhakt ki ichchha poori n ki or use atmajnan n paradan kiya to usane shanka aur bharaanti vashibhoot hokar nishchay kiya ab maian thayas ki or man ko jane hi n dooanga. lekin usaka yah parayatn nishphal hua. usase door rahakar bhi thayas nitay usake sath rahati thi. jab vah kuchh pॄta tha, eeshvar ka dhyan karata tha to vah samane baithi usaki or takati rahati, vah jidhar nigah dalata, use usi ki moorti dikhaee deti, yahaan tak ki upasana ke samay bhi vah usase juda n hoti. jyoanhi vah papanashi ke kalpana kshetr mean padarpan karati, vah yogi ke kanoan mean kuchh dhimi avaz sunaee deti, jaisi striyoan ke chalane ke samay unake vastroan se nikalati hai, aur in chhayaoan mean yatharth se bhi adhik sthirata hoti thi. smritichitr asthir, ajnik aur aspasht hota hai. isake paratikool ekant mean jo chhaya upasthit hoti hai, vah sthir aur sudirgh hoti hai. isake paratikool ekant mean jo chhaya upasthit hoti hai, vah sthir aur sudirgh hoti hai. vah nana parakar ke roop badalakar usake samane ati-kabhi malinavadan keshoan mean apani antim pushpamala gooanthe, vahi sunahare kam ke vastr dharan kiye jo usane iskandriya mean kota ke paritibhoj ke avasar par pahane the, kabhi mahin vastr pahane pariyoan ke kuanj mean baithi huee, kabhi mota kurata pahane, virakt aur adhyatmik anand se vikasit, kabhi shok mean doobi aankheanan mrityu ki bhayankar ashankaoan se dabadabaee huee, apana avaranahin hridayasthal khole, jis par ahatahriday se raktadhara paravahit hokar jam gayi thi. in chhayamoortiyoan mean use jis bat ka sabase adhik khed aur vismay hota tha vah yah thi ki vah pushpamalaean, vah sundar vastr, vah mahin chadarean, vah jari ke kam ki kurtiyaan jo usane jala dali thian, phir jaise laut ayian. use ab yah vidit hota tha ki in vastuoan mean bhi koee avinashi atma hai aur usane antaverdana se vikal hokar kaha-

'kaisi vipatti hai ki thayas ke asankhy papoan ki atmaean yoan mujh par atrkaman kar rahi haian.'

jab usane pichhe ki or dekha to use jnat hua ki thayas kh di hai, aur isase usaki ashanti aur bhi b़ gee. asahy atmavedana hone lagi lekin chooanki in sab shankaoan aur dushkalpanaoan mean bhi usaki chhaya aur man donoan hi pavitr the, isalie use eeshvar par vishvas tha. atev vah in karun shabdoan mean anunayavinay karata tha-bhagavanh, teri mujh par yah akripa kyoan ? yadi maian unaki khoj mean vidharmiyoan ke bich gaya, to tere lie, apane lie nahian. kya yah anyay nahian hai ki mujhe un karmoan ka dand diya jaye jo maianne tera mahatmy b़ane ke nimitt kiye haian ? pyare masih, ap is ghor anyay se meri raksha kijie. mere trata, mujhe bachaie. deh mujh par jo vijay parapt n kar saki, vah vijayakirti usaki chhaya ko n paradan kijie. maian janata hooan ki maian is samay mahasankatoan mean p da hua hooan. mera jivan itana shankamay kabhi n tha. maian janata hooan aur anubhav karata hooan ki svapn mean paratyaksh se adhik shakti hai aur yah koee ashchary ki bat nahian, kyoanki svapn mean svayan atmik vastu hone ke karan bhautik vastu hone ke karan bhautik vastuoan se uchchatar hai. svapn vastav mean vastuoan ki atma hai. pleto yadyapi moortivadi tha, tathapi usane vicharoan ke astitv ko svikar kiya hai. bhagavan narapishachoan ke us bhoj mean jahaan too mere sath tha, maianne manushyoan ko-vah papamalin avashy the, kintu koee unhean vichar aur buddhi se rahit nahian kah sakata-is bat par sahamat hote suna ki yogiyoan ko ekant, dhyan aur param anand ki avastha mean paratyaksh vastuean dikhaee deti haian. param pita, apane pavitr garanth svayan kitani hi bar svapn ke gunoan ko aur chhayamoortiyoan ki shaktiyoan ko, chahe vah teri or se hoan ya tere shatru ki or se, spasht aur kee sthanoan par svikar kiya hai. phir yadi maian bharaanti mean ja p da to mujhe kyoan itana kasht diya ja raha hai ?

pahale papanashi eeshvar se tark n karata tha. vah nirapad bhav se usake adeshoan ka palan karata tha. par ab usamean ek naye bhav ka vikas hua-usane eeshvar se parashn aur shankaean karani shuroo kian, kintu eeshvar ne use vah parakash n dikhaya jisaka vah ichchhuk tha. usaki ratean ek dirgh svapn hoti thian, aur usake din bhi is vishay mean ratoan hi ke sadrish hote the. ek rat vah jaga to usake mukh se aisi pashchattapapoorn ahean nikal rahi thian, jaisi chaandani rat mean papahat manushyoan ki kabaroan se nikala karati haian. thayas a pahuanchi thi, aur usake jakhmi pairoan se khoon bah raha tha. kintu papanashi rone laga ki vah dhire se usaki charapaee par akar let gayi. ab koee sandeh n raha, sari shankaean nivritt ho gayian. thayas ki chhaya vasanayukt thi.

usake man mean ghrina ki ek lahar uthi. vah apani apavitr shaiya se jhapatakar niche kood p da aur apana muanh donoan hathoan se chhipa liya ki soory ka parakash n p dane paye. din ki gh diyaan gujarati jati thian, kintu usaki lajja aur glani shant n hoti thi. kuti mean poori shanti thi. aj bahut dinoan ke pashchath paratham bar thayas ko ekant mila. akhir mean chhaya ne bhi usaka sath chho d diya, aur ab usaki vilinata bhi bhayankar paratit hoti thi. is svapn ko vismrit karane ke lie, is vichar se usake man ko hatane ke lie ab koee avalamb, koee sadhan, koee sahara nahian tha. usane apane ko dhikkara-maianne kyoan use bhaga n diya ? maianne apane ko usake ghrinit aliangan aur tapamay karoan se kyoan n chhu da liya ?

ab vah us bharasht charapaee ke samip eeshvar ka nam lene ka bhi sahas n kar sakata tha, aur use yah bhay hota tha ki kuti ke apavitr ho jane ke karan pishachagan svechchhanusar andar paravisht ho jayeange, unake rokane ka mere pas ab kaunasa mantr raha ? aur usaka bhay nimoorl n tha. vah satoan gid d jo kabhi usaki chaukhat ke bhitar n a sake the, ab katar baandhakar aye aur bhitar akar usake palang ke niche chhip gaye. sandhya pararthana ke samay ek aur athavaan gid d bhi aya, jisaki durgandh asahy thi. doosare din navaan gid d bhi unamean a mila aur unaki sankhya b़tebadhate tis se sath aur sath se assi tak pahuanch gayi. jaisejaise unaki sankhya b़ti thi, unaka ahar chhota hota jata tha, yahaan tak ki vah choohoan ke barabar ho gaye aur sari kuti mean phail gaye-palang, mej, tipaee, pharsh ek bhi unase khali n bacha. unamean se ek mej par kood gaya aur usake takiye par charoan pair rakhakar papanashi ke mukh ki or jalati huee aankhoan se dekhane laga. nity nayenaye gid d ane lage.

apane svapn ke bhishan pap ka parayashchit karane aur bharasht vicharoan se bachane ke lie papanashi ne nishchay kiya ki apani kuti se nikal jaooan to ab pap ka basera ban gayi hai aur marubhoomi mean door jakar kathinase-kathin tapasyaean karuan, aisiaisi siddhiyoan mean rat ho jaooan jo kisi ne suni bhi n hoan, paropakar aur udghar ke path par aur bhi utsah se chalooan. lekin is nishchay ko karyaroop mean lane se pahale vah sant palam ke pas usase paramarsh karane gaya.

usane palam ko apane bagiche mean paudhoan ko sianchate hue paya. sandhya ho gayi thi. nil nadi ki nili dhara ooanche parvatoan ke daman mean bah rahi thi. vah sattvik hriday vriddh sadhu dhiredhire chal raha tha ki kahian vah kabootar chauankakar u d n jaye jo usake kandhe par a baitha tha.

papanashi ko dekhakar usane kaha-'bhaee papanashi ko namaskar karata hooan. dekho, param pita kitana dayalu hai; vah mere pas apane rache hue pashuoan ko bhejata hai ki maian unake sath unaka kirtigan karuan aur hava mean u dane vale pakshiyoan ko dekhakar unaki anantalila ka anand uthaooan. is kabootar ko dekho, usaki gardan ke badalate hue rangoan ko dekho, kya vah eeshvar ki sundar rachana nahian hai ? lekin tum to mere pas kisi dharmik vishay par batean karane aye ho n ? yah lo, maian apana dol rakhe deta hooan aur tumhari batean sunane ko taiyar hooan.'

papanashi ne vriddh sadhu se apani iskandriya ki yatra, thayas ke udghar, vahaan se lautane-dinoan ki dooshit kalpanaoan aur ratoan ke duahsvapnoan-ka sara vrittant kah sunaya. us rat ke papasvapn aur gid doan ke jhuand ki bat bhi n chhipaee aur tab usase poochha-'poojy pita, kya aisiaisi asadharan yogitrkayaean karani chahie ki paretaraj bhi chakit ho jayean ?'

palam sant ne uttar diya-'bhaee papanashi, maian kshudr papi purush hooan aur apana sara jivan bagiche mean hiranoan, kabootaroan aur kharahoan ke sath vyatit karane ke karan, mujhe manushyoan ka bahut kam jnan hai. lekin mujhe aisa paratit hota hai ki tumhari dushchintaoan ka karan kuchh aur hi hai. tum itane dinoan tak vyavaharik sansar mean rahane ke bad yakayak nirjan shaanti mean a gaye hoan. aise akasmik parivartanoan se atma ka svasthy big d jaye to ashchary ki bat nahian. bandhuvar, tumhari dasha us parani kisi hai jo ek hi kshan mean atyadhik tap se shit mean a pahuanche. use turant khaansi aur jvar gher lete haian. bandhu, tumhare lie meri yah salah hai ki kisi nirjan marusthal mean jane ke badale, manabahalav ke aise kam karo jo tapasviyoan aur sadhuoan ke sarvatha yogy haian. tumhari jagah maian hota to samipavarti dhamarshramoan ki sair karata. inamean se kee dekhane ke yogy haian, log unaki b di parashansa karate haian. siraipiyan ke rrishigrih mean ek hazar char sau battis kutiyaan bani huee haian, aur tapasviyoan ko utane vargoan mean vibhakt kiya gaya hai jitane akshar yoonani lipi mean haian. mujhase logoan ne yah bhi kaha hai ki is vagirkaran mean akshar, akar aur sadhakoan ki manovrittiyoan mean ek parakar ki anuroopata ka dhyan rakha jata hai. udaharanatah vah log jo r varg ke antargat rakhe jate haian chanchal parakriti ke hote haian, aur jo log shantaparakriti ke haian vah p ke antargat rakhe jate haian. bandhuvar, tumhari jagah maian hota to apani aankhoan se is rahasy ko dekhata aur jab tak aise adbhut sthan ki sair n kar leta, chain n leta. kya tum ise adbhut nahian samajhate ? kisi ki manovrittiyoan ka anuman kar lena kitana kathin hai aur jo log nimn shreni mean rakha jana svikar kar lete haian, vah vastav mean sadhu haian, kyoanki unaki atmashuddhi ka lakshy unake samane rahata hai. vah janate haian ki ham kis bhaanti jivan vyatit karane se saral aksharoan ke antargat ho sakate haian. isake atirikt varatadhariyoan ke dekhane aur manan karane yogy aur bhi kitani hi batean haian. maian bhinnabhinn sangatoan ko jo nil nadi ke tat par phaili huee haian, avashy dekhata, unake niyamoan aur sidghantoan ka avalokan karata, ek ashram ki niyamavali ki doosare se tulana karata ki unamean kya antar hai, kya dosh hai, kya gun hai. tum jaisi dhamartma purush ke lie yah alochana sarvatha yogy hai. tumane logoan se yah avashy hi suna hoga ki rrishi enpharem ne apane ashram ke lie b de utkrisht dharmik niyamoan ki rachana ki hai. unaki ajna lekar tum is niyamavali ki nakal kar sakate ho kyoanki tumhare akshar b de sundar hote haian. maian nahian likh sakata kyoanki mere hath phav da chalatechalate itane kathor ho gaye haian ki unamean patali kalam ko bhojapatr par chalane ki kshamata hi nahian rahi. likhane ke lie hathoan ka komal hona zaroori hai. lekin bandhuvar, tum to likhane mean chatur ho, aur tumhean eeshvar ko dhanyavad dena chahie ki usane tumhean yah vidya paradan ki, kyoanki sundar lipiyoan ki jitani parashansa ki jaye tho di hai. garanthoan ki nakal karana aur pॄna bure vicharoan se bachane ka bahut hi uttam sadhan haian. bandhu papanashi, tum hamare shraddhey rrishiyoan, palam aur entoni ke sadupadeshoan ko lipibaddh kyoan nahian kar dalate ? aise dharmik kamoan mean lage rahane se shanai:shainah tum chitt aur atma ki shaanti ko punah labh kar loge, phir ekaant tumhean sukhad jan p dega aur shighar hi tum is yogy ho jaoge ki atmashuddhi ki un trihkayaoan mean paravritt ho jaoge jinamean tumhari yatra ne vighn dal diya tha. lekin kathin kashtoan aur damanakari vedanaoan ke sahan se tumhean bahut asha n rakhani chahie. jab pita entoni hamare bich mean the to kaha karate the-'bahut varat rakhane se durbalata ati hai aud durbalata se alasy paida hota hai. kuchh aise tapasvi haian jo kee dinoan tak lagatar anashan varat rakh apane sharir ko chaupat kar dalate haian. unake vishay mean yah kahana sarvatha saty hai ki vah apane hi hathoan se apani chhati par katar mar lete haian aur apane ko kisi parakar ki rukavat ke shaitan ke hathoan mean sauanp dete haian.' yah us punitatma entoni ke vichar the ! maian ajnani moorkh buddha hooan; lekin guru ke mukh se jo kuchh suna tha vah ab tak yad hai.'

papanashi ne palam sant ko is shubhadesh ke lie dhanyavad diya aur us par vichar karane ka vada kiya. jab vah usase vida hokar narakatoan ke ba de ke bahar a gaya jo bagiche ke charoan or bana hua tha, to usane pichhe phirakar dekha. saral, jivanmukt sadhu palam paudhoan ko pani de raha tha, aur usaki jhuki huee kamar par kabootar baitha usake sathasath ghoomata tha. is drishy ko dekhakar papanashi ro p da.

apani kuti mean jakar usane ek vichitr drishy dekha. aisa jan p data tha ki aganit balukaran kisi parachand aandhi se u dakar kuti mean phail gaye haian. jab usane jara dhyan se dekha to paratyek balukaran yatharth mean ek ati sookshm akar ka gid d tha, sari kuti shriangalamay ho gayi thi.

usi rat ko papanashi ne svapn dekha ki ek bahut ooancha patthar ka stambh hai, jisake shikhar par ek adami ka chehara dikhaee de raha hai. usake kan mean kahian se yah avaz ayi-is stambh par ch़ !

