सालवती -जयशंकर प्रसाद

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

sadanira apani gambhir gati se, us ghane sal ke jangal se katara kar chali ja rahi hai. saloan ki shyamal chhaya usake jal ko aur bhi nila bana rahi hai; parantu vah is chhayadan ko apani chhoti-chhoti vichiyoan se muskura kar tal deti hai. use to jyotsana se khelana hai. chait ki matavali chaandani parimal se ladi thi. usake vaibhav ki yah udarata thi ki usaki kuchh kiranoan ko jangal ke kinare ki phoos ki jhop di par bhi bikharana p da.

usi jhop di ke bahar nadi ke jal ko pair se chhooti huee ek yuvati chupachap baithi akash ke dooravarti nakshatroan ko dekh rahi thi. usake pas hi sattoo ka piand rakkha tha. bhitar ke durbal kanth se kisi ne pukara-‘‘beti!’’

parantu yuvati to aj ek adh‌bhut gaurav-nari-jivan ki sarthakata dekhakar ayi hai! pushkarini ke bhitar se kuchh mitti, rat mean dhokar bahar pheankane ka parishramik chukane ke lie, ratnabharanoan se ladi huee ek mahalakshmi baithi thi. usane parishramik dete hue poochha-‘‘bahan! tum kahaan rahati ho? kal phir ana.’’ un shabdoan mean kitana sneh tha. vah mahatv! ...kya in nakshatroan se bhi door ki vastu nahian? visheshat: usake lie .... vah tallin thi. bhitar se phir pukar huee.

‘‘beti! .... salavati! .... rat ko naha mat! sunati nahian! .... beti!’’

‘‘pitaji!’’ salavati ki tandra tooti. vah uth kh di huee. usane dekha ki vriddh chh di tekata hua jhop di ke bahar a raha hai. vriddh ne salavati ki pith par hath rakhakar usake baloan ko tatola! ve rookhe the. vriddh ne santosh ki saans lekar kaha-‘‘achchha hai beti! toone snan nahian kiya n! maian tanik so gaya tha. aj too kahaan chali gayi thi? are, rat to prahar se adhik bit chuki. beta! toone aj kuchh bhojan nahian banaya?’’

‘‘pitaji! aj maian nagar ki or chali gayi thi. vahaan pushkarini ban rahi hai. usi ko dekhane.’’

‘‘tabhi to beti! tujhe vilamb ho gaya. achchha, to bana le kuchh. mujhe bhi bhookh lagi hai. jvar to ab nahian hai. tho da-sa mooang ka soop ... haan re! mooang to nahian hai! are, yah kya hai re?’’

‘‘pitaji! maianne pushkarini mean se kuchh mitti nikali hai. usi ka yah parishramik hai. maian mooang lene hi to gayi thi; parantu pushkarini dekhane ki dhun mean use lena bhool gayi.’’

‘‘bhool gayi n beti! achchha hua; par toone yah kya kiya! vajjiyoan ke kul mean kisi balika ne aj tak .... are ..... yah to lajjapiand hai! beti! ise maian n kha sakooanga. kisi kulaputr ke lie isase badhaqar apaman ki aur koee vastu nahian. ise pho d to!’’

salavati ne use patakakar to d diya. piand tootate hi vaishali ki mudra se aankit ek svarn-khand usamean se nikal p da. salavati ka muanh khil utha; kintu vriddh ne kaha-‘‘beti! ise sadanira mean pheank de.’ salavati vishad se bhari us svarn-khand ko hath mean liye kh di rahi. vriddh ne kaha-‘‘pagal ladaqi! aj upavas n karana hoga. tere mitti dhone ka uchit parishramik keval yah sattoo hai. vah svarn ka chamakila tuk da nahian.’’

‘‘pitaji! phir ap?’’

‘‘maian ....? aj rat ko bhi jvar ka langhan samajhooanga! ja, yah sattoo khakar sadanira ka jal pikar so rah!’’

‘‘pitaji! maian bhi aj ki rat bina khaye bita sakati hooan; parantu mera ek sandeh ....’’

‘‘pahale usako pheank de, tab mujhase kuchh poochh!’’

salavati ne use pheank diya. tab ek ni:shvas chho dakar buddhe ne kahana arambh kiya:

‘‘aryoan ka vah dal, jo madhav ke sath jnan ki agni muanh mean rakhakar sadanira ke is par pahale-pahal aya, vicharoan ki svatantrata ka samarthak tha. karmakandiyoan ki mahatta aur unaki pakhandapriyata ka virodhi vah dal, sab prakar ki manasik ya naitik paradhinata ka kattar shatru tha.

‘‘jivan par usane naye dhang se vichar karana arambh kiya. dharm ka dhoang usake lie kuchh arth nahian rakhata tha. vah aryoan ka dal darshanik tha. usane manushyoan ki svatantrata ka mooly charoan or se aankana chaha. aur aj ganga ke uttari tat par videh, vajji, lichchhavi aur malloan ka jo ganatantr apani khyati se sarvonnat hai vah unhian poorvajoan ki kirtilekha hai.

‘‘maian bhi unhian ka kulaputr hooan. maianne bhi tirthankaroan ke mukh se atmavad-anatmavad ke vyakhyan sune haian. sangho ke shastrarth karaye haian. unako chaturmas karaya hai. maian bhi darshanikoan mean prasiddh tha. beti! too usi dhavalayash ki duhita hokar kisi ki daya par apana jivan-nirvah kare, yah maian nahian sahan kar sakata.

‘‘beti, ganarajy mean jin logoan ke pas prabhoot dhan hai, un logoan ne nirdhan kulinoan ke nirvah ke lie yah guptadan ki pratha chalayi hai ki aandhere mean kisi se tho da kam karakar use kuchh svarn de dena. kya yah anugrah nahian haian beti?’’

‘‘hai to pitaji!’’

‘‘phir yah kritajnata aur daya ka bhar too uthavegi! vahi ham logoan ki santan jinhoanne devata aur svarg ka bhi tiraskar kiya tha, manushy ki poornata aur samata ka mangalaghosh kiya tha, usi ki santan anugrah ka ashray le?’’

‘‘nahian pita ji! maian anugrah n chahooangi.’’

‘‘too meri pyari beti hai. janati hai beti! maianne darshanikavadoan mean sarvasv u dakar apana kaun-sa siddhant sthir kiya hai!’’

‘‘nahian pita ji!’’

‘‘arthik paradhinata hi sansar mean du:kh ka karan hai. manushy ko usase mukti pani chahie; mera isalie upasy hai svarn.’’

