अग्नि समाधि -प्रेमचंद

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

sadhu-santoan ke satsang se bure bhi achchhe ho jate haian, kintu payag ka durbhagy tha, ki us par satsang ka ulta hi asar hua. use gaanje, charas aur bhang ka chaska p d gaya, jisaka phal yah hua ki ek mehanati, udyamashil yuvak alasy ka upasak ban baitha. jivan-sangram mean yah anand kahaan ! kisi vat-vriksh ke niche dhooni jal rahi hai, ek jatadhari mahatma viraj rahe haian, bhaktajan unhean ghere baithe hue haian, aur til-til par charas ke dam lag rahe haian. bich-bich mean bhajan bhi ho jate haian. majoori-dhatoori mean yah svarg-sukh kahaan ! chilam bharana payag ka kam tha. bhaktoan ko paralok mean puny-phal ki asha thi, payag ko tatkal phal milata tha , chilamoan par pahala hak usi ka hota tha. mahatmaoan ke shrimukh se bhagavath charcha sunate hue vah anand se vihval ho uthata tha, us par atmavismriti-si chha jati thi. vah saurabh, sangit aur prakash se bhare hue ek doosare hi sansar mean pahuanch jata tha. isalie jab usaki stri rukmin rat ke das-gyarah baj jane par use bulane ati, to payag ko pratyaksh kroor anubhav hota, sansar use kaantoan se bhara hua jangal-sa dikhata, visheshat: jab ghar ane par use maloom hota ki abhi choolha nahian jala aur chane-chabene ki kuchh fikr karani hai. vah jati ka bhar tha, gaanv ki chaukidari usaki miras thi, do rupaye aur kuchh ane vetan milata tha. varadi aur safa muft. kam tha saptah mean ek din thane jana, vahaan aphasaroan ke dvar par jhadoo lagana, astabal saf karana, lak di chirana. payag rakt ke ghooant pi-pi kar ye kam karata, kyoanki avajna sharirik aur arthik donoan hi drishti se mahangi p dati thian. aansoo yoan puchhate the ki chaukidari mean yadi koee kam tha, to itana hi, aur mahine mean char din ke lie do rupaye aur kuchh ane kam n the. phir gaanv mean bhi agar b de adamiyoan par nahian, to nichoan par rob tha. vetan peanshan thi aur jab se mahatmaoan ka sampark hua, vah payag ke jeb-kharch ki mad mean a gayi. atev jivika ka prashn dinoandin chintotpadak roop dharan karane laga. in satsangoan ke pahale yah dampati gaanv mean mazadoori karata tha. rukmin lak diyaan to d kar bazar le jati, payag kabhi ara chalata, kabhi hal jotata, kabhi pur haankata. jo kam samane a jae, usamean jut jata tha. hansamukh, shramashil, vinodi, nirdvandv adami tha aur aisa adami kabhi bhookhoan nahian marata. us par namr itana ki kisi kam ke lie 'nahian' n karata. kisi ne kuchh kaha aur vah 'achchha bhaiya' kah kar dau da. isalie usaka gaanv mean man tha. isi ki badaulat nirudyam hone par bhi do-tin sal use adhik kasht n hua. donoan joon ki to bat hi kya, jab mahato ko yah rridhdi n prapt thi, jinake dvar par bailoan ki tin-tin jo diyaan bandhati thian, to payag kis ginati mean tha. haan, ek joon ki dal-roti mean sandeh n tha. parantu ab yah samasya din par din vishamatar hoti jati thi. us par vipatti yah thi ki rukmin bhi ab kisi karan se usaki patiparayan, utani sevashil, utani tatpar n thi. nahian, utani pragalbhata aur vachalata mean ashcharyajanak vikas hota jata tha. atev payag ko kisi aisi sidhdi ki avashyakata thi, jo use jivika ki chianta se mukt kar de aur vah nishchiant ho kar bhagavadbhajan aur sadhu-seva mean pravritta ho jae. ek din rukmin bazar