papanashi jaga to use nishchay hua ki yah svapn mujhe eeshvar ki or se hua hai. usane apane shishyoan ko bulaya aur unako in shabdoan mean sambodhit kiya-'piray putro, mujhe adesh mila hai ki tumase phir vida maangoo aur jahaan eeshvar le jaye vahaan jaooan. meri anupasthiti mean leviyan ki ajnaoan ko meri hi ajnaoan ki bhaanti manana aur bandhu palam ki raksha karate rahana. eeshvar tumhean shaanti de. namaskar !'

jab vah chala to usake sabhi shishy sashtaang dandavat karane lage aur jab unhoanne sir uthaya to unhean apane guru ki lasbi, shyamamoorti kshitij mean vilin hoti huee dikhaee di.

vah rat aur din avishrant chalata raha. yahaan tak ki vah us mandir mean ja pahuancha, jo parachin kal mean moortipoojakoan ne banaya tha aur jisamean vah apani vichitr poorvayatra mean ek rat soya tha. ab is mandir ka bhagnavashesh matr rah gaya tha aur sarp, bichchhoo, chamagad d adi jantuoan ke atirikt paret bhi isamean apana adda banaye hue the. divarean jin par jadoo ke chihn bane hue the, abhi tak kh di thian. tis vrihadakar stambh jinake shikharoan par manushy ke sir athava kamal ke phool bane hue the, abhi tak ek bhari chabootare ko uthaye hue the. lekin mandir ke ek sire par ek stambh is chabootare ke bich se sarak gaya tha aur ab akela kh da tha. isaka kalash ek stri ko muskarata hua mukhamandal tha. usaki aankheanan lambi thian, kapol bhare hue, aur mastak par gay ki siangean thian.

papanashi ne stambh ko dekhate hi pahachan gaya ki yah vah stambh hai jise usane svapn mean dekha tha aur usane anuman kiya ki isaki ooanchaee battis hathoan se kam n hogi. vah nikat gaanv mean gaya aur utani hi ooanchi ek si़i banaee aur jab si़i taiyar ho gayi to vah stambh se lagakar kh di ki gayi. vah us par ch़a aur shikhar par jakar usane bhoomi par mastak navakar yoan pararthana ki-'bhagavanh, yahi vah sthan hai jo toone mere lie bataya hai. meri param ichchha hai ki maian yahian teri daya ki chhaya mean jivanaparyant rahooan.'

vah apane sath bhojan ki samagirayaan n laya tha. use bharosa tha ki eeshvar meri sudhi avashy lega aur yah asha thi ki gaanv ke bhaktiparayan jan mere khanepine ka parabandh kar deange aur aisa bhi. doosare din tisare pahar striyaan apane balakoan ke sath rotiyaan, chhuhare aur taja pani liye hue ayian, jise balakoan ne stambh ke shikhar par pahuancha diya.

stambh ka kalash itana chau da n tha ki papanashi us par pair phailakar let sakata, isalie vah pairoan ko nicheoopar kiye, sir chhati par rakhakar sota tha aur nidra jagrit rahane se bhi adhik kashtadayak thi. paratahkal ukab apane pairoan se use sparsh karata tha aur vah nidra, bhay tatha aangavedana se pi dit uth baithata tha.

sanyog se jis b़ee ne yah si़i banayi thi, vah eeshvar ka bhakt tha. use yah dekhakar chinta huee ki yogi ko varsha aur dhoop se kasht ho raha hai. aur is bhay se ki kahian nidra mean vah niche n gir p de, us punyatma purush ne stambh ke shikhar par chhat aur kathaghara bana diya.

tho de hi dinoan mean us asadharan vyakti ki chachar gaanvoan mean phailane lagi aur ravivar ke din shramajiviyoan ke dalake-dal apani striyoan aur bachchoan ke sath usake darshanarth ane lage. papanashi ke shishyoan ne jab suna ki guruji ne is vichitr sthan mean sharan li hai to vah chakit hue, aur usaki seva mean upasthit hokar usase stambh ke niche apani kutiya banane ki ajna parapt ki. nityaparati paratahkal vah akar apane svami ke charoan or kh de ho jate aur usake sadupadesh sunate the.

vah unhean sikhata tha-piray putro, unhian nanhean balakoan ke saman ban raho jinhean parabhu masih pyar kiya karate the. vahi mukti ka marg hai. vasana hi sab papoan ka mool hai. vah vasana se usi bhaanti utpann hote haian jaise santan pita se. ahankar, lobh, alasy, trkodh aur eershyar unaki piray santan haian. maianne iskandriya mean yahi kutil vyapar dekha. maianne dhan sampann purushoan ko kucheshtaoan mean paravahit hote dekha hai jo us nadi ki ba़ ki bhaanti haian jisamean maila jal bhara ho. vah unhean duahkh ki kha di mean baha le jata hai.

epharayam aur sirapiyan ke adhishthataoan ne is adbhut tapasya ka samachar suna to usake darshanoan se apane netroan ko kritarth karane ki ichchha parakat ki. unaki nauka ke trikon paloan ko door se nadi mean ate dekhakar papanashi ke man mean anivaryatah yah vichar utpann hua ki eeshvar ne mujhe ekant se bhi yogiyoan ke lie adarsh bana diya hai. donoan mahatmaoan ne jab use dekha to unhean b da kutoohal hua aur apas mean paramarsh karake unhoanne sarvasammati se aisi amanushik ko tapasya ka tyajy thaharaya. atev unhoanne papanashi se niche utar ane ka anurodh kiya.

vah bola-'yah jivanaparanali paramparagat vyavahar ke sarvatha viruddh hai. dharmasidghant isaki ajna nahian dete.'

lekin papanashi ne uttar diya-'yogi jivan ke niyamoan aur paramparagat vyavaharoan ki paravah nahian karata. yogi svayan asadharan vyakti hota hai, isalie yadi usaka jivan bhi asadharan ho to ashchary ki kya bat hai. maian eeshvar ki parerana se yahaan ch़a hooan. usi ke adesh se utaruanga.'

nityaparati dharm ke ichchhuk akar papanashi ke shishy banate aur usi stambh ke niche apani kutiya banate the. unamean se kee shishyoan ne apane guru ka anukaran karane ke lie mandir ke doosare stambhoan par ch़kar tap karana shuroo kiya. par jab unake any sahacharoan ne isaki ninda ki, aur vah svayan dhoop aur kasht n sah sake, to niche utar aye.

desh ke any bhagoan se papiyoan aur bhaktoan ke jattheke-jatthe ane lage. unamean se kitane hi bahut door se ate the. unake sath bhojan ki koee vastu n hoti thi. ek vridgha vidhava ko soojhi ki unake hath taja pani, kharabooze adi phal beche jayean to labh ho. stambh ke samip hi usane mitti ke kulh d jama kiye. ek nili chadar tanakar usane niche phaloan ki tokariyaan sajaeean aur pichhe kh di hokar haank lagane lagi-thanda pani, taja phal, jise khana ya pani pina ho chala ave. isaki dekhadekhi ek nanabaee tho disi lal eeantean laya aur samip hi apana tandoor banaya. isamean sadi aur khamiri rotiyaan seankakar vah garahakoan ko khilata tha. yatriyoan ki sankhya dinaparatidin b़ne lagi. mistr desh ke b deb de shaharoan se bhi log ane lage. yah dekhakar ek lobh adami ne musaphiroan aur naukaroan, ooantoan, khachcharoan adi ko thaharane ke lie ek saray banavaee. tho de hi din mean us stambh ke samane ek bazar lag gaya jahaan madue apani machhaliyaan aur kisan apane phalameve lalakar bechane lage. ek naee bhi a pahuancha jo kisi vriksh ki chhaanh mean baithakar yatriyoan ki hajamat banata tha aur dillagi ki batean karake logoan ko hansata tha. purana mandir itane din uj de rahane ke bad phir abad hua. jahaan ratadin nirjanata aur niravata ka adhipaty rahata tha, vahaan ab jivan ke drishy aur chihn dikhaee dene lage. haradam chahalapahal rahati. bhathiyaroan ne purane mandir ke tahakhanoan ke sharabakhane bana diye aur stambh par papanashi ke chitr latakakar usake niche yoonani aur mistri lipiyoan mean yah vijnapan laga diye-'anar ki sharab, aanjir ki sharab aur silisiya ki sachchi jau ki sharab yahaan milati hai.' dukanadaroan ne un divaroan par jin par pavitr aur sundar belaboote aankit kiye hue the, rassiyoan se gooanthakar pyaj lataka diye. tali huee machhaliyaan, mare hue kharahe aur bhe doan ki lashean sajaee huee dikhaee dene lagian. sandhya samay is khandahar ke purane nivasi arthath choohe saph baandhakar nadi ki or dau date aur bagule sandehatmak bhav se mardan uthakar ooanchi karanisoan par baith jate; lekin vahaan bhi unhean pakashalaoan ke dhuean, sharabiyoan ke shoragul aur sharab bechane valoan ki haankapukar se chain n milata. charoan taraph kothi valoan ne s dakean, makan, charch dharmashalaean aur rrishiyoan ke ashram banava diye. chhah mahine n gujarane paye the ki vahaan ek achchhakhasa shahar bas gaya, jahaan rakshakari vibhag, nyay, karagar, sabhi ban gaye aur vriddh muanshi ne ek pathashala bhi khol li. jangal mean mangal ho gaya, oosar mean bag laharane laga.

yatriyoan ka ratadin taanta laga rahata. shainahshainah eesaee dharm ke paradhan padadhikari bhi shradgha ke vashibhoot hokar ane lage. aintiyok ka paradhan jo us samay sanyog se mistr mean tha, apane samast anuyayiyoan ke sath aya. usane papanashi ke asadharan tap ki muktakanth se parashansa ki. mistr ke any uchch maharathiyoan ne is sammati ka anumodan kiya. epharayam aur sirapiyan ke adhyakshoan ne yah bat suni to unhoanne papanashi ke pas akar usake charanoan par sir jhukaya aur pahale is tapasya ke viruddh jo vichar parakat kiye the unake lie lajjit hue aur kshama maangi. papanashi ne uttar diya-'bandhuoan, yatharth yah hai ki maian jo tapasya kar raha hooan vah keval un paralobhanoan aur durichchhaoan ke nivaran ke lie hai jo sarvatr mujhe ghere rahate haian aur jinaki sankhya tatha shakti ko dekhakar maian dahal uthata hooan. manushy ka bahyaroop bahut hi sookshm aur svalp hota hai. is ooanche shikhar par se maian manushyoan ki chiantiyoan ke saman zamin par reangate dekhata hooan. kintu manushy ko andar se dekho to yah anant aur apar hai. vah sansar ke samakar hai kyoanki sansar usake antargat hai. mere samane jo kuchh hai-yah ashray, yah atithishalaean, nadi par tairane vali naukaean, yah garam khet, vanupavan, nadiyaan, naharean, parvat, marusthal vah usaki tulana nahian kar sakate jo mujhamean hai. maian apane virat antasthal mean asankhy nagaroan aur simashoony parvatoan ko chhipaye hue hooan, aur is virat antasthal par ichchhaean usi bhaanti achchhadit haian jaise nisha prithvi par achchhadit ho jati hai. maian, keval maian, avichar ek jagath hooan.'

satavean mahine mean iskandriya se bubestis aur sayam nam ki do vandhya striyaan, is lalasa mean ayian ki mahatma ke ashivard aur stambh ke alaukik gunoan se unake santan hogi. apani oosar deh ko patthar se rag da. in striyoan ke pichhe jahaan tak nigah pahuanchati thi, rathoan, palakiyoan aur doliyoan ka ek juloos chala ata tha jo stambh ke pas akar ruk gaya aur is devapurush ke darshan ke lie dhakkadhakka karane laga. in savariyoan mean se aise rogi nikale jinako dekhakar hriday kaanp uthata tha. mataean aise balakoan ko layi thian jinake aang te़e ho gaye the, aankheanan nikal ayi thian aur gale baith gaye the. papanashi ne unaki deh par apana hath rakha. tab andhe, hathoan se tatolate, papanashi ki or do raktamay chhidroan se takate hue aye. pakshaghat pi dit paraniyoan ne apane gatishoony sookhe tatha sankuchit aangoan ki papanashi ke sammukh upasthit kiya. lang doan ne apani taangean dikhayian. kachhuee ke rog vali striyaan donoan hathoan se apani chhati ko dabaye hue ayi aur usake samane apane jarjar vaksh khol diye. jalodar ke rogi, sharab ke pipoan ki bhaanti phoole hue, usake samamukh bhoomi par letaye gaye. papanashi ne in samast rogi paraniyoan ko ashivard diya. philapaanv se pi dit habshi sanbhalasanbhalakar chalate hue aye aur usaki or karun netroan se takane lage. usane unake oopar salib ka chihn bana diya. ek yuvati b di door se doli mean layi gayi thi. rakt ugalane ke bad tin din se usane aankheanan n kholi thian. vah ek mom ki moorti ki bhaanti dikhati thi aur usake matapita ne use murda samajhakar usaki chhati par khajoor ki ek patti rakh di thi. papanashi ne jyoanhi eeshvar se pararthana ki, yuvati ne sir uthaya aur aankheanan khol dian.

yatriyoan ne apane ghar lotakar in siddhiyoan ki chachar ki to miragi ke rogi bhi dau de. mistr ke sabhi parantoan se aganit rogi akar jama ho gaye. jyoanhi unhoanne yah stambh dekha to moorchhit ho gaye, zamin par lautane lage aur unake hathapair ak d gaye. yadyapi yah kisi ko vishvas n ayega, kintu vahaan jitane adami maujood the, sabake-sab baukhala uthe aur rogiyoan ki bhaanti kulaanchean khane lage. pandit aur pujari, stri aur purush sabake-sab taleoopar lotanepotane lage. saboan ke aang ak de hue the, muanh se phichakur bahata tha, mitti se mutthiyaan bharabharakar phaankate aur anargal shabd muanh se nikalate the.

papanashi ne shikhar par se yah kutoohalajanak drishy dekha to usake samast sharir mean viplavasa hone laga. usane eeshvar se pararthana ki-'bhagavanh', maian hi chho da hua bakara hooan, aur maian apane oopar in sare paraniyoan ke papoan ka bhar leta hooan, aur yahi karan hai ki mera sharir paretoan aur pishachoan se bhara hua hai.'

jab koee rogi changa hokar jata tha to log usaka svagat karate the, usaka lujoos nikalate the, baje bajate, phool u date aur usake ghar tak pahuanchate the, aur lakhoan kanthoan se yah dhvani nikalati thi-'hamare parabhu masih phir avatarit hue !'

baisakhiyoan ke sahare chalane vale durbal rogi jab arogy labh kar lete the to apani baisakhiyaan isi stambh mean lataka dete the. hajaroan baisakhiyaan latakati huee dikhaee deti thian aur paratidin unaki sankhya b़ti hi jati thi. apani murad pane vali striyaan phool ki mala lataka deti thian. kitane hi yoonani yatriyoan ne papanashi ke parati shradghamay dohe aankit kar diye. jo yatri ata tha, vah stambh par apana nam aankit kar deta tha. atev stambh par jahaan tak adami ke hath pahuanch sakate the, us samay ki samast lipiyoan-laitin, yoonani, mistri, ibarani, surayani aur jandi-ka vichitr sammishran drishtigochar tha.