‘‘kintu apaka devata kahaan hai?’’

vriddh thathakar hans p da. usane kaha-‘‘mera upasy meri jhop di mean hai; is sadanira mean hai; aur hai mere parishram mean!’’

salavati chakit hokar dekhane lagi.

vriddh ne kaha-‘‘chauank mat beti! maian hiranyagarbh ka upasak hooan. dekh, sadanira ki shilaoan me svarn ki prachur matra hai.’’

‘‘to kya pita ji! tumane isalie in kale pattharoan se jhop di bhar rakkhi hai?’’-salavati ne utsah se kaha.

vriddh ne sir hilate hue phir apani jhop di mean pravesh kiya. aur salavati! usane ghoomakar lajjapind ko dekha bhi nahian. vah daridrata ka prasad yoan hi bikhara p da raha. salavati ki aankhoan ke samane chandrama sunahala hokar sadanira ki jal-dhara ko svarnamayi banane laga. sal ke ekant kanan se mar-mar ki dhvani uthati thi. sadanira ki laharean pulin se takarakar gambhir kalanad ka srijan kar rahi thian; kintu vah lavanyamayi yuvati achetan avastha mean chupachap baithi huee vajjiyoan ki-videhoan ki adh‌bhut svatantrata par vichar kar rahi thi. usane jhuanjhalakar kaha-‘‘thik! maian anugrah nahian chahati. anugrah lene se manushy kritajn hota hai. kritajnata paratantr banati hai.’’

lajjapind se machhaliyoan ki udarapoorti karakar vah bhookhi hi jakar so rahi.

-- --

doosare din se vriddh shila-khandoan se svarn nikalata aur salavati use bechakar avashyakata ki poorti karati. usake sal-kanan mean chahal-pahal rahati. atithi, ajivak aur abhyagat ate, adar-satkar pate, parantu yah koee n jan saka ki yah sab hota kahaan se hai. vaishali mean dhoom mach gayi. kutoohal se kulaputr chatrchal hue! parantu ek din dhavalayash apani garima mean hansata hua sansar se uth gaya.

salavati akeli rah gayi. use to svarn ka udgam maloom tha. vah apani jivanacharya mean svatantr bani rahi. usaka roop aur yauvan manasik svatantrata ke sath sadanira ki dhara ki tarah veg-poorn tha.

-- --

vasant ki manjariyoan se parag barasane laga. kisalay ke kar-pallav se yuvakoan ko amantran mila. vaishali ke svatantr nagarik amod-pramod ke lie unmatt ho uthe. ashok ke lal stavakoan mean madhupoan ka madak gunjar nagar-prant ko sangitamay bana raha tha. tab kalashoan mean asav liye dasoan ke vrind, vasant-kusumalankrit yuvatiyoan ke dal, kulaputroan ke sath vasantotsav ke lie, vanoan upavanoan mean phail gaye.

kuchh manachale us dooravarti sal-kanan mean bhi pahuanche. sadanira ke tat par sal ki nirjan chhaya mean unaki goshthi jami. is dal mean any logoan ki apeksha ek visheshata thi, ki inake sath koee stri n thi.

dasoan ne asan bichha diye. khane-pine ki samagri rakh di gayi. ye log sambhrant kulaputr the. kuchh gambhir vicharak-se ve yuvak dev-gandharv ki tarah roopavanh the. lambi-chau di haddiyoan vale vyayam se sundar sharir par do-ek abhooshan aur kashi ke bane hue bahumooly uttariy, ratn-jatit katibandh mean kripani. lachchhedar baloan ke oopar sunahare patale patabandh aur vasantotsav ke pradhan chihn-svaroop doorva aur madhook-pushpoan ki surachit malika. unake maansal bhujadand, kuchh-kuchh asav-pan se arunanetr, tamboolaranjit sundar adhar, us kal ke bharatiy sharirik saundary ke adarsh pratinidhi the.

ve bolane ke pahale tho da muskarate, phir madhur shabdoan mean apane bhavoan ko abhivyakt karate the. ginati mean ve ath the. unake rath door kh de the. dasoan ne avashyak vastu sajakar rathoan ke samip ashray liya. kulaputroan ka pan, bhojan aur vinod chala.

ek ne kaha-‘‘bhadr! abhinand! apani vina sunao.’’

doosaroan ne bhi is prastav ka anumodan kiya. abhinand ke sanket par das ne usaki vina samane lakar rakh di. abhinand bajane laga. sab anand-magn hokar sunane lage.

abhinand ne ek vishram liya. logoan ne ‘sadhu-sadhu’ kahakar use abhinandit kiya. sahasa ashvoan ke pad-shabd sunaee p de.

sindhudesh ke do dhaval ashvoan par, jinake svarnalankar chamak rahe the, chamar hil rahe the, pairoan mean jhaanjhean madhur shabd kar rahi thian, do uchch padadhikari mananiy vyaktiyoan ne vahaan pahuanchakar us goshthi ke logoan ko chanchal kar diya.

unake sath ke any ashvarohi rathoan ke samip hi kh de rahe; kintu ve donoan goshthi ke samip a gaye.

kulaputroan ne ek ko pahachana. vah tha uparaja abhay kumar. un logoan ne uthakar svagat aur namaskar kiya.

uparaja ne ashv par se hi poochha-‘‘kulaputroan ki shubhakamana karate hue maian poochh sakata hooan ki kya kulaputroan ki prasannata isi mean hai, ki ve log any nagarikoan se alag apane vasantotsav ka anand ap hi lean?’’

‘‘uparaja ke ham log kritajn hai. ham logoan ki goshthi ko ve prasannata se sushobhit kar sakate haian. ham log anugrihit hoange.’’

‘‘kintu mere sath ek mananiy atithi haian. pahale inaka parichay kara dooan?’’

‘‘b di kripa hogi.’’

‘‘ye haian magadharaj ke mahamantri! vaishali ka vasantotsav dekhane aye haian.’’

kulaputroan ne man mean socha-mahamantri chatur haian. rath par n chadhaqar ashv ki valga usane apane hath mean rakkhi hai. vinay ke sath kulaputroan ne dono atithiyoan ko gho doan se utarane mean sahayata di. dasoan ne donoan ashvoan ko rath ke samip pahuanchaya aur vaishali ke uparaja tatha magadh ke mahamantri kulaputroan ke atithi hue.

mahamantri goodh rajanitijn tha. vah kisi vishesh siddhi ke lie vaishali aya tha. vah sansthagar ke rajakoan ki manovritti ka gambhir adhyayan kar raha tha. unaki ek-ek batoan, acharanoan aur vinayoan ko vah tivr drishti se dekhata. usane poochha-‘‘kulaputroan se maian ek bat poochhanoo, yadi ve mujhe prasannata se aisi ajna dean?’’

abhinand ne kaha-‘‘apane mananiy atithi ko yadi ham log prasann kar sakean, to anugrihit hoange.’’

