ब्रह्मराक्षस का शिष्य -गजानन माधव मुक्तिबोध

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

us mahabhavy bhavan ki athavian manjil ke jine se satavian manjil ke jine ki sooni-sooni sidhiyoan par utarate hue, us vidyarthi ka chehara bhitar se kisi prakash se lal ho raha tha.

vah chamatkar use prabhavit nahian kar raha tha, jo usane hal-hal mean dekha. tin kamare par karata hua vah vishal vajrabahu hath usaki aankhoan ke samane phir se khianch jata. us hath ki pavitrata hi usake khayal mean jati kintu vah chamatkar, chamatkar ke roop mean use prabhavit nahian karata tha. us chamatkar ke pichhe aisa kuchh hai, jisamean vah ghul raha hai, lagatar ghulata ja raha hai. vah kuchh kya ek mahapandit ki jindagi ka saty nahian hai? nahian, vahi hai! vahi hai!

paanchavi manjil se chauthi manjil par utarate hue, brahmachari vidyarthi, us prachin bhavy bhavan ki sooni-sooni sidhiyoan par yah shlok gane lagata hai.

meghairmeduramambaran vanabhavah shyamastamaladrumaiah - is bhavan se thik barah varsh ke bad yah vidyarthi bahar nikala hai. usake guroo ne jate samay, radha-madhav ki yamuna-kool-krida mean ghar bhooli huee radha ko bula rahe nand ke bhav prakat kiye haian. guroo ne ek sath shrriangar aur vatsaly ka bodh vidyarthi ko karavaya. vidyadhyayan ke bad, ab use pita ke charan chhoona hai. pitaji! pitaji! maan! maan! yah dhvani usake hriday se phoot nikali.

kintu jyoan-jyoan vah chhand soone bhavan mean gooanjata, ghoomata gaya tyoan-tyoan vidyarthi ke hriday mean apane guroo ki tasavir aur bhi tivrata se chamakane lagi.

bhagyavanh hai vah jise aisa guroo mile!

jab vah chidiyoan ke ghoansaloan aur barroan ke chhattoan-bhare soone ooanche sianhadvar ke bahar nikala to ekaek rah se gujarate hue log bhoot bhoot kah kar bhag khade hue. aj tak us bhavan mean koee nahian gaya tha. logoan ki dharana thi ki vahaan ek brahmarakshas rahata hai.

barah sal aur kuchh din pahale --

sadaq par dopahar ke do baje, ek dehati ladaqa, bhookha-pyasa apane sookhe hothoan par jibh pherata hua, usi bagal vale ooanche semal ke vriksh ke niche baitha hua tha. hava ke jhokoan se, phooloan ke phaloan ka reshami kapas hava mean tairata hua, door-door tak aur idhar-udhar bikhar raha tha. usake mathe par phikrean guanth-biandh rahi thian. usane pas mean padi huee ek moti eeant sirahane rakhi aur ped-tale let gaya.

dhire-dhire, usaki vichar-magnata ko todate hue kan ke pas use kuchh phusaphusahat sunaee di. usane dhyan se sunane ki koshish ki. ve kaun the?

unamean se ek kah raha tha, are, vah bhatt. nitant moorkh hai aur dambhi bhi. maianne jab use eeshavasyopanishadh ki kuchh panktiyoan ka arth poochha, to vah baukhala utha. is kashi mean kaise-kaise dambhi ikaththe hue haian?

vartalap sunakar vah leta hua ladaqa khat se uth baitha. usaka chehara dhool aur pasine se mlan aur malin ho gaya tha, bhookh aur pyas se nirjiv.

vah ekadam, bat karanevaloan ke pas khada hua. hath jode, matha jamin par teka. chehare par ashchary aur prarthana ke dayaniy bhav! kahane laga, he vidvanoan! maian moorkh hooan. apadh dehati hooan kintu jnan-prapti ki mahatvakaanksha rakhata hooan. he mahabhago! ap vidyarthi pratit hote haian. mujhe vidvanh guroo ke ghar ki rah batao.

ped-tale baithe hue do batuk vidyarthi us dehati ko dekhakar hansane lage; poochha -

kahaan se aya hai?

dakshin ke ek dehat se! ...padhane-likhane se maianne bair kiya to vidvanh pitaji ne ghar se nikal diya. tab maianne pakka nishchay kar liya ki kashi jakar vidyadhyayan karooanga. jangal-jangal ghoomata, rah poochhata, maian aj hi kashi pahuancha hooan. kripa karake guroo ka darshan karaie.

ab donoan vidyarthi jor-jor se hansane lage. unamean-se ek, jo vidooshak tha, kahane laga --

dekh be samane sianhadvar hai. usamean ghus ja, tujhe guroo mil jayega. kah kar vah thathakar hans pada.