jab eestar ka utsav aya to is chamatkaroan aur siddhiyoan ke nagar mean itani bhi dabha d huee deshadeshantaroan ke yatriyoan ka aisa jamaghat hua ki b deb de buddhe kahate ki purane jadoogaroan ke din phir laut aye. sabhi parakar ke manushy, nana parakar ke vastr pahane hue vahaan najar ate the. mistranivasiyoan ke dharidar kap de, araboan mean ile pajame, habshiyoan ke shvet jaanghie, yoonaniyoan ke ooanche chuge, romanivasiyoan ke niche labade, asabhy jatiyoan ke lal suthane aur veshyaoan ki kimakhab ki peshavajean, bhaantibhaanti ki topiyoan, mu dasoan, kamarabandoan aur jootoan-in sabhi kalevaroan ki jhaankiyaan mil jati thian. kahian koee mahila muanh par nakab dale, gadhe par savar chali jati thi, jisake agoge habshi khoje musaphiroan ko hatane ke lie chh diyaan ghumate, 'hato, bacho, rasta do' ka shor machate rahate the. kahian bajigaroan ke khel hote the. bajigar jamiann par ek jajim bichhaye, maun darshakoan ke saman adbhut chhalaangean marata aur bhaantibhaanti ke karatab dikhata tha. kabhi rassi par ch़kar tali bajata, kabhi baans ga dakar us par ch़ jata aur shikhar par sir niche pair oopar karake kh da ho jata. kahian madariyoan ke khel the, kahian bandaroan ke nach, kahian bhaluoan ki bhaddi nakalean. sapere pitariyoan mean se saanp nikalakar dikhate, hatheli par bichchhoo dikhate aur saanp ka vish utarane vali j di bechate the. kitana shor tha, kitana dhool, kitani chakamadamak. kahian ooantavan ooantoan ko pit raha hai. aur jorajor se galiyaan de raha hai, kahian phehari vale gali mean ek jholi latakaye chillachillakar ko़ ki batijean aur bhootaparet adi vyadhiyoan ke mantr bechate phirate haian, kahian sadhugan svar milakar baibil ke bhajan ga rahe haian, kahian bhe dean mimiya rahi haian kahian gadhe raneang rahe haian, mallah yatriyoan ko pukarate haian 'der mat karo !' kahian bhinnabhinn parantoan ki striyaan apane khoye hue balakoan ko pukar rahi haian, koee rota hai aur kahian khushi mean log atishabaji chho date haian. in samast dhvaniyoan ke milane se aisa shor hota tha ki kan ke parade phate jate the. aur in sabase parabal dhvani un habshi l dakoan ki thi jo gale pha dakar khajoor bechate phirate the. aur in samast janasamooh ko khule hue maidan mean bhi saans lene ko hava n mayassar hoti thi. striyoan ke kap doan ki mahak, habshiyoan ke vastroan ki durgandh, khana pakane ke dhuean, aur kapoor, lohaban adi ki sugandh se, jo bhaktajan mahatma papanashi ke sammukh jalate the, samast vayumandal dooshit ho gaya tha, logoan ke dam ghutane lagate the.

jab rat ayi to logoan ne alav jalaye, mashalean aur lalatenean jalayi gayian, kintu lal parakash ki chhaya aur kali sooratoan ke siva aur kuchh n dikhaee deta tha. mele ke ek taraph ek vriddh purush teli dhuaanti kuppi jalaye, purane jamane ki ek kahani kah raha tha. shrota log ghera banaye hue the. budhe ka chehara dhuandhale parakash mean chamak raha tha. vah bhav banabanakar kahani kahata tha, aur usaki parachhaeean usake paratyek bhav ko b़abadhakar dikhati thi. shrotagan parachhaeean ke vikrit abhinay dekhadekhakar khush hote the. yah kahani bitrioo ki paremakatha thi. bitrioo ne apane hriday par jadoo kar diya tha aur chhati se nikalakar ek babool ke vriksh mean rakhakar svayan vriksh ka roop dharan kar liya tha. kahani purani thi. shrotaoan ne saik doan hi bar ise suna hoga, kintu vriddh ki varnashaili b di chittakarshak thi. isane kahani ko majedar bana diya tha. sharabakhanoan mean mad ke pyase kurasiyoan par lete hue bhaantibhaanti ke sudharas pan kar rahe the aur botalean khali karate chale jate the. nartakiyaan aankhoan mean surama lagaye aur pet khole unake samane nachati aur koee dharmik ya shrriangar ras ka abhinay karati thian.

ekaant kamaroan mean yuvakagan chaup d ya koee khel khelate the, aur vriddhajan veshyaoan se dil bahala rahe the. in samast drishyoan ke oopar vah akela, sthir, atal stambh kh da tha. usaka goroopi kalash parakash ki chhaya mean muanh phailaye dikhaee deta tha, aur usake oopar prithviakash ke madhy papanashi akela baitha hua yah drishy dekh raha tha. itane mean chaand ne nal ke aanchal mean se sir nikala, paha diyaan nile parakash mean chamak uthian aur papanashi ko aisa bhasit hua mano thayas ki sajiv moorti nachate hue jal ke parakash mean chamakati, nile gagan mean niralanb kh di hai.

din gujarate jate the aur papanashi jyoan ka tyoan stambh par asan jamaye hue tha. varshakal aya to akash ka jal lak di ki chhat se tapakatapak use bhigone laga. isase saradi khakar usake hathapaanv ak d uthe, hilanadolana mushkil ho gaya. udhar din ko dhoop ki jalan aur rat ko os ki shit khatekhate usake sharir ki khal phatane lagi aur samast deh mean ghav, chhale aur giltiyaan p d gayian. lekin thayas ki ichchha ab bhi usake antahkaran mean vyapt thi aur vah antaverdana se pi dit hokar chilla uthata tha- 'bhagavan ! meri or bhi saansat kijie, aur bhi yatanaean abhi pichhe p di huee haian, vinash vasanaean abhi tak man ka manthan kar rahi haian. bhagavanh, mujh par paranimatr ki vishayavasanaoan ka bhar rakh dijie, un saboan ko parashyichat karuanga. yadyapi yah asaty hai ki yoonani kutiye ne samast sansar ka papabhar apane oopar liya tha, jaisa maianne kisi samay ek mithyavadi manushy ko kahate suna tha, lekin us katha mean kuchh ashay avashy chhipa hua hai jisaki sachaee ab meri samajh mean a rahi hai, kyoanki isamean koee sandeh nahian hai ki janata ke pap dhamartmaoan ki atmaoan mean paravisht hote haian aur vah is bhaanti vilin ho jate haian, mano kuean mean gire p de hoan. yahi karan hai ki punyatmaoan ke man mean jitana mal bhara rahata hai, utana papiyoan ke man mean kadapi nahian rahata. isalie bhagavanh, maian tujhe dhanyavad deta hooan ki toone mujhe sansar ka malakuand bana diya hai.

ek din us pavitr nagar mean yah khabar u di, aur papanashi ke kanoan mean bhi pahuanchi ki ek uchch rajyapadadhikari, jo iskandriya ki jalasena ka adhyaksh tha, shighar hi us shahar ki sair karane a raha hai-nahian balki ravana ho chuka hai.

yah samachar saty tha. vayovriddh kota, jo us sal nil sagar ki nadiyoan aur jalamargoan ka nirikshan kar raha tha, kee bar is mahatma aur is nagar ko dekhane ki ichchha parakat kar chuka tha. is nagar ka nam papanashi hi ke nam par 'papamochan' rakha gaya tha. ek din parabhatakal is pavitr bhoomi ke nivasiyoan ne dekha ki nil nadi shvet paloan se achchhann ho gayi hai. kota ek sunahari nauka par, jis par baiangani rang ke pal lage hue the, apani samast navikashakti ke agoge nishana u data chala ata hai. ghat par pahuanchakar vah utar p da aur apane mantri tatha apane vaidy aristiyas ke sath nagar ki taraph chala. mantri ke hath mean nadi ke manachitr adi the. aur vaidy se kota svayan batean kar raha tha. vridghavastha mean use vaidyaraj ki batoan mean anand milata tha.

kota ke pichh sahastroan manushyoan ka juloos chala aur jalatat par sainikoan ki vardiyaan aur rajyakarmachariyoan ke chugehi-chuge dikhaee dene lage. in chugoan mean chau di baiangani rang ki gaanth lagi thi, jo rom ki vyavasthapakasabha ke sadasyoan ka sammanachihn thi. kota us pavitr stambh ke samip ruk gaya aur mahatma papanashi ko dhyan se dekhane laga. garami ke karan apane chuge ke daman se muanh par ka pasina vah poanchhata tha. vah svabhav se vichitr anubhavoan ka paremi tha, aur apani jalayatraoan mean usane kitani hi adbhut batean dekhi thian. vah unhean smaran rakhana chahata tha. usaki ichchha thi ki apana vartaman itihasagaranth samapt karane ke bad apani samast yatraoan ka vrittant likhe aur jojo anokhi batean dekhi haian usaka ullekh kare. yah drishy dekhakar use bahut dilachaspi huee.

usane khaansakar kaha-'vichitr bat hai ! aur yah purush mera mehaman tha. maian apane yatravrittant mean vah avashy likhooanga. haan, gatavarsh is purush ne mere yahaan davat khayi thi, aur usake ek hi din bad ek veshya ko lekar bhag gaya tha.'

phir apane mantri se bola-'putr, mere patroan par isaka ullekh kar do. ise stambh ki lambaeechau daee bhi darj kar dena. dekhana, shikhar par jo gay ki moorti bani huee hai, use n bhoolana.'

tab phir apana muanh poanchhakar bola-'mujhase vishvast paraniyoan ne kaha hai ki is yogi ne sal bhar se ek kshan ke lie bhi niche qadam nahian rakha. kyoan aristiyas yah sambhav hai ! koee purush poore sal bhar tak akash mean lataka rah sakata hai ?'

aristiyas ne uttar diya-kisi asvasth ya unmatt parani ke lie jo bat sambhav hai. apako shayad yah bat n maloom hogi ki katipay sharirik aur manasik vikar n ho, asambhav hai. apako shayad yah bat n maloom hogi ki katipay sharirik aur manasik vikaroan se itane adbhut shakti a jati hai jo tandurust adamiyoan mean kabhi nahian a sakati. kyoanki yatharth mean achchha svasthy ya bura svasthy svayan koee vastu nahian hai. vah sharir ke aangaparatyang ki bhinnabhinn dashaoan ka namamatr hai. rogoan ke nidan se maianne vah bat siddh ki hai ki vah bhi jivan ki avashyak avasthaean haian. maian b de parem se unaki mimaansa karata hooan, isalie ki un par vijay parapt kar sakooan. unamean se kee bimariyaan parashansaniy hai aur unamean bahirvikar ke roop mean adbhut arogyavarddhak shakti chhipi rahati hai. udaharanah kabhikabhi sharirik vikaroan se buddhishaktiyaan parakhar ho jati haian, b de veg se unaka vikas hone lagata hai. ap siron ko to janate haian. jab val balak tha to vah tutalakar bolata tha aur mandabuddhi tha. lekin jab ek si़i par se gir jane ke karan usaki kapalitrkaya ho gayi to vah uchchashreni ka vakil nikala, jaisaki ap svayan dekh rahe haian. is yogi ka koee gupt aang avashy hi vikrit ho gaya hai. inake atirikt is avastha mean jivan vyatit karana itani asadharan bat nahian hai, jitani ap samajh rahe haian. apako bharatavarsh ke yogiyoan ki yad hai ? vahaan ke yogigan isi bhaanti bahut dinoan tak nishchal rah sakate haian-ekado varsh nahian, balki bis, tis, chalis varshoan tak. kabhikabhi isase bhi adhik. yahaan tak ki maianne to suna hai ki vah nirjal; nirahar sausau varshoan tak samadhisth rahate haian.'

kota ne kaha-eeshvar ki saugandh se kahata hooan, mujhe yah dasha atyant kutoohalajanak maloom ho rahi hai. yah nirale parakar ka pagalapan hai. maian isaki parashansa nahian kar sakata, kyoanki manushy ka janm chalane aur kam karane ke nimitt hua hai aur udyogahinata samarajy ke parati akshamy atyachar hai. mujhe aise kisi dharm ka jnan nahian hai jo aisi apattijanak trihkayaoan ka adesh karata ho. sambhav hai, eshiyaee samparadayoan mean isaki vyavastha ho. jab maian sham (siriya) ka soobedar tha to maianne 'hera' nagar ke dvar par ek ooancha chabootara bana hua dekha. ek adami sal mean do bar us par ch़ta tha aur vahaan sat dinoan tak chupachap baitha rahata tha. logoan ko vishvas tha ki yah parani devataoan se batean karata tha aur sham desh ko dhanadhanyapoorn rakhane ke lie unase vinay karata tha. mujhe yah paratha nirarthakasi jan p di, kintu maianne use uthane ki cheshta nahian ki. kyoanki mera vichar hai ki rajyakarmachariyoan ko paraja ke ritirivajoan mean hastakshep n karana chahie, balki inako mayardit rakhana unaka kartavy hai. shasakoan ki niti kadapi n honi chahie ki paraja ko kisi vishesh mat ki or khianchean, balki uthako 'usi mat ki raksha karani chahie jo parachalit ho, chahe vah achchha ho ya bura, kyoanki desh, kal aur jati ki paristhiti ke anusar hi usaka janm aur vikas hua hai. agar shasan kisi mat ko daman karane ki cheshta karata hai, to vah apane ko vicharoan mean trkantikari aur vyavaharoan mean atyachari siddh karata hai, aur paraja usase ghrina kare to sarvatha kshamy hai. phir ap janata ke mithya vicharoan ka sudhar kyoankar kar sakate haian agar tum unako samajhane aur unhean nirakshep bhav se dekhane mean asamarth haian ? aristoyas, mera vichar hai ki is pakshiyoan ke basaye hue meghanagar ko akash mean lataka rahane dooan. us par naisargik shaktiyoan ka kop hi kya kam hai ki maian bhi usako uja dane mean agarasar banooan. usake uja dane se mujhe apayash ke siva aur kuchh hath n lagega. haan, is akash nivasi yogi ke vicharoan aur vishvasoan ko lekhabaddh karana chahie.

yah kahakar usane phir khaansa aur apane mantri ke kandhe par hath rakhakar bola-'putr, not kar lo ki eesaee samparaday ke kuchh anuyayiyoan ke matanusar stambhoan ke shikhar par rahana aur veshyaoan ko le bhagana sarahaniy kary hai. itana aur b़a do ki yah parathaean srishti karane vale devataoan ki upasana ke paraman haian. eesaee dharm eeshvaravadi hokar devataoan ke parabhav ko abhi tak nahian mita saka. lekin is vishay mean hamean svayan is yogi hi se jijnasa karani chahie.

tab phir uthakar aur dhoop se aankhoan ko bachane ke lie hathoan ki a d karake usane uchchasvar mean kaha-idhar dekho papanashi ! agar tum abhi yah nahian bhoole ho ki tum ek bar mere mehaman rah chuke ho to meri batoan ka uttar do. tum vahaan akash par baithe kya kar rahe ho ? tumhare vahaan jane ka aur rahane ka kya uddeshy hai ? kya tumhara vichar hai ki is stambh par ch़kar tum desh ka kuchh kalyan kar sakate ho ?

papanashi ne kota ko keval paratimavadi tuchchh drishti se dekha aur use kuchh uttar dene yogy n samajha. lekin usaka shishy leviyan samip akar bola-'manyavar, vah rrishi samast bhoomandal ke papoan ko apane oopar leta aur rogiyoan ko arogy paradan karata hai.'