‘‘vaishali ke 7707 rajakoan mean ap log bhi haian. phir apake utsav mean vairagy kyoan? any nagarikoan se ap logoan ka utsav vibhinn kyoan hai? apaki goshthi mean lalanaean nahian! vah ullas nahian, parihas nahian, anand-umang nahian. sabase door alag, sangit apanak se shoony apaki goshthi vilakshan hai.’’

abhayakumar ne socha, ki kulaputr is prashn ko apaman n samajh lean. kahian k dava uttar n de dean. usane kaha-‘‘mahamantri! yah janakar prasann hoange, ki vaishali ganatantr ke kulaputr apani visheshataoan aur vyaktitv ko sadaiv svatantr rakhate haian.’’

abhinand ne kaha-‘‘aur bhi ek bat hai. ham log ath svatantr tirthankaroan ke anuyayi haian aur paraspar mitr haian. ham logoan ne sadharan nagarikoan se asaman utsav manane ka nishchay kiya tha. maian to tirthankar pooran kashyap ke siddhant akriyavad ko manata hooan. yajn adi karmoan mean n puny hai, n pap. manushy ko in pach doan mean n padऩa chahie.’’

doosare ne kaha-‘‘ary, mera nam subhadr hai. maian yah manata hooan, ki mrityu ke sath hi sab jhag doan ka ant ho jata hai.’’

tisare ne kaha-‘‘mera nam vasantak hai. maian sanjay velathiputt ka anuyayi hooan. jivan mean ham unhian batoan ko janate haian, jinaka pratyaksh sambandh hamare samvedanoan se hai. ham kisi anubhavatit vastu ko nahian jan sakate.’’

chauthe ne kaha-‘‘mera nam manikanth hai. maian tirthankar prabudh katyayan ka anugat hooan. maian samajhata hooan ki manushy koee sunishchit vastu ko grahan nahian kar sakata. koee siddhant sthir nahian kar sakata.’’

paanchavean ne kaha-‘‘maian anand hooan, ary! tirthankar maskari goshal ke niyativad mean mera poorn vishvas hai. manushy mean karm karane ki svatantrata nahian. usake lie jo kuchh hona hai vah hokar hi rahega. vah apani hi gati se gantavy sthan tak pahuanch jayaga.’’

chhathe ne kaha-‘‘mai tirthankar nath-putr ka antevasi hooan. maian kahata hooan, ki vastu hai bhi, nahian bhi hai. donoan ho sakati hai.’’

satavean ne kaha-‘‘maian tirthankar gautam ka anuyayi sumangal hooan, kisi vastavik satta mean vishvas hi nahian karata. atmanh jaisa koee padarth hi nahian hai.’’

athavean ne kinchith muskurakar kaha-‘‘ary! maian maitrayan videhoan ke sunishchit atmavad ko manane vala hooan. ye jitani bhavanaean haian, sabaka udgam atmanh hi hai.’’

abhinand ne kaha-‘‘tab ham logoan ki vilakshanata par mahamantri ko ashchary hona svabhavik hai.’’

abhayakumar kuchh prakritisth ho raha tha. usane dekha ki mahamantri b de kutoohal aur manonivesh se kulaputroan ka parichay sun raha hai. mahamantri ne kuchh vyangy se kaha-‘‘ashchary hai! mananiy kulaputroan ne apane vibhinn vicharoan ka parichay dekar mujhe to chakit kar diya hai. tab ap logoan ka koee ek mantavy nahian ho sakata!’’

‘‘kyoan nahian; vajjiyoan ka ek to sthir siddhant hai hi. arthath ham log vajjisangh ke sadasy haian. rashtraniti mean ham logoan ka matabhed tivr nahian hota.’’ kulaputroan ko chup dekhakar kisi ne sal ke antaral se sukomal kanth se yah kaha aur nadi ki or chali gayi.

un logoan ki aankhean udhar us kahanevale ko khoj rahian thi ki samane se kalash liye hue salavati sadanira ka jal bharane ke lie ati dikhalaee p di.

magadh ke mahamantri ko us roop-lavanyamayi yuvati ka yah uttar thapp d-sa laga. usane kaha-‘‘adh‌bhut!’’

prasannata se mahamantri ki vimoodhata ka anand lete hue abhayakumar ne kaha-‘‘ashchary kaisa ayry?’’

‘‘aisa saundary to magadh mean maianne koee dekha hi nahian. vajjiyoan ka sangh sab vibhootiyoan se sampann hai. ambapali, jisake roop par ham logoan ko garv hai, is lavany ke samane tuchchh hai. aur isaki vakpatuta bhi ....!’’

‘‘kintu maianne suna hai ki ambapali veshya hai. aur yah to?’’ itana kahakar abhayakumar ruk-sa gaya.

mahamantri ne gambhirata se kaha-‘‘tab yah bhi koee kulavadhoo hogi! mujhe kshama kijie.’’

‘‘yah to poochhane se maloom hoga!’’

kshan bhar ke lie sab chup ho gaye the. salavati apana poorn ghat lekar karare par chadh rahi thi. abhinand ne kaha-‘‘kalyani! hamalog apaka parichay pane ke lie utsuk haian!’’

‘‘svargiy kulaputr ayry dhavalayash ki duhita salavati ke parichay mean koee vichitrata nahian hai!’’ salavati ne gambhirata se kaha-vah durbal kati par poorn kalash lie kuchh ruk-si gayi thi.

maitrayan ne kaha-‘‘dhany hai kulaputroan ka vansh! aj hamalogoan ka pratinidhi banakar jo uchit uttar apane magadh ke mananiy mahamantri ko diya hai, vah kulinata ke anuroop hi hai. hamalogoan ka sadhuvad grahan kijie!’’

‘‘kya kahooan ayry! maian utani sampann nahian hooan ki ap jaise mananiy atithiyoan ka svagat-satkar kar sakooan. phir bhi jal-phal-phool se maian daridr bhi nahian. mere sal-kanan mean ane ke lie maian ap logoan ka hardik svagat karati hooan. jo ajna ho maian seva karooan.’’

‘‘shubhe, ham logoan ko kisi vastu ki avashyakata nahian. ham log apaki udarata ke lie kritajn haian.’’ abhinand ne kaha.