mean lak diyaan bech kar lauti, to payag ne kaha —la, kuchh paise mujhe de de, dam laga aooan. rukmin ne muanh pher kar kaha —dam lagane ki aisi chat hai, to kam kyoan nahian karate ? kya ajakal koee baba nahian haian, ja kar chilam bharo ? payag ne tyori chadha kar kaha —bhala chahati hai to paise de de; nahian to is tarah tang karegi, to ek din kahian chala jaooanga, tab royegi. rukmin aangootha dikha kar boli —  roye meri bala. tum rahate hi ho, to kaun sone ka kaur khila dete ho ? ab bhi chhati pha dati hooan, tab bhi chhati pha dooangi. 'to ab yahi phaisala hai ?' 'haan-haan, kah to diya, mere pas paise nahian haian.' 'gahane banavane ke lie paise haian aur maian char paise maangata hooan, to yoan javab deti hai !' rukmin tinak kar boli —  gahane banavati hooan, to tumhari chhati kyoan phatati hai ? tumane to pital ka chhalla bhi nahian banavaya, ya itana bhi nahian dekha jata ? payag us din ghar n aya. rat ke nau baj gaye, tab rukmin ne kiva d band kar liye. samajhi, gaanv mean kahian chhipa baitha hoga. samajhata hoga, mujhe manane ayegi, meri bala jati hai. jab doosare din bhi payag n aya, to rukmin ko chianta huee. gaanv bhar chhan ayi. chi diya kisi avhe par n mili. us din usane rasoee nahian banayi. rat ko leti bhi to bahut der tak aankhean n lagian. shanka ho rahi thi, payag sachamuch to virakt nahian ho gaya. usane socha, prat:kal patta-patta chhan dalooangi, kisi sadhu-sant ke sath hoga. ja kar thane mean rapat kar dooangi. abhi t daka hi tha ki rukmin thane mean chalane ko taiyar ho gayi. kiva d band karake nikali hi thi ki payag ata hua dikhaee diya. par vah akela n tha. usake pichhe-pichhe ek stri bhi thi. usaki chhiant ki sa di, rangi huee chadar, lamba ghooanghat aur sharmili chal dekh kar rukmin ka kaleja dhakh-se ho gaya. vah ek kshan hatabuddhi-si kh di rahi, tab badh kar nayi saut ko donoan hathoan ke bich mean le liya aur use is bhaanti dhire-dhire ghar ke aandar le chali, jaise koee rogi jivan se nirash ho kar vish-pan kar raha ho ! jab p dosiyoan ki bhi d chhant gayi to rukmin ne payag se poochha—ise kahaan se laye ? payag ne hans kar kaha —ghar se bhagi jati thi, mujhe raste mean mil gayi. ghar ka kam-dhaandha karegi, p di rahegi. 'maloom hota hai, mujhase tumhara ji bhar gaya.' payag ne tirachhi chitavanoan se dekh kar kaha —duth pagali ! ise teri seva-tahal karane ko laya hooan. 'nayi ke age purani ko kaun poochhata hai ?' 'chal, man jisase mile vahi nayi hai, man jisase n mile vahi purani hai. la, kuchh paisa ho to de de, tin din se dam nahian lagaya, pair sidhe nahian p date. haan, dekh do-char din is bechari ko khila-pila de, phir to ap hi kam karane lagegi.' rukmin ne poora rupaya la kar payag ke hath par rakh diya. doosari bar kahane ki zaroorat hi n p di. payag mean chahe aur koee gun ho ya n ho, yah manana p dega ki vah shasan ke mool sidhdaantoan se parichit tha. usane bhed-niti ko apana lakshy bana liya tha. ek mas tak kisi prakar ki vighn-badha n p di. rukmin apani sari chauk diyaan bhool gayi thi. b de t dake uthati, kabhi lak diyaan to d kar, kabhi chara kat kar, kabhi upale path kar bazar le jati. vahaan jo kuchh milata, usaka adha to payag ke hatthe chadha deti. adho mean ghar ka kam chalata. vah saut ko koee kam n karane deti. p