kota-'kasam khuda ki, yah to b di dillagi ki bat hai tum kahate ho aristiyas, yah akashavasi mahatma chikitsa karata hai. yah to tumhara parativadi nikala. tum aise akasharohi vaidy se kyoankar pesh pa sakoge ?'

aristiyas ne sir hilakar kaha-yah bahut sambhav hai ki vah bajebaje rogoan ki chikitsa karane mean mujhase kushal ho. adaharanatah miragi hi ko le lijie. ganvari bolachal mean log ise 'devarog' kahate haian, yadyapi sabhi rog daivi haian, kyoanki unake srijan karane vale to devagan hi haian. lekin is vishesh rog ka karan aanshatah kalpanashakti mean hai aur ap yah rogiyoan ki kalpana par jitana parabhav dal sakata hai, utana maian apane chikitsalay mean kharal aur daste se aushadhiyoan ghoantakar kadapi nahian dal sakata. mahashay, kitani hi gupt shaktiyaan haian jo shastr aur buddhi se kahian b़kar parabhavotpadak haian.'

kota-'vah kaun shaktiyaan haian ?'

aristiyas-'moorkhata aur ajnan.'

kota-'maianne apani b dib di yatraoan mean bhi isase vichitr drishy nahian dekha, aur mujhe asha hai ki kabhi koee suyogy itihasalekhak 'mochananagar' ki utpatti ka savistar varnar karuanga. lekin ham jaisi bahudhandhi manushyoan ko kisi vastu ke dekhane mean chahe vah kitanahi kutoohalajanak kyoan n ho, apana bahut samay n ganvana chahie. chalie, ab naharoan ka nirikshan karean. achchha papanashi, namaskar. phir kabhi aooanga. lekin agar tum phir kabhi prithvi par utaro aur iskandriya ane ka sanyog ho to mujhe n bhoolana. mere dvar tumhare svagat ke lie nity khule haian. mere yahaan akar avashy bhojan karana.'

hajaroan manushyoan ne kota ke yah shabd sune. ek ne doosare se kaha-eesaiyoan mean aur bhi namak mirch lagaya. janata kisi ki parashansa b de adhikariyoan ke muanh se sunati hai to usaki drishti mean us parashansit manushy ka adarasamman satagun adhik ho jata hai. papanashi ki or bhi khyati hone lagi. saralahriday matanuragiyoan ne in shabdoan ko aur bhi parimarjit aur atishayoktipoorn roop de diya. kianvadantiyaan hone lagian ki mahatma papanashi ne stambh ke shikhar par baithebaithe, jalasena ke adhyaksh ko eesaee dharm ka anugami bana liya. usake upadeshoan mean yah chamatkar hai ki sunate hi b deb de nastik bhi mastak jhuka dete haian. kota ke antim shabdoan mean bhaktoan ko gupt ashay chhipa hua paratit hua. jis svagat ki us uchch adhikari ne soochana di thi vah sadharan svagat nahian tha. vah vastav mean ek adhyatmik bhoj, ek svagiry sammelan, ek paralaukik sanyog ka nimantran tha. us sambhashan ki katha ka b da adbhut aur alankrit vistar kiya gaya. aur jinajin mahanubhavoan ne yah rachana ki unhoanne svayan pahale us par vishvas kiya. kaha jata tha ki jab kota ne vishad tarkavitark ke pashchath saty ko aangikar kiya aur parabhu masih ki sharan mean aya to ek svargadoot akash se usake muanh ka pasina poanchhane aya. yah bhi kaha jata tha ki kota ke sath usake vaidy aur mantri ne bhi eesaee dharm svikar kiya. mukhy eesaee sansthaoan ke adhishthataoean ne yah alaukik samachar suna to aitihasik ghatanaoan mean usaka ullekh kiya. itane khyatilabh ke bad yah kahana kianchit matr bhi atishayokti n thi ki sara sansar papanashi ke darshanoan ke lie utkanthit ho gaya. parachy aur pashchaty donoan hi deshoan ke eesaiyoan ki vismit aankheanan unaki or uthane lagian. itali ke paradhan nagaroan ne usake nam abhinandanapatr bheje aur rom ke kaiansar k aaunstainatain ne, jo eesaee dharm ka pakshapati tha unake pas ek patr bheja. eesaee doot is patr ko b de adarasamman ke sath papanashi ke pas laye. lekin ek rat ko jab vah navajat nagar him ki chadar o़e so raha tha, papanashi ke kanoan mean yah shabd sunaee diye-papanashi, too apane karmoan se parasiddh aur apane shabdoan se shaktishali ho gaya hai. eeshvar ne apani kirti ko ujjval karane ke lie tujhe is savorchch pad par pahuanchaya hai. usane tujhe alaukik lilaean dikhane, rogiyoan ko arogy paradan karane, nastikoan ko sanmarg par lane, papiyoan ka udghar karane, eriyan ke matanuyayiyoan ke mukh mean kalima lagane aur eesaee jagath mean shanti aur sukhasamarajy sthapit karane ke lie niyukt kiya hai.'

papanashi ne uttar diya-'eeshvar ki jaisi ajna.'

phir avaz ayi thi-'papanashi, uth ja, aur vidhamir k aaunsatens ko usake rajyaparasad mean sanmarg par la, jo apane poojy bandhu k aaunsatenatain ka anukaran n karake eriyas aur makrs ke mithyavad mean phansa hua hai. ja, vilamb n kar. ashtadhatu ke phatak tere pahanuchate hi apahi-ap khul jayeange, aur teri padukaoan ki dhvani; kaisaroan ke sianhasan ke sammukh saje bhavan ki svarnabhoomi par paratidhvanit hogi aur teri paratibhamay vani k aaunstainatain ke putr ke hriday ko parast kar degi. sanyukt aur akhand eesaee samarajy par rajy karega aur jis parakar jiv deh par shasan karata hai, usi parakar eesaee dharm samarajy par shasan karega. dhani, rees, rajayadhikari, rajyasabha ke sabhasad sabhi tere adhin ho jayeange. too janata ko lobh se mukt karega aur asabhy jatiyoan ke atrkamanoan ka nivaran karega. vriddh kota jo is samay naukavibhag ka paradhan hai. tujhe shasan ka karnadhar bana hua dekhakar tere charan dhoyega. tere sharirant hone par teri mritadeh iskandriya jayegi aur vahaan ka paradhan mathadhari use ek rrishi ka smarakachihn samajhakar usaka chumban karega ! ja !'

papanashi ne uttar diya-'eeshvar ki jaisi ajna !'

yah kahakar usane uthakar kh de hone ki cheshta ki, kintu us avaz ne usaki ichchha ko ta dakar kaha-'sabase mahatv ki bat yah hai ki too si़i dvara mat utar ! yah to sadharan manushyoan kisi bat hogi. eeshvar ne tujhe adbhut shakti paradan ki hai. tujh jaise paratibhashali mahatma ko vayu mean u dana chahie. niche kood p d, svarg ke doot tujhe sanbhalane ke lie kh de haian, turant kood p d.'

papanashi n uttar diya-'eeshvar ki is sansar mean usi bhaanti vishay ho jaise svarg mean hai!'

apani vishal baanhean phailakar, mano ki brihadakar pakshi ne apane chhidare pankh phailaye hoan, vah niche koodane vala hi tha ki sahasa ek daravani, upahasasoochak hasyadhvani usake kanoan mean ayi. bhit hokar usane poochha-yah kaun hans raha hai.'

us avaz ne uttar diya-'chauankate kyoan ho ? abhi to tumhari mitrata ka arambh hua hai. ek din aisa ayega jab mujhase tumhara parichay ghanishth ho jayega. mitravar, maianne hi tujhe is stambh par ch़ne ki parerana ki thi aur jis nirapadabhav se tumane meri ajna shirodhary ki usase maian bahut parasann hooan. papanashi, maian tumase bahut khush hooan.'

papanashi ne bhayabhit hokar kaha-'parabhu, parabhu ! maian tujhe ab pahachan gaya, khoob pahachan gaya. too hi vah parani hai jo parabhu masih ko mandir ke kalash par le gaya tha aur bhoomandal ke samast samarajyoan ka digdarshan karaya tha.'

'too shaitan hai ! bhagavanh, tum mujhase kyoan paranmukh ho ?'

vah tharathar kaanpata hua bhoomi par gir p da aur sochane laga-

mujhe pahale isaka jnan kyoan n hua ? maian un netrahin, vadhir aur apang manushyoan se bhi abhaga hooan jo nity sharan ate haian. meri antardrishti sarvatha jyotihin ho gayi hai, mujhe daivi ghatanaoan ka ab leshamatr bhi jnan nahian hota aur ab maian un bharashtabuddhi pagaloan ki bhaanti hooan jo mitti phaankate haian aur murdoan ki lashean ghasitate haian. maian ab narak ke amangal aur svarg ke madhur shabdoan mean bhed karane ke yogy nahian raha. mujhase ab us navajat shishu ka naisargik jnan bhi nahian raha jo mata ke stanoan ke muanh se nikal jane par rota hai, us kutte kasa bhi, jo apane svami ke pad chihnoan ki gandh pahachanata hai, us paudhe (sooryamukhi) kasa bhi jo soory ki or apana mukh pherata rahata hai. maian paretoan aur pishachoan ke parihas ka kendr hooan. yah sab mujh par taliyaan baja rahe haian, jo ab jnat hua, ki shaitan hi mujhe yahaan khianchakar laya. jab usane mujhe is stambh par ch़aya to vasana aur ahankar donoan hi mere sath ch़ aye ! maian keval apani ichchhaoan ke vistar hi se shankayaman nahian hota. etoni bhi apani parvatagupha mean aise hi paralobhanoan se pi dit hai. maian chahata hooan ki in samast pishachoan ki talavar meri deh ko chhed svargadootoan ke sammukh meri dhajjiyaan u da di jayean. ab maian apani yatanaoan se parem karana sikh gaya hooan. lekin eeshvar mujhase nahian bolata, usaka ek shabd bhi mere kanoan mean nahian ata. usaka yah nirday maun, yah kathor nistabdhata ashcharyajanak hai. usane mujhe tyag diya hai-mujhe, jisaka usake siva aur koee avalamb n tha. vah mujhe is aphat mean akela nissahay chho de hue hai. vah mujhase door bhagata hai, ghrina karata hai. lekin maian usaka pichha nahian chho d sakata. yahaan mere pair jal rahe haian, maian dau dakar usake pas pahuanchooanga.

yah kahate hi usane vah si़i tham li jo stambh ke sahare kh di thi, us par pair rakhe aur ek danda niche utara ki usaka mukh goroopi kalash ke sammukh a gaya. use dekhakar gomoorti vichitr roop se muskaraee. use ab isamean koee sandeh n tha ki jis sthan ko usane shaantilabh aur satkirti ke lie pasand kiya tha, vah usake sarvanash aur patan ka siddh hua. vah b de veg se utarakar zamin par a pahuancha. usake pairoan ko ab kh de hone ka bhi abhyas n tha, ve dagamagate the. lekin apane oopar is paishachik stanbh ki parachhaeean p date dekhakar vah jabaradasti dau da, mano koir kaidi bhag jata ho. sansar nidra mean magn tha. vah sabase chhipa hua us chauk se hokar nikala jisake charoan or sharab ki dukanean, saraean, dharmashalaean bani huee thian aur ek gali mean ghus gaya, jo laibiya ki paha diyoan ki or jati thi. vichitr bat yah thi ki ek kutta bhi bhooankata hua usaka pichha kar raha tha aur jab ek marubhoomi ke kinare tak use dau da n le gaya, usaka pichha n chho da. papanashi aise dehatoan mean pahuancha jahaan s dakean ya pagadandiyaan n thian, keval vanajantuoan ke pairoan ke nishan the. is nirjan paradesh mean vah ek din aur rat lagatar akela bhagata chala gaya.

ant mean jab vah bhookh, pyas aur thakan se itana bedam ho gaya ki paanv l dakh dane lage, aisa jan p dane laga ki ab jita n bachooanga to vah ek nagar mean pahuancha jo dayeanbayean itani door tak phaila hua tha ki usaki simaean nile kshitij mean vilin ho jati thian. charoan or nistabdhata chhayi huee thi, kisi parani ka nam n tha. makanoan ki kami n thi, par vah dooradoor par bane hue the, aur un mistri minaroan ki bhaanti dikhate the jo bich mean kat liye gaye hoan. saboan ki banavat ekasi thi, mano ek hi imarat ki bahutasi nakalean ki gayi hoan. vastav mean yah sab kabarean thian. unake dvar khule or toote hue the, aur unake andar bhe diyoan aur lak dabagghoan ki chamakati huee aankheanan najar ati thian, jinhoanne vahaan bachche diye the. murde kabaroan ke samane bahar p de hue the jinhean dakuoan ne nochakhasot liya tha aur jangali janavaroan ne jagahajagah chaba dala tha. is mritapuri mean bahut desh tak chalane ke bad papanashi ek kabar ke samane thakakar gir p da, jo chhuhare ke vrikshoan se anke hue ek sote ke samip thi. yah kabar khoob saji huee thi, usake oopar belaboote bane hue the, kintu koee dvar n tha. papanashi ne ek chhidr mean se jhaanka to andar ek sundar, ranga ha tahakhana dikhaee p da jisamean saanpoan ke chhotechhote bachche idharudhar reang rahe the. use ab bhi yahi shanka ho rahi thi ki eeshvar ne mera hath chho d diya hai aur mera koee avalamb nahian hai.

usane ek din dirgh ni:shvas lekar kaha-'isi sthan mean mera nivas hoga, yahi kabar ab mere parayashchit aur atmadaman ka ashrayastha n hogi.'

usake pair to uth n sakate the, letelete khisakata hua vah andar chala gaya, saanpoan ko apane pairoan se bhaga diya aur nirantar atharah ghantoan tak pakki bhoomi par sir rakhe hue auandhe muanh p da raha. isake pashchath vah us jalastrot par gaya aur chilloo se pet bhar pani piya. tab usane tho de chhuhare to de aur kee kamal ki belean nikakar kamal gatte jama kiye. yahi usaka bhojan tha. kshua aur trisha shant hone par use aisa anuman hua ki yahaan vah sabhi vighnabadhaoan se mukt hokar kalakshep kar sakata hai. atev usane ise apane jivan ka niyam bana liya. paratahkal se sandhya tak vah ek kshan ke lie bhi sir oopar n uthata tha.

ek din jab vah is bhaanti auandhe muanh p da hua tha to usake kanoan mean kisi ke bolane ki avaz ayi-shpaanachitroan ko dekh, tujhe jnan parapt hoga.