‘‘kintu maian ek prarthana karooanga.’’ mahamantri ne savinay kaha.

‘‘ajna dijie.’’

‘‘yadi ap anyatha n samajhean.’’

‘‘kahie bhi .’’

‘‘abhinand ke hath mean vina hai. ek sundar alap ki poorti kaise hogi?’’ dhrisht mahamantri ne kaha.

‘‘mujhe to sangit ki vaisi shiksha nahian mili jisase ap prasann hoange. phir bhi kalash rakhakar ati hooan.’’ nissankoch bhav se kahakar salavati chali gayi. sab chakit the.

vet se buni huee dali mean tho de-se phal liye hue salavati ayi. aur asan ke ek bhag mean vah baith gayi. kulaputroan ne phal chakhe aur tho di matra mean asav bhi. abhinand ne vina utha li. abhayakumar pyasi aankhoan se us saundary ko dekh raha tha. salavati ne apane gotr ki chhap se aankit apane pita se sikha hua pad madhur svar se gana arambh kiya. shrota mugdh the. us sangit ka vishay tha-jangal, usamean vicharane ki prakritik svatantrata. vah akritrim sangit kisi dal par baithi huee kokil ke gan se bhi vilakshan tha. sab mugdh the. sangit samapt hua, kintu usaka svar mandal abhi us pradesh ko apani maya se achchhann kiye tha. salavati uth kh di huee. abhayakumar ne ek kshan mean apane gale se mukta ki ekavali nikal kar anjali mean le li aur kaha-‘‘devi, yah upahar hai.’’ salavati ne gambhir bhav se sir jhukakar kaha-‘‘b di kripa hai; kintu maian kisi ke anugrah ka dan nahian grahan karati.’’ aur vah chali bhi gayi.

sab logoan ne ashchary se ek-doosare ko dekha.

bhag 2

abhayakumar ko us ratri mean nidra nahian ayi. vah salavati ka chitr apani putaliyoan par banata raha. pranay ka jivan apane chhote-chhote kshanoan mean bhi bahut dirghajivi hota hai. rat kisi tarah kati. abhayakumar vastav mean kumar tha aur tha vaishali ka uparaja. nagar ke utsav ka prabandh usi ke hath mean tha. doosara prabhat apani trishna mean lal ho raha tha. abhay ke hriday mean nidarun apaman bhi chubh raha tha, aur chubh raha tha un darshanik kulaputroan ka savyangy parihas, jo salavati ke anugrah n lene par usaki svatantrata ki vijay samajhakar aur bhi tivr ho utha tha.

-- punashch --

un kulaputroan ki goshthi usi sal-kanan mean jami rahi. abhi un logoan ne snan adi se nivritt hokar bhojan bhi nahian kiya tha ki door se tooyryanad sunaee p da. sath mean ek rajapurush uchch kanth se pukarata tha-

‘‘aj anang-pooja ke lie vajjiyoan ke sangh mean se sabase sundari kumari chuni jayagi. jisako chunav mean ana ho, sansthagar mean ek prahar ke bhitar a jay.’’

abhinand uchhal p da. usane kaha-‘‘maitrayan! salavati ko liva le chalana chahie. aisa n ho ki vaishali ke sabase uttam saundary ka apaman ho jay.’’

‘‘kintu vah abhimanini chalegi?’’

‘‘yahi to vikat prashn hai.’’

‘‘ham sab chalakar prarthana karean.’’

‘‘to chalo.’’

sab apana dukool sanbhalate hue salavati ki jhop di ki or chal p de. salavati apana niyamit bhojy chaval bana rahi thi. usake pas tho da doodh or phal rakkha tha. usane in logoan ko ate dekhakar sahaj prasannata se muskarakar kaha-‘‘svagat! mananiy kulaputroan ko atithy grahan karane ke lie maian nimantrit karati hooan.’’ usane ek shubhr kambal bichha diya.

yuvakoan ne baithate hue kaha-

‘‘kintu ham log bhi ek nimantran dene aye haian.’’

salavati kuchh sochane lagi.

‘‘ham logoan ki prarthana anuchit n hogi.’’ anand ne kaha.

‘‘kahie.’’

‘‘vaishali ke nagarikoan ne ek naya nirnay liya hai-ki is bar vasantotsav ki anangapooja vajjirashtr ki sarvashreshth sundari ke hathoan se karayi jay. isake lie sansthagar mean chunav hoga.’’

‘‘to isamean kya maian parivartan kar sakati hooan?’’ salavati ne saralata se poochha.

‘‘nahian shubhe! apako bhi isamean bhag lena hoga. ham log apako sansthagar mean le chaleange, aur poorn vishvas hai ki ham logoan ka paksh vijayi hoga.’’

‘‘kintu kya ap logoan ka yah mujh par anugrah n hoga, jise maian kadapi n grahan karooangi.’’

‘‘nahian bhadre! yadi mere prastav ko bahumat mila, to kya ham logoan ki vijay n hogi, aur tab kya hamian log apake anugrihit n hoange?’’

salavati kuchh chup-si ho gayi.

maitrayan ne phir kaha-‘‘vicharoan ki svatantrata isi mean hai ki ve spasht roop se pracharit kiye jayan, n ki ve saty hote hue bhi daba diye jayan.’’

salavati is samman se apane hriday ko achhoota n rakh saki. stri ke lie usake saundary ki prashansa! kitani b di vijay hai. usane vri da se kaha-‘‘to kya mujhe chalana hi hoga?’’

‘‘yah ham logoan ke lie atyant priy-sandesh hai. anand, tum rathoan ko yahian le ao, aur maian samajhata hooan ki saundary-lakshmi tumhare rath par hi chaleangi. tum hoge us rath ke sarathi.’’

anand sunate hi uchhal p da. usane kaha-‘‘ek bat aur bhi ...’’

salavati ne prashn karane vali aankhoan se dekha!

anand ne kaha-‘‘saundary ka prasadhan!’’

‘‘mujhe kuchh nahian chahie. maian yoan hi chalooangi. or kulaputroan ke nirnay ki maian bhi pariksha karooangi. kahian ve bhram mean to nahian hai.’’

tho da jalapan karake sab log prastut ho gaye. tab salavati ne kaha-‘‘ap log chalean, maian abhi ati hooan.’’

kulaputr chale gaye.

salavati ne ek navin kaushey pahana, joo dean mean phooloan ki mala lagayi aur rath ke samip ja pahuanchi.

sarathi ko hatakar anand apana rath svayan haankane laga. us par baithi thi salavati. pichhe usake kulaputroan ke sat rath the. jab ve sansthagar ke rajapath par agrasar ho rahe the tab bhi d mean anand aur ashchary ke shabd sunaee p de, sundariyoan ka mukh avanat hua. in kulaputroan ko dekhakar raja ne poochha-‘‘mere mananiy darshanik kulaputroan ne yah ratn kahaan paya?’’

