अलंकार उपन्यास

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

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un dinoan nil nadi ke tat par bahut se tapasvi raha karate the. donoan hi kinaroan par kitani hi jhoanp diyaan tho di tho di door par bani huee thian. tapasvi log inhian mean ekantavas karate the aur zaroorat p dane par ek doosare ki sahayata karate the. inhian jhoanp diyoan ke bich mean jahaan-tahaan giraje bane hue the. prayah sabhi girajagharoan par salib ka akar dikhaee deta tha. dharmotsavoan par sadhu-sant door door se vahaan a jate the. nadi ke kinare jahaan-tahaan math bhi the. jahaan tapasvi log akele chhoti chhoti guphaoan mean siddhi prapt karane ka yatn karate the.

yah sabhi tapasvi b de b de kathin vrat dharan karate the, keval sooryast ke bad ek bar sookshm ahar karate. roti aur namak ke sivay aur kisi vastu ka sevan n karate the. kitane hi to samadhiyoan ya kandaraoan mean p de rahate the. sabhi brahmachari the, sabhi mitahari the. vah oon ka ek kurata aur kanatop pahanate the; rat ko bahut der tak jagate aur bhajan karane ke pichhe bhoomi par so jate the. apane poorvapurush ke papoan ka prayashchit karane ke lie vah apani deh ko bhogavilas hi se door nahian rakhate the, varanh usaki itani raksha bhi n karate the jo vartamanakal mean anivary samajhi jati hai. unaka vishvas tha ki deh ko jitana kasht diya jae, vah jitani rugnavastha mean ho, utani hi atma pavitr hoti hai. unake lie kodh aur pho doan se uttam shrriangar ki koee vastu n thi.

is tapobhoomi mean kuchh log to dhyan aur tap mean jivan ko saphal karate the, par kuchh aise log bhi the jo ta d ki jataoan ko batakar kisanoan ke lie rassiyaan banate ya phal ke dinoan mean krishakoan ki sahayata karate the. shahar ke rahane vale samajhate the ki yah choroan aur dakuoan ka giroh hai, yah sab arab ke luteroan se milakar qaphiloan ko loot lete haian. kintu yah bharam tha. tapasvi dhan ko tuchchh samajhate the, atmodghar hi unake jivan ka ekamatr uddeshy tha. unake tej ki jyoti akash ko bhi alokit kar deti thi.

svarg ke doot, yuvakoan ya yatriyoan ka vesh rakhakar in mathoan mean ate the. isi prakar rakshas aur daity habshiyoan ya pashuoan ka roop dharakar is dharmashram mean tapasviyoan ke bahakane ke lie vichara karate the. jab ye bhakt gan apane apane gh de lekar pratahkal sagar ki or pani bharane jate the to unhean rakshasoan aur daityoan ke padachihn dikhaee dete the. yah dharmashram vastav mean ek samarakshetr tha jahaan nity aur visheshatah rat ko svarg aur narak, dharm aur adharm mean bhishan sangram hota rahata tha. tapasvi log svargadootoan tatha eeshvar ki sahayata se vrat, dhyan aur tap se in pishach senaoan ke aghatoan ka nivaran karate the. kabhi indriyajanit vasanaean unake marmasthal par aisa aankush lagati thian ki ve pi da se vikal hokar chikhane lagate the aur unaki artadhvani van pashuoan ki garaj ke sath milakar taroan se bhooshit akash tak gooanjane lagati thi. tab vahi rakshas aur daity manohar vesh dharan kar lete the, kyoanki yadyapi unaki soorat bahut bhayankar hoti hai par vah kabhi kabhi sundar roop dhar liya karate haian jisamean unaki pahachan n ho sake. tapasviyoan ko apani kutiyoan mean vasanaoan ke aise drishy dekhakar vismay hota tha jin par us samay dhurandhar vilasiyoan ka chitt mugdh ho jata. lekin salib ki sharan mean baithe hue tapasviyoan par unake pralobhanoan ka kuchh asar n hota tha, aur yah dushtatmaean sooryoday hote hi apana yatharth roop dharan karake bhag jati thian. koee unase poochhata to kahate 'ham isalie ro rahe haian ki tapasviyoan ne hamako marakar bhaga diya hai.'