yah sunate hi usane sir uthaya aur tahakhane ki divaroan par drishtipat kiya to use charoan or samajik drishy aankit dikhaee diye. jivan ki sadharan ghatanaean jitijagati moortiyoan dvara parakat ki gayi thian. yah b de parachin samay ki chitrakari thi aur itani uttam ki jan p data moortiyaan ab bolana hi chahati haian. chitrakar ne unamean jan dal di thi. kahian koee nanabaee rotiyaan bana raha tha aur goloan ko kuppi ki tarah phulakar ag phooankata tha, koee batakhoan ke par noanch raha tha oair koee patiliyoan mean maans paka raha tha. jara aur hatakar ek shikari kandhoan par hiran liye jata tha jisaki deh mean ban chubhe dikhaee dete the. ek sthan par kisan kheti ka kamakaj karate the. koee bota tha, koee katata tha, koee anaj bakharoan se bhar raha tha. doosare sthan par kee striyaan vina, baansuri aur tambooroan par nach rahi thian. ek sundar yuvati sitar baja rahi thi. usake keshoan mean kamal ka pushp shobha de raha tha. kesh b di sundarata se guanthe hue the. usake svachchh mahin kap doan se usake nirmal aangoan ki abha jhalakati thi. usake mukh aur vakshasthal ki shobha advitiy thi. usaka mukh ek or ko phira hua tha, par kamalanetr sidhe hi tak rahe the. savarang anupam, advitiy, mugdhakar tha. papanashi ne use dekhate hi aankheanan nichi kar lian aur us avaz ko uttar diya-'too mujhe in tasviroan ka avalokan karane ka adesh kyoan deta hai. isamean teri kya ichchha hai ? yah saty hai ki in chitroan mean paratimavadi purush ke saansarik jivan ka aankan kiya gaya hai jo yahaan mere pairoan ke niche* ek kuean ki tah mean, kale patthar ke sandook mean band, g da hua hai. unase ek mare hue parani ki yad ati hai, aur yadyapi unake roop bahut chamakile haian, par yatharth mean vah keval chhaya nahian, chhaya ki chhaya hai, kyoanki manavajivan svayan chhayamatr hai. mritadeh ka itana mahatv itana garv !'

us avaz ne uttar diya-'ab vah mar gaya hai lekin ek din jivit tha. lekin too ek din mar jayega aur tera koee nishan n hoga. too aisa mit jayega mano kabhi tera janm hi nahian hua tha.'

us din se papanashi ka chitt athoan pahar chanchal rahane laga. ek pal ke lie use shanti n milati. us avaz ki avishrant dhvani usake kanoan mean aya karati. sitar bajane vali yuvati apani lambi palakoan ke niche sak usaki or takataki lagaye rahati. akhir ek din vah bhi boli-'papanashi, idhar dekh ! maian kitani mayavini aur roopavati hooan ! mujhe pyar kyoan nahian karata ? mere paremaliangan mean us paremadah ko shant kar de jo tujhe vikal kar raha hai. mujhase too vyarth ashankit hai. too mujhase bach nahian sakata, mere paremapashoan se bhag nahian sakata ! maian nari saundary hooan. hatabuddhi ! moorkh ! too mujhase kahaan bhag jane ka vichar karata hai ? tujhe kahaan sharan milegi ? tujhe sundar pushpoan ki shobha mean, khajoor ke vrikshoan ke phooloan mean, usaki phaloan se ladi huee daliyoan mean, kabootaroan ke par mean, mrigaoan ki chhalaangoan mean, jalaparapatoan ke madhur kalarav mean, chaand ki mand jyotsna mean, titaliyoan ke manohar rangoan mean, aur yadi apani aankheanan band kar lega, to apane aantastal mean, mera hi svaroop dikhaee dega. mera sauandary sarvavyapak hai. ek hazar varshoan se adhik hue ki us purush ne jo yahaan mahin kafan mean veshtit, ek kale patthar ki shayya par vishram kar raha hai, mujhe apane hriday se lagaya tha. ek hazar varshoan se adhik hua ki usane mere sudhamay adharoan ka antim bar rasasvadan kiya tha aur usaki dirgh nidra abhi tak usaki sugandh se mahak rahi hai. papanashi, tum mujhe bhalibhaanti janate ho ? tum mujhe bhool kaise gaye ? mujhe pahachana kyoan nahian ! isi par atmajnani banane ka dava karate ho ? maian thayas ke asankhy avataroan mean se ek hooan. tum vidvanh ho aur jivoan ke tattv ko janate ho. tumane b dib di yatraean ki haian aur yatraoan hi se manushy adami banata hai, usake jnan aur burddhi ka vikas hota hai. yatra ke dinoan mean bahudha itani navin vastuean dekhane mean a jati haian, jitani ghar par baithe hue das varsh mean bhi n ayeangi. tumane suna hai ki poorvakal mean thayas helen ke nam se yoonan mean rahati thi. usane thibs mean phir doosara avatar liya. maian hi thibs ki thayas thi. isaka karan kya hai ki tum itana bhi n bhaanp sake. pahachano, yah kisaki kabar hai ? kya tum bilkul bhool gaye ki hamane kaisekaise vihar kiye the. jab maian jivit thi to maianne is sansar ke papoan ka b da bhar apane sir par liya tha aur ab keval chhayamatr rah jane par bhi ek chitr ke roop mean bhi, mujhamean itani samathry hai ki maian tumhare papoan ko apane oopar le sakooan. haan, mujhamean itani samathry hai. jisane jivan mean samast sansar ke papoan ka bhar uthaya, kya usaka chitr ab ek parani ke papoan ko bhar n utha sakega. vismit kyoan hote ho? ashchary ki koee bat nahian. vidhata hi ne yah vyavastha kar di ki tum jahaan jaoge, thayas tumhare sath rahegi. ab apani chirasangini thayas ki kyoan avahelana karate ho ? tum vidhata ke niyam ko nahian to d sakate.'

papanashi ne patthar ke pharsh par apana sir patak diya aur bhayabhit hokar chikh utha. ab yah sitaravadini nityaparati divar se n jane kis tarah alag hokar usake samip a jati aur mandashvas lete hue usase spasht shabdoan mean vartalap karati. aur jab vah virakt parani usaki kshubdh cheshtaoan ka bahishkar karata to vah usase kahati-'pirayatam! mujhe pyar kyoan nahian karate ? mujhase itani nithuraee kyoan karate ho ? jab tak tum mujhase door bhagate rahoge, maian tumhean vikal karati rahooangi, tumhean yatanaean deti rahooangi. tumhean abhi yah nahian maloom hai ki mrit stri ki atma kitani dhairyashalini hoti hai. agar avashyakata ho to maian us samay tak tumhara intajar karuangi jab tak tum mar n jaoge. marane ke bad bhi maian tumhara pichha n chhodooangi. maian jadoogarani hooan, mujhe mantroan ka bahut abhyas hai. maian tumhari mritadeh mean naya jiv dal dooangi. jo use chaitany kar dega aur jo mujhe vah vastu paradan karake apane ko dhany manega jo maian tumase maangatemaangate har gayi aur n pa saki ! maian us punajirvit sharir ke sath manamana sukhabhog karuangi. aur piray papanashi, socho, tumhari dasha kitani karunajanak hogi jab tumhari svargavasini atma us ooanche sthan par baithe hue dekhegi ki meri hi deh ki kya chhichhaledar ho rahi hai. svayan eeshvar jisane hisab ke din ke bad tumhean anantakal tak ke lie yah deh lauta dene ka vachan diya hai chakkar mean p d jayega ki kya karuan. vah us manav sharir ko svarg ke pavitr dham mean kaise sthan dega jisamean ek paret ka nivas hai aur jisase ek jadoogarani ki maya lipati huee hai ? tumane us kathin samasya ka vichar nahian kiya. n eeshvar hi ne us par vichar karane ka kasht uthaya. tumase koee parada nahian. ham tum donoan ek hi haian eeshvar bahut vicharashil nahian jan p data. koee sadharan jadoogar use dhokhean mean dal sakata hai; aur yadi usake pas akash, vajar aur meghoan ki jalasena n hoti to dehati lauande usaki da़i nochakar bhag jate, usase koee bhayabhit n hota, aur usaki vistrit srishti ka ant ho jata. yatharth mean usaka purana shatru sarp usase kahian chatur aur dooradarshi hai. sarparaj ke kaushal ka paravar nahian hai. yah kalaoan mean paravin haian yadi maian aisi sundari hooan to isaka karan yah hai ki usane mujhe apane hi hathoan se racha aur yah shobha paradan ki. usi ne mujhe baloan ka gooanthana, ardhakusumit adharoan se hansana aur abhooshanoan se aangoan ko sajana sikhaya. tum abhi tak usaka mahatmy nahian janate. jab tum pahali bar is kabar mean aye to tumane apane pairoan se un sarpoan ko bhaga diya jo yahaan rahate the aur unake aandoan ko kuchal dala. tumhean isaki leshamatr bhi chinta n huee ki yah sarparaj ke atmiy haian. mitr, mujhe bhay hai ki is avichar ka tumako k da dand milega. sarparaj tumase badala liye bina n rahega. tis par bhi tum itana to janate hi the ki vah sangit mean nipun aur paremakala mean siddhahast hai. tumane yah janakar bhi usaki avajna ki. kala aur saundary donoan hi se jhag da kar baithe, donoan ko hi paanv tale kuchalane ki cheshta ki. aur ab tum daihik aur manasik atankoan se garast ho rahe ho. tumhara eeshvar kyoan tumhari sahayata nahian karata ? usake lie yah asambhav hai. usaka akar bhoomandal ke akar ke saman hi hai, isalie use chalane ki jagah hi kahaan hai, aur agar asambhav ko sambhav man lean, to usaki bhoomandalavyapi deh ke kianchitamatr hilane par sari srishti apani jagah se khisak jayegi, sansar ka nam hi n rahega. tumhare sarvajnata eeshvar ne apani srishti mean apane ko kaid kar rakha hai.

papanashi ko maloom tha ki jadoo dvara b deb de anaisargik kary siddh ho jaya karate haian. yah vichar karake usako b di ghabarahat huee-

shayad vah mrit purush jo mere pairoan ke niche samadhisth hai un mantroan ko yad rakhe hue hai jo 'gupt garanth' mean gupt roop se likhe hue haian. vah garanth avashy hi kisi badashah ki kabar nikat hogi. un mantroan ke bal se murde vahi deh dharan kar lete haian jo unhoanne is lok mean dharan kiya tha, aur phir soory ke parakash aur ramaniyoan ki mand muskan ka anand uthate haian.

usako sabase adhik bhay is bat ka tha ki kahian yah sitar bajane vali sundari aur vah mrit purush nikal n aye aur usake samane usi bhaanti sanbhog n karane lagean, jaise vah apane jivan mean kiya karate the. kabhikabhi use aisa maloom hota tha ki chumban ka shabd sunaee de raha hai.

vah manasik tap se jala jata tha, aur ab eeshvar ki dayadrishti se vanchit hokar use vicharoan se utana hi bhay lagata tha, jitana bhavoan se. n jane man mean kab kya bhav jagrit ho jay.

ekadin sandhya samay jab vah apane niyamanusar auandhe muanh p da sijada kar raha tha; kisi aparichit parani ne usase kaha-

'papanashi, prithvi par usase kitane hi adhik aur kitane hi vichitr parani basate haian jitana tum anuman kar sakate ho, aur yadi maian tumhean yah sab dikha sakooan jisaka maianne anubhav kiya hai to tum ashchary se bhar jaoge. sansar mean aise manushy bhi haian jinake lalat ke madhy mean keval ek hi aankh hoti hai aur vah jivan ka sara kam usi ek aankh se karate haian. aise parani bhi dekhe gaye haian jinake ek hi taang hoti hai aur vah uchhaluchhalakar chalate haian. in ek taangoan se ek poora parant basa hua. aise parani bhi haian jo ichchhanusar stri ya purush ban jate haian. unake liangabhed nahian hota. itana hi sunakar n chakarao; prithvi par manav vriksh haian jinaki j dean zamin mean phailati haian, bina sir vale manushy haian. jinaki chhati mean muanh, do aankheanan aur ek nak rahati hai. kya tum shuddh man se vishvas karate ho ki parabhu masih ne in paraniyoan ki mukti ke nimitt hi shariratyag kiya ? agar usane in dukhiyoan ko chho d diya hai to yah kisi sharan jayeange, kaun inaki mukti ka dayi hoga ?'

isake kuchh samay bad papanashi ko ek svapn hua. usane nirmal parakash mean ek chau di s dak, bahate hue nale aur lahalahate hue udyan dekhe. s dak par aristobolas aur cheriyas apane arabi gho doan ko sarapat dau daye chale jate the aur is chaugan dau d se unaka chitt itana ullasit ho raha tha ki unamean muanh arunavarn hue jate the. unake samip hi ke ek peshatak mean kh da kavi kalitrkant apane kavitt pॄ raha tha. saphal varg usake svar mean kaanpata tha aur usaki aankhoan mean chamakata tha. udyan mean jenathemij pake hue seb chun raha tha aur ek sarp ko thapakiyaan de raha tha jisake nile par the. haramodoras shvet vastr pahane, sir par ek ratnajatit mukut rakhe, ek vriksh ke niche dhyan mean magn baitha tha. is vriksh mean phooloan ki jagah chhotechhote sir latak rahe the jo mistr desh ki deviyoan ki bhaanti giddh; baj ya ujjval chandramandal ka mukut pahane hue the. pichhe ki or ek jalakund ke samip baitha hua nisiyas nakshatroan ki anant gati ka avalokan kar raha tha.

tab ek stri muanh par nakab dale aur hath mean meanhadi ki ek tahani liye papanashi ke pas ayi aur boli-'papanashi, idhar dekh ! kuchh log aise haian jo anant saundary ke lie lalayit rahate haian, aur apane nashvar jivan ko amar samajhate haian. kuchh aise parani bhi haian jo j d aur vichar shoony haian, jo kabhi jivan ke tattvoan par vichar hi nahian karate lekin donoan hi keval jivan ke nate parakriti devi ki ajnaoan ka palan karate haian; vah keval itane hi se santusht aur sukhi haian ki ham jite haian, aur sansar ke advitiy kalanidhi ka gunagan karate haian kyoanki manushy eeshvar ki moortiman stuti hai. parani matr ka vichar hai ki sukh ek nishpap, vishuddh vastu hai, aur sukhabhog manushy ke lie varjit nahian hai. agar in logoan ka vichar saty hai to papanashi, tum kahian ke n rahe. tumhara jivan nasht ho gaya. tumane parakriti ke diye hue savorttam padarth ko tuchchh samajha. tum janate ho, tumhean isaka kya dand milega?'

papanashi ki niand toot gayi.

isi bhaanti papanashi ko nirantar sharirik tatha manasik paralobhanoan ka samana karana p data tha. yah dushpareranaean use sarvatr ghere rahati thian. shaitan ek pal ke lie bhi use chain n lene deta. us nirjan kabar mean kisi b de nagar ki s dakoan se bhi adhik parani base hue jan p date the. bhootapishach hansahansakar shor machaya karate aur aganit paret, chu dail adi aur nana parakar ki duratmaean jivan ka sadharan vyavahar karati rahati thian. sandhya samay jab vah jaladhara ki or jata to pariyaan use chu daile usake charoan or ekatr ho jatian aur use apane kamottejak nrityoan mean khianch le jane ki cheshta karatian. pishachoan ko ab usase jara bhi bhay n hota tha. ve usaka upahas karate, us par ashlil vyang karate aur bahudha us par mushtiparahar bhi kar dete. vah in apamanoan se atyant duahkhi hota tha. ek din ek pishach, jo usaki baanh se b da nahian tha, us rassi ko chura le gaya jo vah apani kamar mean baandhe tha. ab vah bilkul nanga tha. avaran ki chhaya bhi usaki deh par n thi. yah sabase ghor apaman tha jo ek tapasvi ka ho sakata tha.

papanashi ne socha-man too mujhe kahaan liye jata hai ?

us din se usane nishchay kiya ki ab hathoan se shram karega jisamean vicharedriyoan ko vah shanti mile jisaki unhean b di avashyakata thi. alasy ka sabase bura phal kuparavrittiyoan ko ukasana hai.