asha n thi ki guroo bilakul samane hi hai. dehati ladaqe ne apana dera-danda sanbhala aur bina pranam kiye tezise kadam badhata hua bhavan mean dakhil ho gaya.

doosare batuk ne pahale se poochha, tumane achchha kiya use vahaan bhej kar? usake hriday mean khed tha aur pap ki bhavana.

doosara batuk chup tha. usane apane kiye par khinn hokar sirph itana hi kaha, akhir brahmarakshas ka rahasy bhi to maloom ho.

sianhadvar ki lal-lal barean gooan-gooan karati use charoan or se katane ke lie daudi; lekin jyoan hi usane use par kar liya to sooraj ki dhoop mean chamakanevali bhoori ghas se bhare, vishal, soone aangan ke as-pas, charoan or use baramade dikhaee diye -- vishal, bhavy aur soone baramade jinaki chhatoan mean phanoos latak rahe the. lagata tha ki jaise abhi-abhi unhean koee saph karake gaya ho! lekin vahaan koee nahian tha.

aangan se dikhanevali tisari manjil ki chhajjevali muandere par ek billi savadhani se chalati huee dikhaee de rahi thi. use ek jina bhi dikhaee diya, lamba-chauda, saph-suthara. usaki sidhiyaan taje gobar se puti huee thian. usaki mahak nak mean ghus rahi thi. sidhiyoan par usake chalane ki avaj gooanjati; par kahian, kuchh nahian!

vah age-age chadhata-badhata gaya. doosari manjil ke chhajje mile jo bich ke aangan ke charoan or phaile hue the. unamean saphed chadar lagi gaddiyaan door-door tak bichhi huee thian. ek or mridang, tabala, sitar adi anek vady-yantr karine se rakhe hue the. rang-birange phanoos latak rahe the aur kahian agarabattiyaan jal rahi thian.

itani prabandh-vyavastha ke bad bhi use kahian manushy ke darshan nahian hue. aur n koee pairoan ki avajean sunaee dian, sivay apani pag-dhvani ke. usane socha shayad oopar koee hoga.

usane tisari manjil par jakar dekha. phir vahi saphed-saphed gaddiyaan, phir vahi phanoos, phir vahi agarabattiyaan. vahi khali-khalipan, vahi soonapan, vahi vishalata, vahi bhavyata aur vahi manushy-hinata.

ab us dehati ke dil mean se ah nikali. yah kya? yah kahaan phans gaya; lekin itani vyavastha hai to kahian koee aur zaroor hoga. is khayal se usaka dar kam hua aur vah baramade mean se gujarata hua agale jine par chadhane laga.

in baramadoan mean koee sajavat nahian thi. sirph dariyaan bichhi huee thian. kuchh tail-chitr tange the. khidaqiyaan khuli huee thian jinamean-se sooraj ki pili kiranean a rahi thian. door hi se khidaqi ke bahar jo najar jati to bahar ka hara-bhara ooancha-nicha, mal-talaiyoan, pedoan-pahadoan vala najara dekhakar pata chalata ki yah manjil kitani ooanchi haian aur kitani nirjan.

ab vah dehati ladaqa bhayabhit ho gaya. yah vishalata aur nirjanata use atankit karane lagi. vah darane laga. lekin vah itana oopar a gaya tha ki niche dekhane hi se aankhoan mean chakkar a jata. usane oopar dekha to sirph ek hi manjil shesh thi. usane agale jine se oopar ki manjil chadhana tay kiya.

danda kandhe par rakhe aur gathari khoanse vah ladaqa dhire-dhire agali manjil ka jina chadhane laga. usake pairoan ki avaj usi se jane kya phusalati aur usaki ridh

qi haddi mean-se sard sanvedanaean gujarane lagatian.

jin khatm hua to phir ek bhavy baramada mila, lipa-puta aur agaroo-gandh se mahakata hua. sabhi or mrigasan, vyaghrasan bichhe hue. ek or yojanoan vistar-drishy dekhati, khidaqi ke pas dev-pooja mean sanlagn-man muandi aankhoanvale rrishi-manishi kashmir ki kimati shal odhe dhyanasth baithe.

ladaqe ko harsh hua. usane daravaje par mattha teka. anand ke aansoo aankhoan mean khil uthe. use svarg mil gaya.