dharmashram ke siddhapurushoan ka samast desh ke durjanoan aur nastikoan par atank sa chhaya hua tha. kabhi kabhi unaki dharmaparayanata b da vikaral roop dharan kar leti thi. unhean dharmasmritiyoan ne eeshvaravimukh praniyoan ko dand dene ka adhikar pradan kar diya tha aur jo koee unake kop ka bhagi hota tha use sansar ki koee shakti bacha n sakati thi. nagaroan mean, yahaan tak ki iskandriya mean bhi, in bhishan yantranaoan ki adbhut dantakathaean phaili huee thian. ek mahatma ne kee dushtoan ko apane sote se mara, zamin phat gayi aur vah usamean sama gaye. atah dushtajan, visheshakar madari, vivahit padari aur veshyaean, in tapasviyoan se tharathar kaanpate the.

in siddhapurushoan ke yogabal ke samane vanajantu bhi shish jhukate the. jab koee yogi maranasann hota to ek sianh akar panjoan se usaki qabr khodata tha. isase yogi ko maloom hota tha ki bhagavan use bula rahe haian. vah turant jakar apane sahayogiyoan ke mukh choomata tha. tab qabr mean akar samadhisth ho jata tha.

ab tak is tapashram ka pradhan entoni tha. par ab usaki avastha sau varsh ki ho chuki thi. isilie vah is sthan ko tyag kar apane do shishyoan ke sath jinake nam makar aur amaty the, ek paha di mean vishram karane chala gaya tha. ab is ashram mean papanashi nam ke ek sadhu se b da aur koee mahatma n tha. usake satkarmoan ki kirti dooradoor phaili huee thi aur kee tapasvi the jinake anuyayiyoan ki sankhya adhik thi aur jo apane ashramoan ke shasan mean adhik kushal the. lekin papanashi vrat aur tap mean sabase badha hua tha, yahaan tak ki vah tin tin din anashan vrat rakhata tha rat ko aur pratahkal apane sharir ko banoan se chhedata tha aur vah ghantoan bhoomi par mastak navaye p da rahata tha.

usake chaubis shishyoan ne apani apani kutiya usaki kuti ke asapas bana li thian aur yogakriyaoan mean usi ke anugami the. in dharmaputroan mean aise aise manushy the jinhoanne varshoan dakaitiyaan dali thian, jinake hath rakt se range hue the, par mahatma papanashi ke upadeshoan ke vashibhoot hokar ab vah dharmik jivan vyatit karate the aur apane pavitr acharanoan se apane sahavargiyoan ko chakit kar dete the. ek shishy, jo pahale habsh desh ki rani ka bavarchi tha, nity rota rahata tha. ek aur shishy phalada nam ka tha jisane poori baibil kanthasth kar li thi aur vani mean bhi nipun tha. lekin jo shishy atmashuddhi mean in sabase badhakar tha vah p aaul nam ka ek kisan yuvak tha. use log moorkh p aaul kaha karate the, kyoanki vah atyant saral hriday tha. log usaki bholi bhali batoan par hansa karate the, lekin eeshvar ki us par vishesh kripadrishti thi. vah atmadarshi aur bhavishyavakta tha. use ilham hua karata tha.

papanashi ka janmasthan iskandriya tha. usake mata-pita ne use bhautik vidya ki ooanchi shiksha dilaee thi. usane kaviyoan ke shrriangar ka asvadan kiya tha aur yauvanakal mean eeshvar ke anaditv, balki astitv par bhi doosaroan se vad-vivad kiya karata tha. isake pashchath kuchh din tak usane dhani purushoan ke prathanusar aindriy sukhabhog mean vyatit kiye, jise yad karake ab lajja aur glani se usako atyant pi da hoti thi. vah apane sahacharoan se kaha karata 'un dinoan mujh par vasana ka bhoot savar tha.' isaka ashay yah kadapi n tha ki usane vyabhichar kiya tha; balki keval itana ki usane svadisht bhojan kiya tha aur nath‌yashalaoan mean tamasha dekhane jaya karata tha. vastav mean bis varsh ki avastha, tab usane us kal ke sadharan manushyoan ki bhaanti jivan vyatit kiya tha. vahi bhogalipsa ab usake hriday mean kaante ke saman chubha karati thi. daivayog se unhian dinoan use makar rrishi ke sadupadeshoan ko sunane ka saubhagy prapt hua. usaki kaya palat ho gayi. saty usake rom-rom mean vyapt ho gaya, bhale ke saman usake hriday mean chubh gaya. bapatisma lene ke bad vah sal bhar tak aur bhadr purushoan mean raha, purane sanskaroan se mukt n ho saka. lekin ek din vah girajaghar mean gaya aur vahaan upadeshak ko yah pad gate hue suna- 'yadi too eeshvarabhakti ka ichchhuk hai to ja, jo kuchh tere pas ho use bech dal aur gariboan ko de de.' vah turant ghar gaya, apani sari sampatti bechakar gariboan ko dan kar di aur dharmashram mean pravisht ho gaya aur das sal tak sansar se virakt hokar vah apane papoan ka prayashchit karata raha.