jaladhara ke nikat, chhuhare ke vrikshoan ke niche kee kele ke paudhe the jinaki pattiyaan bahut b dib di thian. papanashi ne unake tane kat liye aur unhean kabar ke pas laya. unhean usane ek patthar se kuchala aur unake reshe nikale. rassi banane valoan ko usane kele ke tar nikalate dekha tha. vah us rassi ki jagah jo ek pishach chura le gaya tha kamare mean lapetane ke lie doosari rassi banana chahata tha. paretoan ne usaki dinachary mean yah parivartan dekha to trkuddh hue. kintu usi kshan se unaka shor band ho gaya, aur sitar vali ramani ne bhi apani alaukik sangitakala ko band kar diya aur poorvavat divar se ja mili aur chupachap kh di ho gayi.

papanashi jyoanjyoan kele ke tanoan ko kuchalata tha, usaka atmavishvas, dhairy aur dharmabal b़ta jata tha.

usane man mean vichar kiya-eeshvar ki ichchha hai to ab bhi indriyoan ka daman kar sakata hooan. rahi atma, usaki dharmanishtha abhi tak nishchal aur abhedy hai. ye paret, pishach, gan aur vah kulata stri, mere man mean eeshvar ke sambandh mean bhaantibhaanti ki shankaean utpann karate rahate haian. maian rrishi j aaun ke shabdoan mean unako yah uttar dooanga-adi mean shabd tha aur shabd bhi nirakar eeshvar tha. yah mera atal vishvas hai, aur yadi mera vishvas mithya aur bharamamoolak hai to maian dri़ta se us par vishvas karata hooan. vastav mean ise mithya hi hona chahie. yadi aisa n hota to maian 'vishvas' karata, keval eeman n lata, balki anubhav karata, janata. anubhav se anant jivan nahian parapt hota jnan hamean mukti nahian de sakata. udghar karane vala keval vishvas hai. atah hamare udghar ki bhitti mithya aur asaty hai.

yah sochatesochate vah ruk gaya. tark use n jane kidhar liye jata tha.

vah in bikhare hue reshoan ko dinabhar dhoop mean sukhata aur ratabhar os mean bhigane deta. din mean kee bar vah reshoan ko pherata tha ki kahian s d n jayean. ab use yah anubhav karake param anand hota tha ki balakoan ke saman saral aur nishkapat ho gaya hai.

rassi bat chukane ke bad usane chataiyaan aur tokariyaan banane ke le narakat katakar jama kiya. vah samadhikuti ek tokari banane vale ki dookan ban gayi. aur ab papanashi jab chahata eeshapararthana karata, jab chahata kam karata; lekin itana sanyam aur yatn karane par bhi eeshvar ki us dayadrishti n huee. ek rat ko vah ek aisi avaz sunakar jag p da jisane usaka ekek roaan kh da kar diya. yah usi mare hue adami ki avaz thi jo us kabar ke andar daphan tha. aur kaun bolane vala tha ?

avaz sayansayan karati huee jaldijaldi yoan pukar rahi thi-helen, helen, ao, mere sath snan karo !'

ek stri ne jisaka muanh papanashi ke kanoan ke samip hi jan p data tha, uttar diya-pirayatam, maian uth nahian sakati. mere oopar ek adami soya hua hai.

sahasa papanashi ko aisa maloom hua ki vah apana gal kisi stri ke hridayasthal par rakhe hue hai. vah turant pahachan gaya ki vahi sitar bajane vali yuvati hai. vah jyoanhi jarasa khisaka to stri ka bojh kuchh halaka ho gaya aur usane apani chhati oopar uthayi. papanashi tab kamonmatt hokar, us komal, sugandhamay, garm sharir se chimat gaya aur donoan hathoan se use pak dakar bhianch liya ! sarvanashi durdamaniy vasana ne use parast kar diya. gi dagi dakar vah kahane laga-'thaharo, thaharo, piraye ! thaharo, meri jan !'

lekin yuvati ek chhalaang mean kabar ke dvar par ja pahuanchi. papanashi ko donoan hath phailaye dekhakar vah hans p di aur usaki muskarahat rashi ki ujjval kiranoan mean chamak uthi.

usane nishthurata se kaha-'maian kyoan thaharuan ? aise paremi ke lie jisaki bhavanashakti itani sajiv aur parakhar ho, chhaya hi kafi hai. phir tum ab patit ho gaye, tumhare patan mean ab koee kasar nahian rahi. meri manokamana poori ho gayi, ab mera tumase kya nata ?'

papanashi ne sari rat rorokar kati aur ushakal hua to usane parabhu masih ki vandana ki jisamean bhaktipoorn vyang bhara hua tha-eesoo, parabhoo eesoo, toone kyoan mujhase aankheanan pher lian ! too dekh raha hai ki maian kitani bhayavah paristhitiyoan mean ghira hua hooan. mere pyare muktidata a, meri sahayata kar. tera pita mujhase naraz hai, meri anunayavinay kuchh nahian sunata, isalie yad rakh ki tere sivay mera ab koee nahian hai. tere pita se ab mujhe koee asha nahian hai maian usake rahasy ko samajh nahian sakata aur n use mujh par daya ati hai. kintu toone ek stri ke garbh se janm liya hai, toone mata ka snehabhog kiya hai aur isalie tujh par meri shradgha hai. yad rakh ki too bhi ek samay manavadehadhari tha. maian teri pararthana karata hooan, is karan nahian ki too eeshvar ka eeshvar, jyoti ki jyoti paramapita hai, balki is karan ki toone is lok mean, jahaan ab maian nana yatanaean bhog raha hooan, daridr oair din paraniyoan kasa jivan vyatit kiya hai, is karan ki shaitan ne tujhe bhi kuvasanaoan ke bhanvar mean dalane ki cheshta ki hai, aur manasik vedana ne tere bhi mukh ko pasine se tar kiya hai. mere masih, mere bandhu masih, maian teri daya ka, teri manushyata ka pararthi hooan.

jab vah apane hathoan ko malamalakar yah pararthana kar raha tha, to attahas ki parachand dhvani se kabar ki divarean hil gayian aur vahi avaj, jo stambh shikhar par usake kanoan mean ayi thi, apamanasoochak shabdoan mean boli-'yah pararthana to vidhamir markas ke mukh se nikalane ke yogy hai! papanashi bhi markas ka chela ho gaya. vah vah! kya kahana ! papanashi vidhamir ho gaya !'

papanashi par mano vajaraghat ho gaya. vah moorchhit hokar prithvi par gir p da.

jab usane phir aankheanan kholian, to usane dekha ki tapasvi kale kanatop pahane usake charoan or kh de haian, usake mukh par pani ke chhiante de rahe haian aur usaki jha daphooank, yantramantr mean lage hue haian. koee adami hathoan mean khajoor ki daliyaan liye bahar kh de haian.

unamean se ek ne kaha-'ham log idhar se hokar ja rahe the to hamane is kabar se chillane ki avaz nikalati huee suni, aur jab andar aye to tumhean prithvi par achet p de dekha. nissandeh paretoan ne tumhean pachha d diya tha aur hamako dekhakar bhag kh de hue.'

papanashi ne sir uthakar kshin svar mean poochha-'bandhuvar, ap log kaun hai ? ap log kyoan khajoor ki daliyaan liye hue haian ? kya meri mritakakriya karane to nahian aye haian?'

unamean se ek tapasvi bola-'bandhuvar, kya tumhean khabar nahian ki hamare poojyapita entoni, jinaki avastha ab ek sau paanch varshoan ki ho gayi hai, apane antim kal ki soochana pakar us parvat se utar aye haian jahaan vah ekaant sevan kar rahe the ? unhoanne apane aganit shishyoan aur bhaktoan ko jo unaki adhyatmik santanean haian, ashivard dene ke nimitt yah kasht uthaya hai. ham khajoor ki daliyaan liye (jo shanti ki soochak haian) apane pita ki abhyarthana karane ja rahe haian. lekin bandhuvar, yah kya bat hai ki tumako aisi mahanh ghatana ki khabar nahian. kya yah sambhav hai ki koee devadoot yah soochana lekar is kabar mean nahian aya ?'

papanashi bola-'ah ! meri kuchh n poochho. maian ab is kripa ke yogay nahian hooan aur is mrityupuri mean paretoan aur pishachoan ke siva aur koee nahian rahata. mere lie eeshvar se pararthana karo. mera nam papanashi hai jo ek dhamarshram ka adhyaksh tha. parabhu ke sevakoan mean mujhase adhik duahkhi aur koee n hoga.'

papanashi ka nam sunate hi sab yogiyoan ne khajoor ki daliyaan hilayian aur ek svar se usaki parashansa karane lage. vah tapasvi jo pahale bola tha, vismay se chauankakar bola-'kya tum vahi sant papanashi ho jisaki ujjval kirti itani vikhyat ho rahi hai ki log anuman karane lage the ki kisi din vah poojy entoni ki barabari karane lagega? shraddhey pita, tumhian ne thayas nam ki veshya ko eeshvar ke charanoan mean rat kiya ? tumhian ko to devadoot uthakar ek uchch stambh ke shikhar par bitha aye the, jahaan tum nity parabhu masih ke bhoj mean sammilit hote the. jo log us samay stambh ke niche kh de the, unhoanne apane netroan se tumhara svagortthan dekha. devadootoan ke pas shvet meghavaran ki bhaanti tumhare charoan or mandal banaye the aur tum dahina hath phailaye manushyoan ko ashivard dete jate the. doosare din jab logoan ne tumhean vahaan n paya to unaki shokadhvani us mukutahin stambh ke shikhar par ja pahuanchi. charoan or hahakar mach gaya. lekin tumhare shishy leviyan ne tumhare atmotsarg ki katha kahi aur tumhare ashram ka adhyaksh banaya gaya. kintu vahaan p aaul nam ka ek moorkh bhi tha ! shayad vah bhi tumhare shishyoan mean tha. une janasammati ke virodh karane ki cheshta ki. usaka kahana tha ki usane svapn dekha hai ki pishach tumhean pak de liye jata hai. janata ko yah sunakar b da trkodh aya. unhoanne usako patthar se marana chaha. charoan or se log dau d p de. eeshvar hi jane kaise moorkh ki jan bachi. haan, vah bach avashy gaya. mera nam jojimas hai. maian in tapasviyoan ka adhyaksh hooan jo is samay tumhare charanoan par gire hue haian. apane shishyoan ki bhaanti maian bhi tumhare charanoan par sir rakhata hooan ki putroan ke sath pita ko bhi tumhare shubh shabdoan ka phal mil jaye. ham logoan ko apane ashivard se shanti dijiye. usake bad un alaukik krityoan ka bhi varnan kijie jo eeshvar apake dvara poora karana chahata hai. hamara param saubhagy hai ki ap jaise mahanh purush ke darshan hue.'

papanashi ne uttar diya-'bandhuvar, tumane mere vishay mean jo dharana bana rakhi hai vah yatharth se kosoan door hai. eeshvar ki mujh par kripadrishti hoti to door ki bat hai, maian usake hathoan kathoratam yatanayean bhog raha hooan. meri jo durgati huee hai usaka vrittant sunana vyarth hai. mujhe stambh ke shikhar par devadoot nahian le gaye the. yah logoan ki mithya kalpana hai. vastav mean meri aankhoan ke samane ek parda p d gaya hai aur mujhe kuchh soojh nahian p data maian svapnavat jivan vyatit kar raha hooan. eeshvaravimukh hokar manavajivan svapn ke saman hai. jab maianne iskandriya ki yatra ki thi to tho de hi samay mean mujhe kitane hi vadoan ke sunane ka avasar mila aur mujhe jnat hua ki bharaanti ki seva ganana se pare hai. vah nity mera pichha kiya karati hai aur mere charoan taraph sanginoan ki divar kh di hai.'

jojimas ne uttar diya-'poojy pita, apako smaran rakhana chahie ki santagan aur mukhyatah ekantasevi santagan bhayankar yatanaoan se pi dit hote rahate haian. agar yah saty nahian hai ki devadoot tumhean le gaye to avashy hi yah samman tumhari moorti athava chhaya ka hua hoga, kyoanki leviyan, tapasvigan aur darshakoan ne apani aankhoan se tumhean viman par oopar jate dekha.'

papanashi ne sant entoni ke pas jakar unase ashivard lene ka nishchay kiya. bola-'bandhu jojimas, mujhe bhi khajoor ki ek dali de do aur maian bhi tumhare sath pita entoni ka darshan karane chalooanga.'

jojimas ne kaha-'bahut achchhi bat hai. tapasviyoan ke lie sainik vidhan hi upayukt hai kyoanki ham log eeshvar ke sipahi haian. ham aur tum adhishthata haian, isalie agoge chaleange aur yah log bhajan gate hue hamari pichhepichhe chaleange.'

jab sab log yatra ko chale to papanashi ne kaha-'barahma ek hai kyoanki vah saty hai aur sansar anek hai kyoanki vah asaty hai. hamean sansar ki sabhi vastuoan se muanh mo d lena chahie, unamean bhi jo dekhane mean sarvada nirdosh jan p dati haian. unaki bahuroopata unhean itani manoharini bana deti hai jo is bat ka paratyaksh paraman hai ki vah dooshit haian. isi karan maian kisi kamal ko bhi shaant nirmal sagar mean hilate hue dekhata hooan to mujhe atmavedana hone lagati hai, aur chitt malin ho jata hai. jin vastuoan ka jnan indriyoan dvara hota hai, ve sabhi tyajy haian. renuka ka ek anu bhi doshoan se rahit nahian, hamean usase sashank rahana chahie. sabhi vastuean hamean bahakati haian, hamean rag mean rat karati haian. aur stri to un sare paralobhanoan ka yog matr hai jo vayumandal mean phooloan se laharati huee prithvi par aur svachchh sagar mean vicharan karate haian. vah purush dhany hai jisaki atma band dvar ke saman hai. vahi purush sukhi hai jo gooanga, bahara, andha hona janata hai, aur jo isalie saansarik vastuoan se ajnat rahata hai ki eeshvar ka jnan parapt kare.'