dosiyoan se kahati , bahan, saut hai to kya, hai to abhi kal ki bahuriya. do-char mahine bhi aram se n rahegi, to kya yad karegi. maian to kam karane ko hooan hi. gaanv bhar mean rukmin ke shil-svabhav ka bakhan hota tha, par satsangi ghagh payag sab kuchh samajhata tha aur apani niti ki saphalata par prasann hota tha. ek din bahoo ne kaha —didi, ab to ghar mean baithe-baithe ji oobata hai. mujhe bhi koee kam dila do. rukmin ne sneh sianchit svar mean kaha —kya mere mukh mean kalikh putavane par lagi huee hai ? bhitar ka kam kiye ja, bahar ke lie maian hooan hi. bahoo ka nam kaushalya tha, jo big d kar siliya ho gaya tha. is vakt siliya ne kuchh javab n diya. lekin vah lauandiyoan ki dasha ab usake lie asahy ho gayi thi. vah din bhar ghar ka kam karate-karate mare, koee nahian poochhata. rukmin bahar se char paise lati hai, to ghar ki malakin bani huee hai. ab siliya bhi majoori karegi aur malakin ka ghamand to d degi. payag paisoan ka yar hai, yah bat usase ab chhipi n thi. jab rukmin chara le kar bazar chali gayi, to usane ghar ki tatti lagayi aur gaanv ka rang-dhang dekhane ke lie nikal p di. gaanv mean brahman, thakur, kayasth, baniye sabhi the. siliya ne shil aur sankoch ka kuchh aisa svaang racha ki sabhi striyaan us par mugdh ho gayian. kisi ne chaval diya, kisi ne dal, kisi ne kuchh. nayi bahoo ki avabhagat kaun n karata ? pahale hi daure mean siliya ko maloom ho gaya ki gaanv mean pisanahari ka sthan khali hai aur vah is kami ko poora kar sakati hai. vah yahaan se ghar lauti, to usake sir par gehooan se bhari huee ek tokari thi. payag ne pahar rat hi se chakki ki avaz suni, to rukmin se bola —  aj to siliya abhi se pisane lagi. rukmin bazar se ata layi thi. anaj aur ate ke bhav mean vishesh aantar n tha. use ashchary hua ki siliya itane sabere kya pis rahi hai. uth kar kothari mean ayi, to dekha ki siliya aandhere  mean baithi kuchh pis rahi hai. usane ja kar usaka hath pak d liya aur tokari ko utha kar boli —  tujhase kisane pisane ko kaha hai ? kisaka anaj pis rahi hai ? siliya ne nishshank ho kar kaha —tum ja kar aram se soti kyoan nahian. maian pisati hooan, to tumhara kya big data hai ! chakki ki ghumur-ghumur bhi nahian sahi jati ? lao, tokari de do, baithe-baithe kab tak khaooangi, do mahine to ho gaye. 'maianne to tujhase kuchh nahian kaha !' 'tum kaho, chahe n kaho; apana dharam bhi to kuchh hai.' 'too abhi yahaan ke adamiyoan ko nahian janati. ata to pisate sabako achchha lagata hai. paise dete rote haian. kisaka gehooan hai ? maian sabere usake sir par patak aooangi.' siliya ne rukmin ke hath se tokari chhin li aur boli —  paise kyoan n deange ? kuchh begar karati hooan ? 'too n manegi ?' 'tumhari lauandi ban kar n rahooangi.' yah takarar sun kar payag bhi a pahuancha aur rukmin se bola —  kam karati hai to karane kyoan nahian deti ? ab kya janam bhar bahuriya hi bani rahegi ? ho gaye do mahine. 