ek din vah apane niyamoan ke anusar un dinoan ka smaran kar raha tha, jab vah eeshvar vimukh tha aur apane dushkarmoan par ekek karake vichar kar raha tha. sahasa yad aya ki maianne iskandriya ki ek nath‌yashala mean thayas nam ki ek roopavati nati dekhi thi. vah ramani rangashalaoan mean nrity karate samay aang-pratyangoan ki aisi manohar chhavi dikhati thi ki darshakoan ke hriday mean vasanaoan ki tarangean uthane lagati thian. vah aisa thirakati thi, aise bhav batati thi, lalasaoan ka aisa nagn chitr khianchati thi ki sajile yuvak aur dhani vriddh kamatur hokar usake grihadvar par phooloan ki malaean bheant karane ke lie ate. thayas usaka saharsh svagat karati aur unhean apani aankasthali mean ashray deti. is prakar vah keval apani hi atma ka sarvanash n karati thi, varanh doosaroan ki atmaoan ka bhi khoon karati thi.

papanashi svayan usake mayapash mean phansate phansate rah gaya tha. vah kamatrishna se unmatt hokar ek bar usake dvar tak chala gaya tha. lekin varaangana ke chaukhat par vah thithak gaya, kuchh to uthati huee javani ki svabhavik katarata ke karan aur kuchh is karan ki usaki jeb mean rupaye n the, kyoanki usaki mata isaka sadaiv dhyan rakhati thi ki vah dhan ka apavyay n kar sake. eeshvar ne inhian do sadhanoan dvara use pap ke agnikund mean girane se bacha liya. kintu papanashi ne is asim daya ke lie eeshvar ko dhanyavad diya; kyoanki us samay usake jnanachakshu band the. vah n janata tha ki maian mithya anandabhog ki dhun mean p da hooan. ab apani ekant kuti mean usane pavitr salib ke samane mastak jhuka diya aur yog ke niyamoan ke anusar bahut der tak thayas ka smaran karata raha kyoanki usane moorkhata aur andhakar ke dinoan mean usake chitt ko indriy sukh-bhog ki ichchhaoan se andolit kiya tha. kee ghante dhyan mean doobe rahane ke bad thayas ki spasht aur sajiv moorti usake hriday netroan ke age a kh di huee. ab bhi usaki roop shobha utani hi anupam thi jitani us samay jab usane usaki kuvasanaoan ko uttejit kiya tha. vah b di komalata se gulab ki sej par sir jhukaye leti huee thi. usake kamal netroan mean ek vichitr ardrata, ek vilakshan jyoti thi. usake nathune ph dak rahe the, adhar kali ki bhaanti adhe khule hue the aur usaki baanhean do jaladharaoan ke sadrish nirmal aur ujjval thian. yah moorti dekhakar papanashi ne apani chhati pitakar kaha-"bhagavan too sakshi hai ki maian papoan ko kitana ghor aur ghatak samajh raha hooan."