jojimas ne is kathan par vichar karane ke bad uttar diya-'poojy pita, tumane apani atma mere samane kholakar rakh di hai, isalie avashyak hai ki maian apane papoan ko tumhare samane svikar karuan. is bhaanti ham apani dharmaparatha ke anusar paraspar apaneapane aparadhoan ko svikar kar leange. yah varat dharan karane ke pahale mera saansarik jivan atyant duvarsanamay tha. madaura nagar mean, jo veshyaoan ke lie parasiddh tha, maian nana parakar ke vilasabhog kiya karata tha. nityaparati ratri samay javan vishayagamiyoan aur vina bajane vali striyoan ke sath sharab pita, aur unamean jo pasand ati use apane sath ghar le jata. tum jaisa sadhu purush kalpana bhi nahian kar sakata ki meri parachand kamaturata mujhe kisi sima tak le jati thi, is itana hi kah deta payarpt hai ki mujhase n vivahit bachati thi n devakanya, aur maian charoan or vyabhichar aur adharm phailaya karata tha. mere hriday mean kuvasanaoan ke siva kisi bat ka dhyan hi n ata tha. maian apani indriyoan ko madira se uttejit karata tha aur yatharth mean madira ka sabase b da piyakk d samajha jata tha. tis par maian eesaee dhamarvalasbi tha, aur salib par ch़aye gaye masih par mera atal vishvas tha. apani sampoorn sampatti bhogavilas mean u dane ke bad maian abhav ki vedanaoan se vikal hone laga tha ki maianne rangile sahacharoan mean sabase balavan purush ko ekaek ek bhayankar rog mean garast hote dekha. usaka sharir dinoandin kshin hone laga. usaki taangean ab use sanbhal n sakatian, usake kaanpate hue hath shithil p d gaye, usaki jyotihin aankheanan band rahane lagian. usake kanth se karahane ke siva aur koee dhvani n nikalati. usaka man, jo usaki deh mean bhi adhik alasyaparemi tha, nidra mean magn rahata pashuoan ki bhaanti vyavahar karane ke dandasvaroop eeshvar ne use pashu hi ka anuroop bana diya. apani sampatti ke hath se nikal jane ke karan maian pahale hi se kuchh vicharashil aur sanyami ho gaya tha. kintu ek param mitr ki durdasha se vah rang aur bhi gahara ho gaya. is udaharan ne meri aankheanan khel dian. isaka mere man par itana gahara parabhav p da ki maianne sansar ko tyag diya aur is marubhoomi mean chala aya. vahaan gat bis varshoan se maian aisi shanti ka anand utha raha hooan, jisamean koee vighn n p da. maian apane tapasvi shishyoan ke sath yathasamay julahe, raj, b़ee athava lekhak ka kam kiya karata hooan, lekin jo sach poochho to mujhe likhane mean koee anand nahian ata, kyoanki maian karm ko vichar se shreshth samajhata hooan. mere vichar haian ki mujh par eeshvar ki dayadrishti hai kyoanki ghor se ghor papoan mean asakt rahane par bhi maianne kabhi asha nahian chho di. yah bhav man se ek kshan ke lie bhi door hua ki param pita mujh par avashy akripa kareange. ashadipak ko jalaye rakhane se andhakar mit jata hai.

yah batean sunakar papanashi ne apani aankheanan akash ki or uthayian aur yoan gila ki-'bhagavan ! tum is parani par dayadrishti rakhate ho jis par vyabhichar, adharm aur vishayabhog jaise papoan ki kalima puti huee hai, aur mujh par, jisane sadaiv teri ajnaoan ka palan kiya, kabhi teri ichchha aur upadesh ke viruddh acharan nahian kiya, teri itani akripa ? tera nyay kitana rahasyamay hai aur teri vyavasthaean kitani dugarhy ?'

jojimas ne apane hath phailakar kaha-poojy pita, dekhiye, kshitij ke donoan or kalikali shrriankhalaean chali a rahi haian, mano chitiyaan kisi any sthan ko ja rahi hoan. yah sab hamare sahayatri haian jo pita entoni ke darshan ko a rahe haian.'

jab yah log un yatriyoan ke pas pahuanche to unhean ek vishal drishy dikhaee diya. tapasviyoan ki sena tin vrihad ardhagolakar panktiyoan mean door tak phaili huee thi. pahali shreni mean marubhoomi ke vriddh tapasvi the, jinake hathoan mean salibean thian aur jinaki dayian zamin ko chhoo rahi thian. doosari pankti mean ephrayam aur serapiyan ke tapasvi aur nil ke tatavarti parant ke varatadhari viraj rahe the. unake pichhe ke mahatmagan the jo apani dooravarti paha diyoan se aye the ? kuchh log apane sanvalaye aur sookhe hue sharir ko bina sile hue chith doan se ke hue the, doosare logoan ki deh par vastroan ki jagah keval narakat ki hiddayaan thian jo beant ki daliyoan ko aianthakar baandh li gayi thian. kitane hi bilkul nange the lekin eeshvar ne unaki nagnata ko bhe d ke ghaneghane baloan mean chhipa diya tha. sabhi ke hathoan mean khajoor ki daliyaan thian. unaki shobha aisi thi mano panne ke indradhanush hoan athava unaki upama svarg ki divaroan se ji sakati thi.

itane vistrit janasamooh mean aisi suvyavastha chhaee huee thi ki papanashi ko apane adhinasth tapasviyoan ko khoj nikalane mean leshamatr bhi kathinaee n p di. vah unake samip jakar kh da ho gaya, kintu pahale apane muanh ko kanatop se achchhi tarah ank liya ki use koee pahachan n sake aur unaki dharmik akaanksha mean badha n p de.

sahasa asankhy kanthoan se gagan bhedi nad utha-vah mahatma, vah mahatma aye! dekho vah muktatma hai jisane narak aur shaitan ko parast kar diya hai, jo eeshvar ka chaheta, hamara poojy pita entoni hai !

tab charoan or sannata chha gaya aur paratyek mastak prithvi par jhuk gaya.

us vistirn marusthal mean ek parvat ke shikhar par se mahatma entoni apane do piray shishyoan ke hathoan ke sahare, jinake nam makeriyas aur amethas the ahista se utar rahe the. vah dhiredhire chalate the par unaka sharir abhi tak tir ki bhaanti sidha tha aur usase unaki asadharan shakti parakat hoti thi. unaki shvet da़i chau di chhati par phaili huee thi aur unake muan de hue chikane sir par parakash ki rekhaean, yoan jagamaga rahi thian mano moosa paigambar ka mastak ho. unaki aankhoan mean ukav ki aankhoan kisi tivar jyoti thi, aur unake gol kapoloan par balakoan kisi madhur muskan thi. apane bhaktoan ko ashivard dene ke lie vah apani bahean uthaye hue the, jo ek shatabdi ke asadharan aur avishraant parishram se jarjar ho gayi thian. ant mean unake mukh se yah paremamay shabd uchcharit hue-'ai jekab, tere mandap kitane vishal, aur ai isarail, tere shamiyane kitane sukhamay haian.'

isake ek kshan ke uparant vah jitijagati divar ek sire se doosare sire tak madhur meghadhvani ki bhaanti is bhajan se gunjarit ho gayi-dhany hai vah parani jo eeshvar bhiroo hai !

entoni amethas aur makeriyas ke sath vriddh tapasviyoan, varatadhariyoan aur barahmachariyoan ke bich mean se hote hue nikale. yah mahatma jisane svarg aur narak donoan hi dekha tha, yah tapasvi jisane ek parvat ke shikhar par baithe hue eesaee dharm ka sanchalan kiya tha, yah rrishi jisane vidharmiyoan aur nastikoan ka kaphiya tang kar diya tha, is samay apane paratyek putr se snehamay shabdoan mean bolata tha, aur parasannamukh usane vida maangata tha kintu aj usaki svargayatra ka shubh divas tha. paramapita eeshvar ne aj apane la dale bete ko apane yahaan ane ka nimantran diya tha.

usane ephrayam aur sirepiyan ke adhyakshoan se kaha-'tum donoan bahusankhyak senaoan ke netritv aur sanchalan mean kushal ho, isalie tum donoan svarg mean svarn ke sainikavastr dharan karoge aur devadootoan ke neta mikayel apani senaoan ke senapati ki padavi tumhean paradan kareange.'

vriddh p aaul ko dekhakar unhoanne use aliangan kiya aur bole-'dekho, yah mere samast putroan mean sajjan aur dayalu hai. isaki atma se aisi manohar surabhi parasphutit hoti hai jaisi gulab ki kaliyoan ke phooloan se, jinhean vah nity bota hai.'

sant jojimas ko unhaaneanne in shabdoan mean sambodhit kiya-'too kabhi eeshvariy daya aur kshama se nirash nahian hua, isalie teri atma mean eeshvariy shanti ka nivas hai. teri sukirti ka kamal tere kukarmoan ke kich d se uday hua hai.'

unake sabhi bhashaoan se devabuddhi parakat hoti thi.

vriddhajanoan se unhoanne kaha-eeshvar ke sianhasan ke charoan or assi vriddhapurush ujjval vastr pahane, sir par svarnamukut dharan kiye baithe rahate haian.

yuvakavrind ko unhoanne in shabdoan mean santvana di-'parasann raho, udasinata us logoan ke lie chho d do jo sansar ka sukh bhog rahe haian !'

is bhaanti sabase hansahansakar batean karate, upadesh dete vah apane dharmaputroan ki sena ke samane se chale jate the. sahasa papanashi unhean samip ate dekhakar unake charanoan par gir p da. usaka hriday asha aur bhay se vidirn ho raha tha.

'mere poojy pita, mere dayalu pita !'-usane manasik vedana se pi dit hokar kaha-'piray pita, meri baanh pak die, kyoanki maian bhanvar mean baha jata hooan. maianne thayas ki atma ko eeshvar ke charanoan par samarpit kiya; maianne ek ooanche stambh ke shikhar par aur ek kabar ki kandara mean tap kiya hai, bhoomi par rag d khatekhate mere mastak mean ooant ke ghutanoan ke saman ghatthe p d gaye haian, tis par bhi eeshvar ne mujhase aankheanan pher li haian. pita, mujhe ashivard dijie isase mera udghar ho jayega.'

kintu entoni ne isaka uttar n diya-usane papanashi ke shishyoan ko aisi tivar drishti se dekha jisake samane kh da hona mushkil tha. itane mean unaki nigah moorkh p aaul par ja p di. vah jara der usaki taraph dekhate rahe, phir use apane samip ane ka sanket kiya. chooanki sabhi adamiyoan ko vismay hua ki vah mahatma is moorkh aur pagal adami se batean kar rahe haian, atev unaki shanka ka samadhan karane ke lie unhoanne kaha-'eeshvar ne is vyakti par jitani vatsalata parakat ki hai utani tum mean se kisi par nahian. putr p aaul, apani aankheanan oopar utha aur mujhe batala ki tujhe svarg mean kya dikhaee deta hai.'

buddhihin p aaul ne aankheanan uthayian. usake mukh par tej chha gaya aur usaki vani mukt ho gayi. bola-'maian svarg mean ek shayya bichhi huee dekhata hooan jisamean sunahari aur baiangani chadarean lagi huee haian. usake pas tin devakanyaean baithi huee b di chaukasi se dekh rahi haian ki koee any atma usake nikat n ane paye. jis sammanit vyakti ke lie shayya bichhaee gayi hai usake sivay koee nikat nahian ja sakata.

papanashi ne yah samajhakar ki yah shayya usaki satkirti ki parichayak hai, eeshvar ko dhanyavad dena shuroo kiya. kintu sant entoni ne use chup rahane aur moorkh p aaul ki batoan ko sunane ka sanket kiya. p aaul usi atmollas ki dhun mean bola-'tinoan devakanyaean mujhase batean kar rahi haian. vah mujhase kahati haian ki shighar hi ek vidushi mrityulok se parasthan karane vali hai. iskandriya ki thayas maranasann hai; aur hamane yah shayya usake adarasatkar ke nimitt taiyar ki hai, kyoanki ham tinoan usi ki vibhootiyaan haian. hamare nam haian bhakti, bhay aur parem!'

entoni ne poochha-'piray putr, tujhe aur kya dikhaee deta hai ?'

moorkh p aaul ne adhah se oodhrv tak shoony drishti se dekha, ek kshitij se doosari kshitij tak najar dau dayi. sahasa usaki drishti papanashi par ja p di. daivi bhay se usaka muanh pila p d gaya aur usake netroan se adrishy jvala nikalane lagi.

usane ek lambi saans lekar kaha-'maian tin pishachoan ko dekh raha hooan jo umang se bhare hue is manushy ko pak dane ki taiyari kar rahe haian. unamean se ek ka akar ek stambh ki bhaanti hai, doosare ka ek stri ki bhaanti aur tisare ka ek jadoogar ki bhaanti. tinoan ke nam garm lohe se dag diye haian-ek ka mastak par, doosare ke pet par aur tisare ka chhati par aur ve nam haian-ahankar, vilasaparem aur shanka. bas, mujhe aur kuchh nahian soojhata.'

yah kahane ke bad p aaul ki aankheanan phir nishparabh ho gayian, muanh niche ko latak gaya aur vah poorvavat sidhasada maloom hone laga.

jab papanashi ne shishyagan entoni ki or sachint aur sashank bhav se dekhane lage to unhoanne yah shabd kahe-'eeshvar ne apani sachchaee vyavastha suna di. hamara kartavy hai ki ham usako shirodhary karean aur chup rahean. asantosh aur gila usake sevakoan ke lie upayukt nahian.

yah kahakar vah age b़ gaye. soory ne astachal ko parayan kiya aur use apane arun parakash se alokit kar diya. sant entoni ki chhaya deaivi lila se atyant dirgh roop dharan karake usake pichhe, ek anant galiche ki bhaanti phaili huee thi, ki sant entoni ki smriti bhi is bhaanti dirghajivi hogi, aur log anantakal tak usaka yash gate raheange.

kintu papanashi vajarahat ki bhaanti kh da raha. use n kuchh soojhata tha, n kuchh sunaee deta tha. yahi shabd usake kanoan mean gooanj rahe the-thayas maranasann hai !

use kabhi is bat ka dhyan hi n aya tha. bis varshoan tak nirantar usane momiyaee ke sir ko dekha tha, mrityu ka svaroop usaki aankhoan ke sammukh rahata tha. par yah vichar ki mrityu ek din thayas ki aankheanan band kar degi, use ghor ashchary mean dal raha tha.

'thayas mar rahi hai !'-in shabdoan mean kitani vismayakari aur bhayankar ashay hai ! thayas mar rahi hai, vah ab is lok mean n rahegi, to phir soory ka, phooloan ka, sarovaroan ka aur samast srishti ka uddeshy hi kya ? is barahmand hi ki kya avashyakata hai. sahasa vah jhapatakar chala-'use dekhooanga, ek bar phir usase milooanga !' vah dau dane laga. use kuchh khabar n thi ki vah kahaan ja raha hai, kintu antahparerana use avichal roop se lakshy ki or liye jati thi, vah sidhe nil nadi ki or chala ja raha tha. nadi par use paloan ka ek samooh tairata hua dikhaee p da. vah koodakar ek nauka mean ja baitha, jise habshi chala rahe the, aur vahaan nauka ke mustool par pith tekakar mudit aankhoan se yatra marg ka smaran karata hua, vah trkodh aur vedana se bola-ah ! maian kitana moorkh hooan ki thayas ko pahale hi apana n kar liya jab samay tha ! kitana moorkh hooan ki samajha ki sansar mean thayas ke siva aur bhi kuchh hai ! kitana pagalapan tha ! maian eeshvar ke vichar mean, atmodghar ki chinta mean, anant jivan ki akaanksha mean rat rahata; mano thamas ko dekhane ke bad bhi in pakhandoan mean kuchh mahatv tha. mujhe us samay kuchh n soojha ki us stri ke chumban mean anant sukh bhara hua hai, aur usake bina jivan nirarthak hai, jisaka mooly ek duahsvapn se adhik nahian. moorkh ! toone use dekha, phir bhi tujhe paralok ke sukhoan ki ichchha bani rahi ! are kayar, too use dekhakar bhi eeshvar se darata raha ! eeshvar svarg ! anadi ! yah sab kya gorakhadhandha hai! unamean rakha hi kya hai, aur kya vah us anand ka alpaansh nahian de sakate haian jo tujhe usase milata. are abhage, niburddhi, mithyavadi, moorkh jo thayas ke adharoan ko chho dakar eeshvariy kripa ko anyatr khojata raha ! teri aankhoan par kisane parda dal diya tha? us parani ka satyanash ho jay jisane us samay tujhe andha bana diya tha. tujhe daivi kop ka kya bhay tha jab too usake parem ka ek kshan bhi anand utha leta. par toone aisa n kiya. usane tere lie apani baanhean phaila di thian, jinamean maans ke sath phooloan ki sugandh mishrit thi, aur toone usake unmukt vriksh ke anupam sudhasagar mean apane ko plavit n kar diya. too nity us dveshadhvani par kan lagaye raha jo tujhase kahati thi, bhagabhag ! andhe ! ha shok ! pashchattap ! ha nirash ! narak mean use kabhi n bhoolane vali gh di ki anandasmriti le jane ka aur eeshvar se yah kahane ka avasar hathoan se nikal gaya ki 'mere maans ko jala meri dhamaniyoan mean jitana rakt hai use choos le, meri sari hiddayoan ko choorachoor kar de, lekin too mera hriday se us sukhadasmriti ko nahian nikal sakata, jo chirakal tak mujhe sugandhit aur paramudit rakhegi ! thayas mar rahi hai ! eeshvar too kitana hasyaspad hai ! tujhe kaise bataooan ki maian tere narakalok ko tuchchh samajhata hooan, usaki hansi u data hooan ! thayas mar rahi hai, vah meri kabhi n hogi, kabhi nahian, kabhi nahian !