‘‘kalyani salavati kulaputr dhavalayash ki ekamatr duhita hai.’’

‘‘mujhe ashchary hai ki kisi kulaputr ne ab tak is kanyaratn ke parinay ki prarthana kyoan nahian ki? achchha to kya mat lene ki avashyakata hai?’’ raja ne gambhir svar se poochha!

‘‘nahian, nahian, salavati vajjirashtr ki sarvashreshth kumari sundari hai.’’ janata ka tumul shabd sunaee p da.

raja ne tin bar isi tarah prashn kiya. sabaka uttar vahi tha. salavati nirvivad vijayini huee. tab abhayakumar ke sanket par pachisoan das, thaloan mean ratnoan ke alankar, kashi ke bahumooly kaushey, aangarag, tambool or kusum-malikaean lekar upasthit hue.

abhayakumar ne kh de hokar sangh se prarthana ki-‘‘maian is kulakumari ke panipidऩ ka prarthi hooan. kanya ke pita nahian hai, isalie sangh mujhe anumati pradan kare.’’

salavati ke muanh par bhay aur rosh ki rekhaean nachane lagian. vah prativad karane ja rahi thi ki magadh ke mahamantri ke samip baitha hua manidhar uth kh da hua. usane tivr kanth se kaha-‘‘meri ek vijnapti hai, yadi sangh prasannata se sune.’’ yah abhay ka pratidvandvi senapati manidhar uparaja banane ka ichchhuk tha. sab log kisi ashanka se usi ki or dekhane lage.

raja se bolane ki ajna pakar usane kaha-‘‘aj tak ham log kulaputroan ki samata ka svapn dekhate haian. unake adhikar ne, sampatti aur svarthoan ki samanata ki raksha ki hai. tab kya uchit hoga ki yah sarvashreshth saundary kisi ke adhikar mean de diya jay? maian chahata hooan ki rashtr aisi sundari ko svatantr rahane de aur vah anang ki pujarin apani ichchha se apani ek ratri ki dakshina 100 svarn-mudraean liya kare.’’

salavati vipatti mean p d gayi. usane apane darshanik kulaputroan ki or raksha pane ke vichar se dekha. kintu un logoan ne ghatana ke is akasmik parivartan ko socha bhi n tha. idhar samanata ka siddhant! sansthagar mean halachal mach gayi. raja ne is vijnapti par mat lena avashyak samajha. shalakayean batian. ganapoorak apane kary mean laga. aur salavati prarthana karane ja rahi thi ki ‘‘mujhe is upadrav se chhutti mile.’’

kintu samanata aur prajatantr ke siddhantoan ki lagan! kaun sunata hai kisaki? udhar ek vyakti ne kaha-‘‘ham log bhi ambapali ke saman hi kya vajjirashtr mean ek saundary-pratima nahian sthapit kar sakate, jisase any deshoan ka dhan is rashtr mean ave. abhayakumar hatabuddhi-sa kshobh aur rosh se kaanp raha tha.

usane tivr drishti se magadh ke mahamantri ki or dekha. mantri ne muskara diya. ganapoorak ne vijnapti ke paksh mean bahumat ki ghoshana ki. raja ne vijnapti par svikriti di.

jab mat liya ja raha tha, tab salavati ke man ki avastha b di vichitr ho rahi thi. kabhi to vah sochati thi-‘‘pita hirany ke upasak the. svarn hi sansar ke prabhu haian-svatantrata ka bij hai. vahi 100 svarn-mudraean usaki dakshina haian aur anugrah karegi vahi. tis par itani samvardhana! itana adar? doosare kshan usake man mean yah bat khatakane lagati ki vah kitani dayaniya hai, jo kulavadhoo ka adhikar usake hath se chhin liya gaya aur usane hi to abhay ka apaman kiya tha. kis lie? anugrah n lene ka abhiman! to kya manushy ko pray: vahi karana p data hai, jise vah nahian chahata. usi ne magadh ke mahamantri ke samane prajatantr ka utkarsh bataya tha. vahi ekaraj magadh ka pratinidhi yahaan baitha hai. tab bahumat ki jay ho! vah virodh karana chahati thi, parantu kar n saki.

usane anand ke niyativad ka ek bar man mean smaran kiya, aur gantavy path par veg se chali.

tab salavati ko gherakar kulaputroan ne anand se usaka jayaghosh kiya. dekhate-dekhate salavati ke charanoan mean upahar ke dher lag gaye. vah rath par anangapooja ke sthan par chali-thik jaise aparadhi vadhyasthal ki or! usake pichhe sahasroan rathoan aur gho doan par kulaputr, phir jan:srot. sab aj apane ganatantr ke siddhant ki vijay par unmatt the.

abhayakumar j d-sa vahian kh da raha. jab sansthagar se nikalane ke lie mantri usake pas aya, tab abhay ka hath daba kar usane kaha-‘‘uparaja prasann hoan....’’

‘‘mahamantri! tumhari kootiniti saphal huee.’’-kahakar abhay ne kshobh se usaki or dekha.

‘‘ap logoan ka rashtr sachamuch svatantrata aur samanata ka upasak hai. maian sadhuvad deta hooan.’’

donoan apane rathoan par chadhaqar chale gaye.

bhag 3

salavati, vaishali ki apsara salavati, apane vibhav aur saundary mean advitiy thi. usake pramukh upasak the vaishali ke senapati manidhar. sampatti ka srot us saundary-sarovar mean akar bhar raha tha. vahaan anek kulaputr aye, nahian aya to ek abhayakumar.

aur salavati ka man jaise abhayakumar ko padavanat kiye bina kuchala ja raha tha. vah us din ki ekavali par aj apana poora adhikar samajhati thi, kintu vah ab kahaan milane ki .