dhyan-mudra bhang nahian huee to man-hi-man mane hue guroo ko pranam kar ladaqa jine ki sarvochch sidhi par let gaya. turant hi use niand a gayi. vah gahare sapanoan mean kho gaya. thakit sharir aur santusht man ne usaki ichchhaoan ko moort-roop diya. ..vah vidvanh ban kar dehat mean apane pita ke pas vapas pahuanch gaya hai. unake charanoan ko pakade, unhean apane aansuoan se tar kar raha hai aur ardr-hriday ho kar kah raha hai, pitaji! maian vidvanh ban kar a gaya, mujhe aur sikhaie. mujhe rah bataie. pitaji! pitaji! aur maan aanchal se apani aankhean poanchhati huee, putr ke jnan-gaurav se bhar kar, use apane hath se khianchati huee god mean bhar rahi hai. sashrumukh pita ka vatsaly-bhara hath usake shish par ashirvad ka chhatr ban kar phaila hua hai.

vah dehati ladaqa chal pada aur dekha ki us tejasvi brahman ka daidipyaman chehara, jo abhi-abhi mridu aur komal hokar us par kiranean bikher raha tha, kathor aur ajanabi hota ja raha hai.

brahman ne kathor hokar kaha, tumane yahaan ane ka kaise sahas kiya? yahaan kaise aye?ladaqe ne mattha teka, bhagavanh! maian moodh hooan, nirakshar hooan, jnanarjan karane ke lie aya hooan.

brahman kuchh hansa. usaki avaj dhimi ho gayi kintu dridhata vahi rahi. sookhapan aur kathorata vahi.

toone nishchay kar liya hai?

ji!

nahian, tujhe nishchay ki adat nahian hai; ek bar aur soch le! ...za philahal naha-dho us kamare mean, vahaan jakar bhojan kar let, soch-vichar! kal mujh se milana.

doosare din pratyush kal mean ladaqa guroo se poorv jagrit hua. nahaya-dhoya. guroo ki pooja ki thali sajayi aur ajnakari shishy ki bhaanti adesh ki pratiksha karane laga. usake sharir mean ab ek nee chetana a gayi thi. netr prakashaman the.

vishalabahu prithu-vaksh tejasvi lalatavale apane guroo ki charya dekhakar ladaqa bhavuk-roop se mugdh ho gaya tha. vah chhote-se-chhota hona chahata tha ki jisase lalachi chianti ki bhaanti jamin par pada, mitti mean mila, jnan ki shakkar ka ek-ek kan saph dekh sake aur turant pakad sake!

guroo ne sanshayapoorn drishti se dekh use dapat kar poochha; soch-vichar liya?

ji! ki dari huee avaj!

kuchh soch kar guroo ne kaha, nahian, tujhe nishchay karane ki adat nahian hai. ek bar padhaee shuroo karane par tum barah varsh tak phir yahaan se nikal nahian sakate.

soch-vichar lo. achchha, mere sath ek baje bhojan karana, alag nahian!

aur guroo vyaghrasan par baithakar pooja-archa mean lin ho gaye. is prakar do din aur bit gaye. ladaqe ne apana ek karyakram bana liy tha, jisake anusar vah kam karata raha. use pratit hua ki guroo usase santusht haian.

ek din guroo ne poochha, tumane tay kar liya hai ki barah varsh tak tum is bhavan ke bahar pag nahian rakhoge?

natamastak ho kar ladaqe ne kaha, ji!

guroo ko thodi hansi ayi, shayad usaki moorkhata par ya apani moorkhata par, kaha nahian ja sakata. unhean laga ki kya is nire nirakshar ke aankhean nahian hai? kya yahaan ka vatavaran sachamuch achchha maloom hota hai? unhoanne apane shishy ke mukh ka dhyan se avalokan kiya. ek sidha, bhola-bhala nirakshar balamukh! chehare par nishkapat, nishchhal jyoti!

apane chehare par guroo ki gadi huee drishti se kianchit vichalit hokar shishy ne apani nirakshar budhdivala mastak aur nicha kar liya.

guroo ka hriday pighala! unhoanne dil dahalane vali avaj se, jo kafi dhimi thi, kaha, dekh! barah varsh ke bhitar too ved, sangit, shastr, puran, ayurved, sahity, ganit adi-adi samast shastr aur kalaoan mean parangat ho javega. keval bhavan tyag kar tujhe bahar jane ki anujna nahian milegi. la, vah asan. vahaan baith.

aur is prakar guroo ne pooja-path ke sthan ke samip ek kushasan par apane shishy ko baitha, paranpara ke anusar pahale shabd-roopavali se usaka vidyadhyayan prarambh karaya.

guroo ne mriduta ne kaha, -- bolo bete --

ramah, ramau, ramaah

aur is bal-vidyarthi ki asphut hriday ki vani us bhayanak niahsang, shoony, nirjan, viran bhavan mean gooanj-gooanj uthati.

sara bhavan gane laga --

ramah ramau ramaah -- prathama!