dhire dhire is moorti ka mukh vikrit hone laga, usake hoanth ke donoan kone niche ko jhukakar usaki antarvedana ko prakat karane lage. usaki b di b di aankhean sajal ho gayian. usaka vaksh uchchhvasoan se andolit hone laga manoan toofan ke poorv hava sanasana rahi ho! yah kutoohal dekhakar papanashi ko marmavedana hone lagi. bhoomi par sir navakar usane yoan prarthana ki- 'karunamay ! toone hamare antahkaran ko daya se paripoorit kar diya hai, usi bhaanti prabhat ke samay khet himakanoan se paripoorit hote haian. maian tujhe namaskar karata hooan! too dhany hai. mujhe shakti de ki tere jivoan ko teri daya ki jyoti samajhakar prem karuan, kyoanki sansar mean sab kuchh anity hai, ek too hi nity, amar hai. yadi is abhagini stri ke prati mujhe chinta hai to isaka karan hai ki vah teri hi rachana hai. svarg ke doot bhi us par dayabhav rakhate haian. bhagavan, kya yah teri hi jyoti ka prakash nahian hai ? use itani shakti de ki vah is kumari ko tyag de. too dayasagar hai, usake pap mahaghor, ghrinit haian aur unake kalpanamatr hi se mujhe romaanch ho jata hai. lekin vah jitani papishtha hai, utana hi mera chitt usake lie vyathit ho raha hai. maian yah vichar karake vyagr ho jata hooan ki narak ke doot antakal tak use jalate raheange.'

vah yahi prarthana kar raha tha ki usane apane pairoan ke pas ek gid d ko p de hue dekha. use b da ashchary hua, kyoanki usaki kuti ka dvar band tha. aisa jan p data tha ki vah pashu usake manogat vicharoan ko bhaanp raha hai, vah kutte ki bhaanti pooanchh hila raha tha. papanashi ne turant salib ka akar banaya aur pashu lupt ho gaya. use tab jnat hua ki aj pahali bar rakshas ne meri kuti mean pravesh kiya. usane chitt shanti ke lie chhoti si prarthana ki aur phir thayas ka dhyan karane laga.

usane apane man mean nishchay kiya ? 'harichchha se maian avashy usaka udghar karuanga.' tab usane vishram kiya.

doosare din oosha ke sath usaki nidra bhi khuli. usane turant eesh vandana ki aur palam sant se milane gaya, jinaka ashram vahaan se kuchh door tha. usane sant mahatma ko apane svabhav ke anusar praphull chitt se bhoomi khodate paya. palam bahut vriddh the. unhoanne ek chhoti si phulava di laga rakhi thi. van jantu akar unake hathoan ko chatate the aur pishachadi kabhi unhean kasht n dete the.

unhoanne papanashi ko dekhakar namaskar kiya.

papanashi ne uttar dete hue kaha- 'bhagavan tumhean shanti de.'

palam- 'tumhean bhi bhagavan shanti de.' yah kahakar unhoanne mathe ka pasina apane kurate ki astin se pauanchha.

papanashi- 'bandhuvar, jahaan bhagavan ki charcha hoti hai vahaan bhagavan avashy vartaman rahate haian. hamara dharm hai ki apane sambhashanoan mean bhi eeshvar ki stuti hi kiya karean. maian is samay eeshvar ki kirti prasarit karane ke lie ek prastav lekar apaki seva mean upasthiti hua hooan.'

palam- 'bandhu papanashi, bhagavan tumhare prastav ko mere kolhoo ke bailoan ki bhaanti saphal kare. vah nity prabhat ko meri vatika par os binduoan ke sath apani daya ki varsha karata hai aur usake pradan kie hue khoroan aur kharaboozoan ka asvadan karake, maian usake asim vatsaly ki jay jayakar manata hooan. usase yahi yachana karani chahie ki hamean apani shanti ki chhaya mean rakhe kyoanki man ko udvign karane vale bhishan duravegoan se adhik bhayankar aur koee vastu nahian hai. jab yah manoveg jagrit ho jate haian to hamari dasha matavaloan ki si ho jati hai, hamare pair l dakh dane lagate haian aur aisa jan p data hai ki ab auandhe muanh gire ! kabhi kabhi in manovegoan ke vashibhoot hokar ham ghatak sukhabhog mean magn ho jate haian. lekin kabhi kabhi aisa bhi hota hai ki atmavedana aur indriyoan ki ashaanti hamean nairashyanad mean duba deti haian, jo sukh bhog se kahian sarvanashak hai. bandhuvar, maian ek mahanh papi prani hooan, lekin mujhe apane dirgh jivanakal mean yah anubhav hua hai ki yogi ke lie is malinata se b da aur koee shatru nahian hai. isase mera abhipray us asadhy udasinata aur kshobh se hai jo kuhare ki bhaanti atma par parada dale rahati hai aur eeshvar ki jyoti ko atma tak nahian pahuanchane deti. muktimarg mean isase b di aur koee badha nahian hai, aur asuraraj ki sabase b di jit yahi hai ki vah ek sadhu purush ke hriday mean kshubdh aur malin vichar aankurit kar de. yadi vah hamare oopar manohar pralobhanoan hi se akraman karata to bahut bhay ki bat n thi. par shok ! vah hamean kshubdh karake bazi mar le jata hai. pita entoni ko kabhi kisi ne udas ya duahkhi nahian dekha. unaka mukh da nity phool ke saman khila rahata tha. unake madhur musakan hi se bhaktoan ke chitt ko shanti milati thi. apane shishyoan mean kitane prasann muskan chitt rahate the. unaki mukhakanti kabhi manomaliny se dhuandhali nahian huee. lekin haan, tum kisi prastav ki charcha kar rahe the ?'