'tum kya jano, nak to meri kategi.' siliya bol uthi , to kya koee baithe khilata hai ? chauka-baratan, jhadoo-baharoo, roti-pani, pisana-kootana, yah kaun karata hai ? pani khianchate-khianchate mere hathoan mean ghatthe p d gaye. mujhase ab sara kam n hoga. payag ne kaha —to too hi bazar jaea kar. ghar ka kam rahane de ! rukmin kar legi. rukmin ne apatti ki , aisi bat muanh se nikalate laj nahian ati ? tin din ki bahuriya bazar mean ghoomegi, to sansar kya kahega ! siliya ne agrah karake kaha —sansar kya kahega, kya koee aib karane jati hooan ? siliya ki digri ho gayi. adhipaty rukmin ke hath se nikal gaya. siliya ki amaladari ho gayi. javan aurat thi. gehooan pis kar uthi to auroan ke sath ghas chhilane chali gayi, aur itani ghas chhili ki sab dang rah gayian ! gattha uthaye n uthata tha. jin purushoan ko ghas chhilane ka b da abhyas tha, unase bhi usane bazi mar li ! yah gattha barah ane ka bika. siliya ne ata, chaval, dal, tel, namak, tarakari, masala sab kuchh liya, aur char ane bacha bhi liye. rukmin ne samajh rakha tha ki siliya bazar se do-char ane paise le kar lautegi to use datooangi aur doosare din se phir bazar jane lagooangi. phir mera rajy ho jayaga. par yah saman dekhe, to aankhean khul gayian. payag khane baitha to masaledar tarakari ka bakhan karane laga. mahinoan se aisi svadisht vastu mayassar n huee thi. bahut prasann hua. bhojan karake vah bahar jane laga, to siliya barothe mean kh di mil gayi. bola —  aj kitane paise mile ? 'barah ane mile the !' 'sab kharch kar dale ? kuchh bache hoan to mujhe de de.' siliya ne bache hue char ane paise de diye. payag paise khanakhanata hua bola —  toone to aj malamal kar diya. rukmin to do-char paisoan hi mean tal deti thi. 'mujhe ga d kar rakhana tho de hi hai. paisa khane-pine ke lie hai ki ga dane ke lie ?' 'ab too hi bazar jaea kar, rukmin ghar ka kam karegi.' rukmin aur siliya mean sangram chhi d gaya. siliya payag par apana adhipaty jamaye rakhane ke lie jan to d kar parishram karati. pahar rat hi se usaki chakki ki avaz kanoan mean ane lagati. din nikalate hi ghas lane chali jati aur jara der susta kar bazar ki rah leti. vahaan se laut kar bhi vah bekar n baithati, kabhi san katati, kabhi lak diyaan to dati. rukmin usake prabandh mean barabar aib nikalati aur jab avasar milata to gobar bator kar upale pathati aur gaanv mean bechati. payag ke donoan hathoan mean laddoo the. striyaan use adhik se adhik paise dene aur sneh ka adhikaansh dekar apane adhikar mean lane ka prayatn karati rahatian, par siliya ne kuchh aisi dridhata se asan jama liya tha ki kisi tarah hilaye n hilati thi. yahaan tak ki ek din donoan pratiyogiyoan mean khullamakhulla than gayi. ek din siliya ghas le kar lauti to pasine se tar thi. phagun ka mahina tha; dhoop tej thi. usane socha, naha kar tab bazar jaooangi. ghas dvar par hi rakh kar vah talab mean nahane chali gayi. rukmin ne tho di-si ghas nikal kar p dosin ke ghar mean chhipa di aur gatthe ko dhila karake barabar kar diya. siliya naha kar lauti to ghas kam maloom huee. rukmin se poochha. usane kaha —maian nahian janati. siliya ne galiyaan deni shuroo kian , jisane meri ghas chhuee ho, usaki deh mean ki de p dean, usake bap aur bhaee mar jaean, usaki aankhean phoot jaean. rukmin kuchh der tak to jabt kiye baithi rahi, akhir khoon mean ubal a hi gaya. jhalla kar uthi aur siliya ke do-tin tamache laga diye. siliya chhati pit-pit kar rone lagi. sara muhalla jama ho gaya. siliya ki subuddhi aur karyashilata sabhi ki aankhoan mean khatakati thi , vah sabase adhik ghas kyoan chhilati hai, sabase zyada lak diyaan kyoan lati hai, itane sabere