usaka hriday tivr bhavoan se bhar gaya tha. aj vah chintamagn thi. magadh ka yuddh vaishali mean bhayanak samachar bhej raha tha. magadh ki poorn vijay ke sath yah bhi samachar mila ki senapati manidhar us yuddh mean mare gaye. vaishali mean rosh aur utsah chha gaya. nayi sena ka sanchalan karane ke lie aj sansthagar mean chunav hone vala hai. nagar ki mukhy mahilaean, kumariyaan us senapati ka abhinandan karane ke lie pushparathoan par chadhaqar chali ja rahi hai. use bhi jana chahie, kya manidhar ke lie du:khi hona manasik paratantrata ka chihn hai, jise vah kabhi svikar n karegi. vah bhi uthi. aj usake shrriangar ka kya kahana hai! jisake abhiman par vah ji rahi thi, vahi usaka saundary kitane adar aur pradarshan ki vastu hai. use sab prakar se sajakar maniyoan ki jhilamil mean pushpoan se saje hue rath par chadhaqar salavati sansthagar ki or chali. kuchh manachale navayuvakoan ka jayaghosh virodh ke svar mean lupt ho gaya. vah pili p d gayi.

sadharan nagarikoan ne chillakar kaha-‘‘isi ke sansarg-dosh se senapati manidhar ki parajay huee.’’

ek ne kaha-‘‘yah manidhar ki kal-bhujangini hai.’’

doosare ne kaha-‘‘yah vaishali ka abhishap hai.’’

tisare ne kaha-‘‘yah vichar-svatantry ke samudr ka halahal hai.’’ salavati ne sarathi se kaha-‘‘rath pher do.’’ kintu doosari or se apar janasamooh a raha tha. badhy hokar salavati ko rajapath mean ek or rukana p da.

tooryanad samip a raha tha. sainikoan ke shirastran aur bhale chamakane lage. bhaloan ke phalak unnat the. aur unase bhi unnat the un viroan ke mastak, jo svadesh ki svatantrata ke lie pran dene ja rahe the. us vir-vahini mean sindhudesh ke shubhr ashvaraj par abhayakumar aroodh tha. usake mastak par senapati ka svarnapatt sushobhit tha. dahini bhuja uthi huee thi, jisamean nagn khang sari janata ko abhivadan kar raha tha. aur viroan ko ran-nimantran de rahi thi usake mukh par ki sahaj muskan.

phooloan ki varsha ho rahi thi. ‘‘vajjiyoan ki jay’’ ke rananad se vayumandal gooanj raha tha. us virashri ko dekhane, usaka adar karane ke lie kaun nahian utsuk tha. salavati bhi apane rath par kh di ho gayi thi. usane bhi ek surachit mala lakshy sadhakar pheanki aur vah us khang se jakar lipat gayi.

janata to bhavonmad ki anuchari hai. saiank doan kanth se ‘sadhu’ ki dhvani nikali. abhay ne pheankanevali ko dekha. donoan ke netr mile. salavati ki aankhe nichi ho rahian. aur abhay! tandralas jaisa ho gaya, nishchesht. usaki tandra tab tooti jab navin ashvarohiyoan ka dal chatushpath par usake svagat par vir garjan kar utha. abhayakumar ne dekha ve athoan darshanik kulaputr ek-ek gulm ke nayak haian, usaka man utsah se bhar utha. usane kshanabhar mean nishchay kiya ki jis desh ke darshanik bhi astr grahan kar sakate haian vah parajit nahian hoga.

abhayakumar ne uchch kanth se kaha-‘‘kulaputroan ki jay!’’

‘‘senapati abhayakumar ki jay!’’-kulaputroan ne pratyuttar diya.

‘‘vajjiyoan ki jay!’’-janata ne jayanad kiya.

vir-sena yuddh-kshetr ki or chali aur salavati din-malin apane upavan ko lauti. usane sab shrriangar utarakar pheank diye. aj vah sabase adhik tiraskrit thi. vah dharani mean lotane lagi. vasudha par sukumar yauvanalata-si vah niravalamb p di thi.

aj jaise usane yah anubhav kiya ki nari ka abhiman akinchan hai. vah mugdha vilasini, abhi-abhi sansar ke samane apane astitv ko mithya, maya, sarahin samajhakar ayi thi. vah apane suvasit alakoan ko bikharakar usi mean apana muanh chhipaye p di thi. nila usaki muanhalagi dasi thi. aur vah vastav mean salavati ko pyar karati thi. usane pas baithakar dhire-dhire usake baloan ko hataya, aansoo poanchhe, god mean sir rakh liya. salavati ne pralay-bhari aankhoan se usaki or dekha. nila ne madhur svar se kaha-‘‘svamini! yah shok kyoan?’’

salavati chup rahi.

‘‘svamini! shayya par chalo. isase to aur bhi kasht badhऩe ki sambhavana hai.’’

‘‘kasht! nile! mujhe sukh hi kab mila tha?’’

‘‘kintu apake sharir ke bhitar ek any prani ki jo srishti ho rahi hai, use to sanbhalana hi hoga.’’

salavati jaise nakshatr ki tarah akash se gir p di. usane kaha-‘‘kahati kya hai?’’

nila hansakar boli-‘‘svamini! abhi apako anubhav nahian hai. maian janati hooan. yah mera mithya pralobhan nahian hai.

salavati sab tarah se lut gayi. nila ne use shayya par lita diya. usane kaha-‘‘nile! aj se mere samane koee n ave, maian kisi ko muanh nahian dikhana chahati. bas, keval tum mere pas bani raho.’’

sukomal shayya par salavati ne karavat li. sahasa usake samane manidhar ka vah patr aya, jise usane ranakshetr se bheja tha. usane uthakar padhऩa arambh kiya : ‘‘vaishali ki saundary-lakshmi!’’ vah ruk gayi. sochane lagi. manidhar kitana mithyavadi tha. usane ek kalpit saty ko sakar bana diya. vaishali mean jo kabhi n tha, usane mujhe vahi roopajiva banakar kya rashtr ka anisht nahian kiya! .... avashy .... dekho age likhata hai-‘‘mera man yuddh mean nahian lagata hai.’’ lagata kaise? roop-jvala ke shalabh! tujhe to jal-marana tha. to use aparadh ka dand mila. aur svatantrata ke nam jo bhram ka srijan kar rahi thi, usaka kya hua! maian sal-van ki vihangini! aj mera saundary kahaan hai? aur phir prasav ke bad kya hoga?

vah roti rahi.

salavati ke jivan mean rudan ka rajy tha. jitana hi vah apane svatantrata par pahale sahasa prasann ho rahi thi, utana hi us manini ka jivan du:khapoorn ho gaya.

vah garbhavati thi.

upavan se bahar n nikalati thi aur n to koee bhitar ane pata. salavati ne apane ko bandi bana liya.

kee mahine bit gaye. phir se madhumas aya. par salavati ka vasant jaise sada ke lie chala gaya tha. usane upavan ki prachir mean se suna jaise koee tooryanad ke sath pukar raha hai : ‘‘vajjiyoan ki sarvashreshth sundari anangapooja ...’’ age vah kuchh n sun saki. vah rosh se moorchchhit thi. vishad se usaki prasav-pi da bhayanak ho rahi thi. nila ne upachar kiya. vaidy ke prayatn se us ratri mean salavati ko ek sundar-si santan huee.