nauka tej dhara ke sath bahati jati thi aur vah dinake-din pet ke bal p da hua barabar kahata tha-kabhi nahian ! kabhi nahian !! kabhi nahian !!

tab yah vichar ane par ki usane auroan ko apana paremaras chakhaya, keval maian hi vanchit raha. usane sansar ko apane parem ki laharoan se plavit kar diya aur maian usake hoanthoan ko bhi n tar kar saka. vah daant pisakar uth baitha aur antaverdana se chillane laga. vah apane nakhoan se apani chhati ko kharoanchane aur apane hathoan ko datoan se katane laga.

usake man mean yah vichar utha-yadi maian usake sare paremiyoan ka sanhara kar deta to kitana achchha hota.

is hatyakand ki kalpana ne use saral hatyatrishna se andolit kar diya. vah sochane laga ki vah nisiyas ka khoob aram se maje lelekar vadh karega aur usake chehare ko barabar dekhata rahega ki kaise usaki jan nikalati hai. tab akasmat usaka trkodhaveg dravibhoot ho gaya. vah rone aur sisakane laga; vah din aur namar ho gaya. ek ajnat vinayashilata ne usake chitt ko komal bana diya. use yah akaanksha huee ki apane balapan ke sathi nisiyas ke gale mean baanhean dal de aur usase kahe-nisiyas maian tumhean pyar karata hooan kyoanki tumane usase parem kiya hai. mujhase usaki paremachachar karo. mujhase vah batean kaho jo vah tumase kiya karati thi.

lekin abhi tak usake hriday mean in vakyaban ki nok nirantar chubh rahi thi-thayas mar rahi hai !

phir vah paremonmatt hokar kahane laga-o din ke ujale ! o nisha ke akashadipakoan ki raupy chhata, o akash, o jhoomati huee chotiyoan vale vrikshoan! o vanajantuoan ! o grihapashuoan ! o manushyoan ke chintit hridayoan ! kya tumhare kan bahare ho gaye haian ? tumhean sunaee nahian deta ki thayas mar rahi hai ? mand samiran, nirmal parakash, manohar sugandh ! inaki ab kya zaroorat hai ? tum bhag jao, lupt ho jao ! o bhoomandal ke roop aur vichar ! apane muanh chhipa lo, mit jao ! kya tum nahian janate ki thayas mar rahi hai ? vah sansar ke madhury ka kendr thi jo vastu usake samip ati thi vah usaki roopajyoti se paratibimbit hokar chamak uthati thi. iskandriya ke bhoj mean jitane vidvanh, jnani, vriddh usake samip baithate the unake vichar kitane chittakarshak the, unake bhashan kitane saras ! kitane hansamukh log the ! unake adharoan par madhur muskan ki shobha thi aur unake vichar anandabhog ki sugandh mean doobe hue the. thayas ki chhaya unake oopar thi, isalie unake mukh se jo kuchh nikalata vah sundar, saty aur madhur hota tha ! unake kathan ek shubhar abhakti se alankrit ho jate the. shok ! vah shok sab ab svapn ho gaya. us sukhamay abhinay ka ant ho gaya. thayas mar rahi hai ! vah maut mujhe kyoan nahian ati. usaki maut se marana mere lie kitana svabhavik aur saral hai ! lekin o abhage, nikamme, kayar purush, o nirash aur vishad mean doobi huee duratma, kya too marane ke lie hi banayi gayi hai ? kya too samajhata hai ki too mrityu ka svad rakh sakega ? jisane abhi jivan ka marm nahian jana, vah marana kya jane ? haan, agar eeshvar hai, aur mujhe dand de, to maian karane ko taiyar hooan. sunata hai o eeshvar, maian tujhase ghrina karata hooan sunata hai ! maian tujhe kosata hooan! mujhe apane agnivajaroan se bhasm kar de, maian isaka ichchhuk hooan, yahaan meri b di abhilasha hai. too mujhe agnikund mean dal de. tujhe uttejit karane ke lie, dekh, maian tere mukh par thookata hooan. mere lie anant narakavas ki zaroorat hai. isake bina yah apar trkodh shant n hoga jo mere hriday mean kh dak raha hai.

doosare din paratahkal alabina ne papanashi ko apane ashram mean kh de paya. vah usaka svagat karati huee boli-'poojy pita, ham apane shantibhavan mean tumhara svagat karate haian, kyoanki ap avashy hi us vidushi ki atma ko shanti paradan karane aye haian jise apane yahaan ashram diya hai. apako vidit hoga ki eeshvar ne apani asim kripa se use apane pas bulaya hai. yah samachar apase kyoankar chhipa rah sakata tha jise svarg ke dootoan ne marusthal ke is sire se us sire tak pahuancha diya hai ? yatharth mean thayas ka shubh aant nikat hai. usake atmodghar ki trihkaya poori ho gayi aur maian sookshmatah ap par yah parakat kar dena uchit samajhati hooan ki jab tak vah yahaan rahi, usaka vyavahar aur acharan kaisa raha. apake chale jane ke pashchath jab vah apani muhar lagaee huee kuti mean ekant sevan ke lie rakhi gayi, to maianne usake bhojan ke sath baansuri bhi bhej di, jo thik usi parakar ki thi jaisi nartakiyaan bhoj ke avasaroan par bajaya karati haian. maianne yah vyavastha isalie ki jisamean usaka chitt udas n ho aur vah eeshvar ke samane usase kam sangitachatury aur kushagarata n parakat kare jitani vah manushyoan ke samane dikhati thi. anubhav se siddh hua ki maianne vyavastha karane mean dooradarshita aur charitraparichay se kam liya, kyoanki thayas dinabhar baansuri bajakar eeshvar ka kirtigan karati rahati thi aur any devakanyaean, jo usaki vanshi ki dhvani se akarshit hoti thian, kahatian-hamean is gan mean svargakuanjoan ki bulabul ki chahak ka anand milata hai ! usake svargasangit se sara ashram guanjarit ho jata tha. pathik bhi anayas kh de hokar use sunakar apane kan pavitr kar lete the. is bhaanti thayas tapashchayar karati rahi. yahaan tak ki sath dinoan ke bad vah dvar jis par apane muanhar laga di thi, apahi-ap khul gaya aur vah mitti ki muhar toot gayi. yadyapi use kisi manushy ne chhua tak nahian. is lakshan se mujhe jnat hua ki apane usake lie jo parayashchit niyat kiya tha, vah poora ho gaya aur eeshvar ne usake sab aparadh kshama kar diye. usi samay se vah meri any devakanyaoan ke sadharan jivan mean bhag lene lagi hai. unhian ke sath kamadhandha karati hai, unhian ke sath dhyanupasana karati hai. vah apane vachan aur vyavahar ki namarata se unake lie ek adarshacharitr thi, aur unake bich mean aur vyavahar ki namarata se unake lie ek adarshacharitr thi, aur unake bich mean pavitrata ki ek moortisi jan p dati thi. kabhikabhi vah manamalin ho jati thi, kintu ve ghataean jald hi kat jati thian aur phir soory ka vihasit parakash phail jata tha. jab maianne dekha ki usake hriday mean eeshvar ke parati bhakti, asha aur parem ke bhav udit ho gaye haian to phir maianne unake abhinayakalanaipuny ka upayog karane mean vilamb nahian kiya. yahaan tak ki maian usake saundary ko bhi usaki bahanoan ki dhamornnati ke lie kam mean laee. maianne usase sadgaranth mean varnit devakanyaoan aur vidushiyoan ki kirtiyoan ka abhinay karane ke lie adesh kiya. usane eeshvar, dibora, joodith, lajaras ki bahan mariyam, tatha parabhu masih ki mata mariyam ka abhinay kiya. poojy pita, maian janati hooan ki apaka sanyamashil man in krityoan ke vichar hi se kampit hota hai, lekin apane bhi yadi use in dharmik drishyoan mean dekha hota to apaka dgaday pulakit ho jata. jab vah apane khajoor ke pattoan se sundar hath akash ki or uthati thi, to usake lochanoan se sachche aansuoan ki varsha hone lagati thi. maianne bahut dinoan tak strisamuday par shasan kiya hai aur mera yah niyam hai ki unake svabhav aur paravrittiyoan ki avahelana n ki jay. sabhi bijoan mean ek saman phool nahian lagate, n sabhi atmaean saman roop mean nivritt hoti haian. yah bat bhi n bhoolani chahie ki thayas ne apane ko eeshvar ke charanoan par us samay arpit kiya jab usaka mukhakamal poorn vikas par tha aur aisa atmasamarpan agar advitiy nahian, to virala avashy hai. yah saundary jo usaka svabhavik avaran hai, tis mas ke visham tap par bhi abhi tak nishparabh nahian hua hai. apani is bimari mean usaki nirantar yahi ichchha rahi hai ki akash ko dekha kare. isalie maian nity paratahkal use aangan mean kuean ke pas, purane aanjire ke vriksh ke niche, jisaki chhaya mean is ashram ki adhishthatriyaan upadesh kiya karati haian, le jati hooan. dayalu pita, vah apako vahian milegi. kintu jaldi kijie, kyoanki eeshvar ka adesh ho chuka hai aur aj ki rat vah mukh kafan se ank jayega jo eeshvar ne is jagath ko lajjit aur utsahit karane ke lie banaya hai. yahi svaroop atma ka sanhar karata tha, yahi usaka udghar karega.

papanashi alabina ke pichhepichhe aangan mean gaya jo soory ke parakash se achchhadit ho raha tha. eeantoan ki chhat ke kinaroan par shvet kapotoan ki ek muktamalasi bani huee thi. aanjir ke vriksh ki chhaanh mean ek shayya par thayas hathapar-hath rakhe leti huee thi. usaka mukh shrivihin ho gaya tha. usake pas kee striyaan muanh par nakab dale kh di antim sanskarasoochak git ga rahi thian-

'param pita, mujh din parani par

apani saparem vatsalata se daya kar.

apani karunadrishti se

mere aparadhoan ko kshama kar.'

papanashi ne pukara-'thayas !'

thayas ne palakean uthayi aur apani aankhoan ki putaliyaan us kanthadhvani ki orapherian.

alabina ne devakanyaoan ko pichhe hat jane ki ajna di, kyoanki papanashi par unaki chhaya p dana bhi dharmaviruddh tha.

papanashi ne phir pukara-'thayas.'

usane apana sir dhirese uthaya. usake pile hoanthoan se ek halki saans nikalayi.

usane kshin svar mean kaha-'pita, kya ap haian ? apako yad hai ki hamane sote se pani piya tha aur chhuhare to de the ? pita, usi din mere hriday mean parem ka abhyuday hua- anant jivan ke parem ka !'

yah kahakar vah chup ho gayi. usaka sir pichhe ko jhuk gaya.

yamadootoan ne use gher liya tha aur intim paranavedana shvet booandoan ne usake mathe ko ardr kar diya tha. ek kabootar apane arun trkandan se us sthan ki niravata bhang kar raha tha. tab papanashi ki sisakiyaan devakanyaoan ke bhajanoan ke sath sammishrat ho gayian.

'mujhe meri kalimaoan se bhalibhaanti pavitr kar de aur mere papoan ko dho de, kyoanki maian apane kukarmoan ko svikar karati hooan, aur mere patak mere netroan ke sammukh upasthit haian.'

sahasa thayas uthakar shayya par baith gayi. usaki baiangani aankheanan phail gayian, aur vah tallin hokar baanhoan ko phailaye hue door ki paha diyoan ki or takane lagi. tab usane spasht aur utphull svar mean kaha-'vah dekho, anant parabhat ke gulab khile haian.'

usaki aankhoan mean ek vichitr sphoorti a gayi, usake mukh par halkasa rang chha gaya. usaki jivanajyoti chamak uthi thi, aur vah pahale se bhi adhik sundar aur parasannavadan ho gayi thi.

papanashi ghutanoan ke bal baith gaya; apani lambi, patali baanhean usake gale mean dal dian, aur bola-aise svaroan mean jise svayan n pahachan sakata tha ki yah meri hi avaz hai- 'piraye, abhi marane ka nam n le ! maian tujh par jan deta hooan. abhi n mar ! thayas, sun, kan dharakar sun, maianne tere sath chhal kiya hai, tujhe daga diya hai. maian svayan bharaanti mean p da hua tha. eeshvar, svarg adi yah sab nirarthak shabd haian, mithya haian. is aihik jivan se b़kar aur koee vastu; aur koee padarth nahian hai. manavaparem hi sansar mean sabase uttam ratn hai. mera tujh par anant parem hai. abhi n mar. yah kabhi nahian ho sakata, tera mahattv isase kahian adhik hai, too marane ke lie banaee hi nahian gayian. a, mere sath chal ! yahaan se bhag chalean. maian tujhe apani god mean uthakar prithvi ki us sima tak le ja sakata hooan. a, ham parem mean magn ho jayean. piraye, sun, maian kya kahata hooan. ek bar kah de, maian jiooangi-maian jina chahati hooan ! thayas uth, uth !'

thayas ne ek shabd bhi n suna. usaki drishti anant ki or lagi huee thi.

ant mean vah nirbal svar mean boli-'svarg ke dvar khul rahe haian, maian devadootoan ko, nabiyoan ko aur santoan ko dekh rahi hooan-mera saral hriday thiyodar unhian mean hai. usake sir par phooloan ka mukut hai, vah muskarata hai, mujhe pukar raha hai. do devadoot mere pas aye haian, vah idhar chale a rahe haian....vah kitane sundar haian ! maian eeshvar ke darshan kar rahi hooan !'

usane ek paraphull uchchhvas liya aur usaka sir takiye par pichhe gir p da. thayas ka paranant ho gaya ! sab dekhate hi rah gaye, chi diya u d gayi.

papanashi ne aantim bar, nirash hokar, usako gale se laga liya. usaki aankheanan use trishna, parem aur trkodh se pha de khati thian.

alabina ne papanashi se kaha-'door ho, papi pishach !'

aur usane b di komalata se apani uangaliyaan mrit balika ki palakoan par rakhian. papanashi pichhe hat gaya, jaise kisi ne dhakka de diya ho. usaki aankhoan mean jvala nikal rahi thi. aisa maloom hota tha ki usake pairoan ke tale prithvi phat gayi hai.

devakanyaean jakariya ka bhajan ga rahi thian-

'ijarailiyoan ke khuda ko koti dhanyavad !'

akasmat unake kanth avaruddh ho gaye, mano kisi ne gala band kar diya. unhoanne dadur!!!

vah itana ghinauna ho gaya tha ki jab usane apana hath apane muanh par phera, to use svayan jnat hua ki usaka svaroop kitana vikrit ho gaya hai !