kyoan uthati hai, itane paise kyoan lati hai, in karanoan ne use p dosiyoan ki sahanubhooti se vanchit kar diya tha. sab usi ko bura-bhala kahane lagian. mutthi bhar ghas ke lie itana oodham macha dala, itani ghas to adami jha d kar pheank deta hai. ghas n huee, sona hua. tujhe to sochana chahie tha ki agar kisi ne le hi liya, to hai to gaanv-ghar hi ka. bahar ka koee chor to aya nahian. toone itani galiyaan dian, to kisako dian ? p dosiyoan hi ko to ? sanyog se us din payag thane gaya hua tha. sham ko thaka-maanda lauta to siliya se bola —  la, kuchh paise de de, to dam laga aooan. thak kar choor ho gaya hooan. siliya use dekhate hi hay-hay karake rone lagi. payag ne ghabara kar poochha—kya hua ? kyoan roti hai ? kahian gami to nahian ho gayi ? naihar se koee adami to nahian aya ? 'ab is ghar mean mera rahana n hoga. apane ghar jaooangi.' 'are, kuchh muanh se to bol; hua kya ? gaanv mean kisi ne gali di hai ? kisane gali di hai ? ghar phooank dooan, usaka chalan karava dooan.' siliya ne ro-ro kar sari katha kah sunayi. payag par aj thane mean khoob mar p di thi. jhallaya hua tha. vah katha suni, to deh mean ag lag gayi. rukmin pani bharane gayi thi. vah abhi gh da bhi n rakhane payi thi ki payag us par toot p da aur marate-marate bedam kar diya. vah mar ka javab galiyoan se deti thi aur payag har ek gali par aur jhalla-jhalla kar marata tha. yahaan tak ki rukmin ke ghutane phoot gaye, choo diyaan toot gayian. siliya bich-bich mean kahati jati thi , vah re tera dida ! vah re teri jaban ! aisi to aurat hi nahian dekhi. aurat kahe ko, dain hai, jara bhi muanh mean lagam nahian ! kiantu rukmin usaki batoan ko mano sunati hi n thi. usaki sari shakti payag ko kosane mean lagi huee thi. payag marate-marate thak gaya, par rukmin ki jaban n thaki. bas, yahi rat lagi huee thi , too mar ja, teri mitti nikale, tujhe bhavani khayan, tujhe miragi aye. payag rah-rah kar krodh se tilamila uthata aur a kar do-char latean jama deta. par rukmin ko ab shayad chot hi n lagati thi. vah jagah se hilati bhi n thi. sir ke bal khole, zamin par baithi inhian mantroan ka path kar rahi thi. usake svar mean ab krodh n tha, keval ek unmadamay pravah tha. usaki samast atma hiansa-kamana ki agni se prajjvalit ho rahi thi. aandhera hua to rukmin uth kar ek or nikal gayi, jaise aankhoan se aansoo ki dhar nikal jati hai. siliya bhojan bana rahi thi. usane use jate dekha bhi, par kuchh poochha nahian. dvar par payag baitha chilam pi raha tha. usane bhi kuchh n kaha. jab phasal pakane lagati thi, to dedh-do mahine tak payag ko har ki dekhabhal karani p dati thi. use kisanoan se donoan phasaloan par hal pichhe kuchh anaj bandha hua tha. magh hi mean vah har ke bich mean tho di-si zamin saf karake ek m daiya dal leta tha aur rat ko kha-pi kar ag, chilam aur tamakhoo-charas liye hue isi m daiya mean ja kar p da rahata tha. chait ke aant tak usaka yahi niyam rahata tha. ajakal vahi din the. phasal paki huee taiyar kh di thi. do-char din mean kataee shuroo hone vali thi. payag ne das baje rat tak rukmin ki rah dekhi. phir yah samajh kar ki shayad kisi p dosin ke ghar so rahi hogi, usane kha-pi kar apani lathi uthayi aur siliya se bola —  kiva d band kar le, agar rukmin aye to khol dena, aur, mana-juna kar tho da-bahut khila dena. tere pichhe aj itana toofan ho gaya. mujhe n-jane itana gussa kaise a gaya. maianne use kabhi phool ki chh di se bhi n chhua tha. kahian boo d-dhaans n mari ho, to kal aphat a jae. siliya boli —  n jane vah ayegi ki nahian. maian akeli kaise rahooangi. mujhe dar lagata hai. 