salavati ne apane yauvan-van ke kuthar ko dekha. dvandv se vah t dapane lagi, moh ko man ne parajit kiya. usane komal phooloan ki tokari mean achchhe vastroan mean lapetakar us sukumar shishu ko ek or godhooli ki shital chhaya mean rakhava diya. vaidy ka muanh sone se band kar diya gaya.

usi din salavati apane suvishal bhavan mean laut ayi.

aur usi din abhayakumar vijayi hokar apane path se laut raha tha. tab use ek sundar shishu mila. abhay use apane sath le aya.

pratiyogita ka din tha. salavati ka saundary-darp jagarook ho gaya tha. usane drakshasav ka ghooant lekar mukur mean apani pratichchhaya dekhi. usako jaise akaran sandeh hua ki usaki phooloan ki rritu bit chali hai. vah apaman se bhayabhit hokar baith rahi.

vaishali vijay ka utsav mana rahi thi. udhar vasant ka bhi samaroh tha. salavati ko sab log bhool gaye. aur abhayakumar! vah kadachith nahian bhoola-kuchh-kuchh krodh se, kuchh vishad se, aur kuchh sneh se. sansthagar mean chunav ki bhi d thi. usamean jo sundari chuni gayi, vah nirvivad nahian chuni ja saki. abhayakumar ne virodh kiya. athoan kulaputroan ne usaka sath dete hue kaha-‘‘jo anupam saundary nahian, use veshya banana saundary-bodh ka apaman karana hai.’’ kintu bahumat ka shasan! chunav ho hi gaya. vaishali ko ab veshyaoan ki adhik avashyakata thi.

salavati ne sab samachar apani shayya par lete-lete suna. vah hans p di! usane nila se kaha-‘‘ nile! mere svarn-bhandar mean kami to nahian hai?’’

‘‘nahian svamini!’’

‘‘isaka dhyan rakhana! mujhe arthik paratantrata n bhogani p de.’’

‘‘isaki sambhavana nahian. ap nishchint rahean.’’

kintu salavati! haan, vah svatantr thi, ek kangal ki tarah, jisake pas koee adhikar, niyantran, apane par bhi nahian-doosare par bhi nahian. aise ath vasant bit gaye.

bhag 4

abhayakumar apane udyan mean baitha tha. ek shubhr shila par usaki vina rakkhi thi. do das usake sugathit sharir mean sugandhit tel-mardan kar rahe the. samane manch par ek sundar balak apani kri da-samagri liye vyast tha. abhay apani banayi huee kavita gunaguna raha tha. vah balak ki akritrim hansi par likhi gayi thi. abhay ke hriday ka samast sanchit sneh usi balak mean kendribhoot tha. abhay ne poochha-ayushman vijay! tum bhi aj mallashala mean chaloge n!’’

balak kri da chho dakar uth kh da hua, jaise vah sachamuch kisi se mallayuddh karane ke lie prastut ho. usane kaha-‘‘chalooanga aur l dooanga bhi.’’

abhay thathakar hans p da. balak kuchh sankuchit ho gaya. phir sahasa abhay ko smaran ho gaya ki use aur bhi kee kam haian. vah snan ke lie uthane laga ki sansthagar ki sannipat bheri baj uthi. ek bar to usane kan kh de kiye; par phir apane mean lin ho gaya. magadh-yuddh ke bad usane kisi vishesh pad ke lie kabhi apane ko upasthit nahian kiya. vah jaise vaishali ke shasan mean bhag lene se udasin ho raha tha! svasthy ka bahana karake usane avasar grahan kiya. usake magadh-yuddh ke sahayak athoan darshanik kulaputr usake abhinn mitr the. ve bhi avivahit the. abhayakumar ki goshthi bina sundariyoan ki jamat thi. ve bhi a gaye. in saboan ke balishth shariroan par magadh-yuddh ke vir-chihn aankit the.

abhinand ne poochha-‘‘aj sansthagar mean ham log chaleange ki nahian?’’

abhay ne kaha-‘‘mujhe to mallashala ka nimantran hai.’’

abhinand ne kaha-‘‘to sachamuch ham log vaishali ke shasan se udasin ho gaye haian kya?’’

sab chup ho gaye. subhadr ne kaha-‘‘ant mean vyavahar ki drishti se ham log pakke niyativadi hi rahe. jo kuchh hona hai, vah hone diya ja raha hai.’’

anand hans p da. manikanth ne kaha-‘‘nahian, hansane se kam n chalega. aj jab upavan se a raha tha tab maianne dekha ki salavati ke toran par b di bhi d hai. poochhane se maloom hua ki ath baras ke dirgh ekantavas ke bad saundary ke chunav mean bhag lene ke lie salavati bahar a rahi hai. maian kshan-bhar ruka raha. vah apane pushparath par nikali. nagarikoan ki bhi d thi. kulavadhuoan ka rath ruk raha tha. unamean kee tejasvini mahilaean thian, jinaki god mean bachche the. unhoanne tivr svar mean kaha-‘yahi pishachini ham logoan ke bachchoan se unake pitaoan ko, striyoan se apane patiyoan ko chhinanevali hai.’ vah ek kshan kh di rahi. usane kaha-‘deviyoan! ath baras ke bad vaishali ke rajapath par dikhalaee p di hooan. in dinoan maianne kisi purush ka muanh bhi nahian dekha. mujhe ap log kyoan kos rahi haian!’ ve bolian-‘toone veshyavriti ke pap ka avishkar kiya hai. too kulaputroan ke van ki davagni ki pratham chinagari hai. tera muanh dekhane se bhi pap hai! rashtr ke in anath putroan ki or dekh! pishachini!’ kee ne bachchoan ko apani god se ooancha kar diya. salavati ne un balako ki or dekhakar ro diya.’’

‘‘ro diya?’’-abhinand ne poochha.

‘‘haan-haan, ro diya aur usane kaha-‘deviyoan! mujhe kshama karean. maian prayashchit karooangi.’ usane apana rath badhava diya. maian idhar chala aya; kintu kulaputroan se maian saty kahata hooan ki salavati aj bhi sundariyoan ki rani hai.’’

abhayakumar chupachap vijay ko dekh raha tha. usane kaha-‘‘to kya ham log chaleange?’’