dhire-dhire usaka adhyayan sidhdantakaumudi tak aya aur phir anek vidyaoan ko atmasath kar, varsh ek-ke-bad-ek bitane lage. niyamit ahar-vihar aur sanyam ke phalasvaroop vidyarthi ki deh pusht ho gayi aur aankhoan mean navin taroony ki chamak prasphutit ho uthi. ladaqa, jo dehati tha ab guroo se sanskrit mean vartalap bhi karane laga.

keval ek hi bat vah aj tak nahian jan saka. usane kabhi janane ka prayatn nahian kiya. vah yah ki is bhavy-bhavan mean guroo ke samip is chhoti-si duniya mean yadi aur koee vyakti nahian hai to sara mamala chalata kaise hai? nishchit samay par donoan guroo-shishy bhojan karate. suvyavasthit roop se unhean sada kintu sucharoo bhojan milata. is athavian manjil se utar satavian manjil tak unamean se koee kabhi nahian gaya. donoan bhojan ke samay anek vivadagrast prashnoan par charcha karate. yahaan is athavian manjil par ek nee duniya bas gayi.

jab guroo use koee chhand sikhalate aur jab vidyarthi mandakranta ya shardoolvikridit gane lagata to ekaek us bhavan mean halake-halake mridang aur vina baj uthati aur vah viran, nirjan, shoony bhavan vah chhand ga uthata.

ek din guroo ne shishy se kaha, beta! aj se tera adhyayan samapt ho gaya hai. aj hi tujhe ghar jana hai. aj barahavean varsh ki antim tithi hai. snan-sandhyadi se nivritt ho kar ao aur apana antim path lo.

path ke samay guroo aur shishy donoan udas the. donoan gambhir. unaka hriday bhar raha tha. path ke anantar yathavidhi bhojan ke lie baithe.

doosare kaksh mean ve bhojan ke lie baithe the. guroo aur shishy donoan apani antim batachit ke lie svayan ko taiyar karate hue kaur muanh mean dalane hi vale the ki guroo ne kaha, bete, khichadi mean ghi nahian dala hai?

shishy uthane hi vala tha ki guroo ne kaha, nahian, nahian, utho mat! aur unhoanne apana hath itana badha diya ki vah kaksh par jata hua, any kaksh mean pravesh kar kshan ke bhitar, ghi ki chamachamati lutiya lekar shishy ki khichadi mean ghi udelane laga. shishy kaanp kar stambhit rah gaya. vah guroo ke komal vridhd mukh ko kathorata se dekhane laga ki yah kaun hai? manav hai ya danav? usane aj tak guroo ke vyavahar mean koee aprakritik chamatkar nahian dekha tha. vah bhayabhit, stambhit rah gaya.

guroo ne duahkhapoorn komalata se kaha, shishy! spasht kar dooan ki maian brahmarakshas hooan kintu phir bhi tumhara guroo hooan. mujhe tumhara sneh chahie. apane manav-jivan mean maianne vishv ki samast vidya ko math dala kintu durbhagy se koee yogy shishy n mil paya ki jise maian samast jnan de pata. isilie meri atma is sansar mean ataki rah gayi aur maian brahmarakshas ke roop mean yahaan virajaman raha.

tum aye, maianne tumhean bar-bar kaha, laut jao. kadachith tumamean jnan ke lie avashyak shram aur sanyam n ho kintu maianne tumhari jivan-gatha suni. vidya se vair rakhane ke karan, pita-dvara anek tadanaoan ke bavajood tum ganvar rahe aur bad mean mata-pita-dvara nikal diye jane par tumhare vyathit ahankar ne tumhean jnan-lok ka path khoj nikalane ki or pravritt kiya. maian pravrittivadi hooan, sadhu nahian. saiankadoan mil jangal ki badhaean par kar tum kashi aye. tumhare chehare par jijnasa ka alok tha. maianne ajnan se tumhari mukti ki. tumane mera jnan prapt kar meri atma ko mukti dila di. jnan ka paya hua uttadayitv maianne poora kiya. ab mera yah uttaradayitv tum par a gaya hai. jab tak mera diya tum kisi aur ko n doge tab tak tumhari mukti nahian.

shishy, ao, mujhe vida do.

apane pitaji aur maanji ko pranam kahana. shishy ne sashrumukh jyoan hi charanoan par mastak rakha ashirvad ka antim kar-sparsh paya aur jyoan hi sir oopar uthaya to vahaan se vah brahmarakshas tirodhan ho gaya.

vah bhayanak viran, nirjan baramada soona tha. shishy ne brahmarakshas guroo ka vyaghrasan liya aur unaka sikhaya path man-hi-man gunagunate hue age badh gaya.

panne ki pragati avastha

adhar

prarambhik

madhyamik

poornata

shodh