'to ghar mean kaun rahega ? soona ghar pa kar koee lota-thali utha le jae to ? dar kis bat ka hai ? phir rukmin to ati hi hogi.' siliya ne aandar se tatti band kar li. payag har ki or chala. charas ki tarang mean yah bhajan gata jata tha , thagini ! kya naina jhamakave kaddoo kat mridang banave, niboo kat majira; paanch taroee mangal gavean, nache balam khira. roopa pahir ke roop dikhave, sona pahir rijhave; gale dal tulasi ki mala, tin lok bharamave. thagini... sahasa sivane par pahuanchate hi usane dekha ki samane har mean kisi ne ag jalayi. ek kshan mean ek jvala-si dahak uthi. usane chilla kar pukara , kaun hai vahaan ? are, yah kaun ag jalata hai ? oopar uthati huee jvalaoan ne apani agney jihna se uttar diya. ab payag ko maloom hua ki usaki m daiya mean ag lagi huee hai. usaki chhati dha dakane lagi. is m daiya mean ag lagana ruee ke dher mean ag lagana tha. hava chal rahi thi. m daiya ke charoan or ek hath hat kar paki huee phasal ki chadar-si bichhi huee thi. rat mean bhi unaka sunahara rang jhalak raha tha. ag ki ek lapat, keval ek jara-si chinagari sare har ko bhasm kar degi. sara gaanv tabah ho jayaga. isi har se mile hue doosare gaanv ke bhi har the. ve bhi jal utheange. oh ! lapatean badhati ja rahi haian. ab vilamb karane ka samay n tha. payag ne apana upala aur chilam vahian patak diya aur kandho par lohaband lathi rakh kar betahasha m daiya ki taraph dau da. me doan se jane mean chakkar tha, isalie vah khetoan mean se ho kar bhaga ja raha tha. prati kshan jvala prachandatar hoti jati thi aur payag ke paanv aur teji se uth rahe the. koee tej gho da bhi is vakt use pa n sakata tha. apani teji par use svayan ashchary ho raha tha. jan p data tha, paanv bhoomi par p date hi nahian. usaki aankhean m daiya par lagi huee thian , dahine-bayean se aur kuchh n soojhata tha. isi ekagrata ne usake pairoan mean par laga diye the. n dam phoolata tha, n paanv thakate the. tin-char pharalaang usane do minat mean tay kar liye aur m daiya ke pas ja pahuancha. m daiya ke as-pas koee n tha. kisane yah karm kiya hai, yah sochane 1405 ka mauqa n tha. use khojane ki to bat hi aur thi. payag ka sandeh rukmin par hua. par yah krodh ka samay n tha. jvalaean kuchali balakoan ki bhaanti thattha maratian, dhakkam-dhakka karatian, kabhi dahini or lapakatian aur kabhi bayian taraph. bas, aisa maloom hota tha ki lapat ab khet tak pahuanchi, ab pahuanchi. mano jvalaean agrahapoorvak kyariyoan ki or badhatian aur asaphal ho kar doosari bar phir doone veg se lapakati thian. ag kaise bujhe ! lathi se pit kar bujhane ka gauan n tha. vah to niri moorkhata thi. phir kya ho ! phasal jal gayi, to phir vah kisi ko muanh n dikha sakega. ah ! gaanv mean koharam mach jayaga. sarvanash ho jayaga. usane zyada nahian socha. ganvaroan ko sochana nahian ata. payag ne lathi sanbhali, zor se ek chhalaang mar kar ag ke aandar m daiya ke dvar par ja pahuancha, jalati huee m daiya ko apani lathi par uthaya aur use sir par liye