‘‘haan-haan-’’

abhay ne dridh svar mean poochha-‘‘aur avashyakata hogi to sab prakar se pratikar karane mean pichhe n hateange.’’

‘‘haan, n hateange!’’-dridhata se kulaputroan ne kaha.

‘‘to maian snan karake abhi chala.’’-rathoan ko prastut hone ke lie kah diya jay.

jab abhay snan kar raha tha, tab kulaputroan ne kaha-‘‘aj abhay kuchh adh‌bhut kam karega?’’

anand ne kaha-‘‘jo hona hoga, vah to hoga hi. itani ghabarahat se kya?’’

abhay shighr snanagar se laut aya. usane vijay ko bhi apane rath par bithaya.

kulaputroan ke nau rath sansthagar ki or chale. abhay ke mukh par gambhir chinta thi aur durdamaniy dridhata thi.

sianhadvar par sadharan janata ki bhi d thi aur vishal praangan mean kulaputroan ki aur mahilaoan ki . aj saundary pratiyogita thi. roop ki hat saji thi. ath bhinn asanoan par vaishali ki veshyayean baithi thian. nava asan soona tha. abhi tak nee prarthini-sundariyoan mean utsah tha; kintu salavati ke ate hi jaise nakshatroan ka prakash mand ho gaya. poorn chandroday tha. salavati aj apane sampoorn saundary mean yauvanavati thi. sundariyaan hatash ho rahi thian. karmachari ne pratiyogita ke lie nam poochha. kisi ne nahian bataya.

usi samay kulaputroan ke sath abhay ne pravesh kiya. magadh-yuddh vijeta ka jay-jayakar hua. salavati ka hriday kaanp utha. n jane kyoan vah abhay se darati thi. phir bhi usane apane ko sanbhal kar abhay ka svagat kiya. yuvak saundary ke chunav ke lie utkanthit the. koee kahata tha-‘‘aj hona asambhav hai.’’ koee kahata-‘‘nahian aj salavati ke samane isaka nirnay hoga.’’ parantu koee sundari apana nam nahian dena chahati thi. salavati ne apani vijay se muskara diya.

usane kh di hokar vinit svar se kaha-‘‘yadi mananiy sangh ko avasar ho, vah meri vijnapti sunana chahean, to maian nivedan karooan.’’

sansthagar mean sannata tha.

usane pratijna upasthit ki.

‘‘yadi sangh prasann ho, to mujhe ajna de. meri yah pratijna svikar kare ki ‘‘aj se koee stri vaishali-rashtr mean veshya n hogi.’’

kolahal macha.

‘‘aur tum apane sianhasan par achal bani raho. kulavadhuoan ke saubhagy ka apaharan kiya karo.’’-mahilaoan ke tiraskarapoorn shabd alind se sunaee p de.

‘‘dhairy dharan karo deviyoan! haan, to-is par sangh kya ajna deta hai?’’-salavati ne sahas ke sath tikhe svar mean kaha.

abhay ne prashn kiya-‘‘kya jo veshyayean haian, ve vaishali mean bani raheangi? aur kya is bar bhi saundary pratiyogita mean tum apane ko vijayini nahian samajhati ho?’’

‘‘mujhe nirvasan mile-karagar mean rahana p de. jo bhi sangh ki ajna ho; kintu akalyanakar aur parajay ke mool is bhayanak niyam ko jo abhi tho de dinoan se vajjisangh ne prachalit kiya hai, band karana chahie.’’

ek kulaputr ne gambhir svar se kaha-‘‘kya rashtr ki ajna se jin striyoan ne apana sarvasv usaki ichchha par luta diya, unhean rashtr nirvasit karega, dand dega? ganatantr ka yah patan.’’

ek or se kolahal macha-‘‘aisa n hona chahie.’’

‘‘phir in logoan ka bhagy kis sanket par chalega?’’-raja ne gambhir svar mean poochha. ‘inaka kaumary, shil aur sadachar khandit hai. inake lie rashtr kya vyavastha karata hai?’’

‘‘sangh yadi prasann ho, use avasar ho, to maian kuchh nivedan karooan.’’-anand ne muskarate hue kaha.

raja ka sanket pakar usane phir kaha-‘‘ham ath magadh-yuddh ke khandit sharir vilaang kulaputr haian. aur ye shil khandita ath nee anang ki pujarinean haian.’’

kul log hansane ki cheshta karate hue dikhaee p de. karmachariyoan ne toory bajakar shant rahane ke lie kaha.

raja-uparaja-senapati-mantradhar-sootradhar-amaty vyavaharik aur kulikoan ne is jatil prashn par gambhirata se vichar karana arambh kiya. sansthagar maun tha.

kuchh kal ke bad sootradhar ne poochha-‘‘to kya athoan kulaputroan ne nishchay kar liya hai? in veshyaoan ko ve log patni ki tarah grahan kareange?’’

abhay ne unaki or sambhram dekha. ve uth kh de hue. ek sath spasht svar mean un logoan ne kaha-‘‘haan, yadi sangh vaisi ajna dene ki kripa kare.’’

sangh maun hai; isalie maian samajhata hooan use svikar hai.’-raja ne kaha.

‘‘salavati! salavati!!’’ ki pukar uthi. ve athoan abhinand adi ke pashrv mean akar kh di ho gee thian; kintu salavati apane sthan par pashani pratima kh di thi. yahi avasar tha, jab nau baras pahale usane abhayakumar ka pratyakhyan kiya tha. prithvi ne usake pair pak d liye the, vayumandal j d tha, vah nirjiv thi.

sahasa abhayakumar ne vijay ko apani god mean uthakar kaha-‘‘mujhe patni to nahian chahie. haan, is balak ki maan ko khoj raha hooan, jisako prasav-ratri mean hi usaki manini maan ne lajja pind ki tarah apani saundary ki raksha ke liye pheank diya tha. us chatur vaidy ne isaki dakshin bhuja par ek amit chihn aankit kar diya hai. use yadi koee pahachan sake, to vah ise apani god mean le.’’

salavati pagaloan ki tarah jhapati. usane chihn dekha. aur dekha us sundar mukh ko. vah abhay ke charanoan mean girakar boli-‘‘yah mera hai dev. kya tum bhi mere hoge? abhay ne usaka hath pak dakar utha liya.’’

jayanad se sansthagar mukharit ho raha tha.

tika tippani aur sandarbh

bahari k diyaan

sanbandhit lekh

varnamala kramanusar lekh khoj

a a i ee u oo e ai o au aan k kh g gh n ch chh j jh n t th d dh n t th d dh n p ph b bh m y r l v sh sh s h ksh tr jn rri rri aau shr aah