sabase chau di me d par gaanv ki taraph bhaga. aisa jan p da, mano koee agni-yan hava mean u data chala ja raha hai. phoos ki jalati huee dhajjiyaan usake oopar gir rahi thian, par use isaka jnan tak n hota tha. ek bar ek mootha alag ho kar usake hath par gir p da. sara hath bhun gaya. par usake paanv pal bhar bhi nahian ruke, hathoan mean jara bhi hichak n huee. hathoan ka hilana kheti ka tabah hona tha. payag ki or se ab koee shanka n thi. agar bhay tha to yahi ki m daiya ka vah keandr-bhag jahaan lathi ka kuanda dal kar payag ne use uthaya tha, n jal jae; kyoanki chhed ke phailate hi m daiya usake oopar a giregi aur agni-samadhi mean magn kar degi. payag yah janata tha aur hava ki chal se u da chala jata tha. char pharalaang ki dau d hai. mrityu agni ka roop dharan kiye hue payag ke sar par khel rahi hai aur gaanv ki phasal par. usaki dau d mean itana veg hai ki jvalaoan ka muanh pichhe ko phir gaya hai aur usaki dahak shakti ka adhikaansh vayu se l dane mean lag raha hai. nahian to ab tak bich mean ag pahuanch gayi hoti aur hahakar mach gaya hota. ek pharalaang to nikal gaya, payag ki himmat ne har nahian mani. vah doosara pharalaang bhi poora ho gaya. dekhana payag, do pharalaang ki aur kasar hai. paanv jara bhi sust n hoan. jvala lathi ke kuande par pahuanchi aur tumhare jivan ka aant hai. marane ke bad bhi tumhean galiyaan mileangi, tum anant kal tak ahoan ki ag mean jalate rahoge. 1406 : manasarovar bas, ek minat aur ! ab keval do khet aur rah gaye haian. sarvanash ! lathi ka kuanda nikal gaya. m daiya niche khisak rahi hai, ab koee asha nahian. payag pran chho d kar dau d raha hai, vah kinare ka khet a pahuancha. ab keval do sekeand ka aur mamala hai. vijay ka dvar samane bis hath par kh da svagat kar raha hai. udhar svarg hai, idhar narak. magar vah m daiya khisakati huee payag ke sir par a pahuanchi. vah ab bhi use pheank kar apani jan bacha sakata hai. par use pranoan ka moh nahian. vah us jalati huee ag ko sir par liye bhaga ja raha hai ! vahaan usake paanv l dakh daye ! ab yah kroor agni-lila nahian dekhi jati. ekaek ek stri samane ke vriksh ke niche se dau dati huee payag ke pas pahuanchi. yah rukmin thi. usane turant payag ke samane a kar garadan jhukayi aur jalati huee m daiya ke niche pahuanch kar use donoan hathoan par le liya. usi dam payag moorchchhit  ho kar gir p da. usaka sara muanh jhulas gaya tha. rukmin usake alav ko liye ek sekeand mean khet ke d aau de par a pahuanchi, magar itani door mean usake hath jal gaye, muanh jal gaya aur kap doan mean ag lag gayi. use ab itani sudhi bhi n thi ki m daiya ke bahar nikal aye. vah m daiya ko liye hue gir p di. isake bad kuchh der tak m daiya hilati rahi. rukmin hath-paanv pheankati rahi, phir agni ne use nigal liya. rukmin ne agni-samadhi le li. kuchh der ke bad payag ko hosh aya. sari deh jal rahi thi. usane dekha, vriksh ke niche phoos ki lal ag chamak rahi hai. uth kar dau da aur pair se ag ko hata diya , niche rukmin ki adhajali lash p di huee thi. usane baith kar donoan hathoan se muanh dhaanp liya aur rone laga. prat:kal gaanv ke log payag ko utha kar usake ghar le gaye. ek saptah tak usaka ilaj hota raha, par bacha nahian. kuchh to ag ne jalaya tha, jo kuchh kasar thi, vah shokagni ne poori kar di.