papanashi- 'bandhu palam, mere prastav ka uddeshy keval eeshvar ke mahatmy ko ujjval karana hai. mujhe apane sadparamarsh se anugrihit kijie, kyoanki ap sarvajn hai aur pap ki vayu ne kabhi apako sparsh nahian kiya.'

palam- 'bandhu papanashi, maian is yogy bhi nahian hooan ki tumhare charanoan ki raj bhi mathe par lagaooan aur mere papoan ki ganana marusthal ke baloo kanoan se bhi adhik hai. lekin maian vriddh hooan aur mujhe jo anubhav hai, usase tumhari saharsh seva karuanga.'

papanashi- 'to phir apase spasht kah dene mean koee sankoch nahian hai ki maian iskandriy mean rahane vali thayas nam ki ek pavitr stri ki adhogati se bahut duahkhi hooan. vah samast nagar ke lie kalank hai aur apane sath kitani hi atmaoan ka sarvanash kar rahi hai.'

palam- 'bandhu papanashi, yah aisi vyavastha hai jis par ham jitane aansoo bahayean, kam haian. bhadr shreni mean kitani hi ramaniyoan ka jivan aisa hi papamay hai. lekin is duravastha ke lie tumane koee nivaran vidhi sochi hai ?'

papanashi- 'bandhu palam, maian iskandriya jaooanga, is veshya ki talash karuanga aur eeshvar ki sahayata se usaka udghar karuanga. yahi mera sankalp hai. ap ise uchit samajhate haian ?'

palam- 'priy bandhu, maian ek adham prani hooan kintu hamare poojy guru entoni ka kathan tha ki manushy ko apana sthan chho dakar kahian aur jane ke lie utavali n karani chahie.'

papanashi- 'poojy bandhu, kya apako mera prastav pasand nahian hai ?'

palam- 'priy papanashi, eeshvar n kare ki maian apane bandhu ke vishuddh bhavoan par shanka karuan, lekin hamare shraddhey guru entoni ka yah bhi kathan tha ki jaise machhaliyaan sookhi bhoomi par mar jati haian, vahi dasha un sadhuoan ki hoti hai jo apani kuti chho dakar sansar ke praniyoan se milate julate haian. vahaan bhalaee ki koee asha nahian.'

yah kahakar sant palam ne phir kudal hath mean li aur dharati go dane lage. vah phal se lade hue ek aanjir ke vriksh ki j doan par mitti chadha rahe the. vah kudal chala hi rahe the ki jha diyoan mean sanasanahat huee aur ek hiran bag ke ba de ke oopar se koodakar andar a gaya. vah sahama hua tha, usaki komal taangean kaanp rahi thian. vah sant palam ke pas aya aur apana mastak unaki chhati par rakh diya.

palam ne kaha- 'eeshvar dhany hai jisane is sundar vanajantu ki srishti ki.'

isake pashchath palam sant apane jhoanp de mean chale gaye. hiran bhi unake pichhe pichhe chala. sant ne tab jvar ki roti nikali aur hiran ko apane hathoan se khilayi.

papanashi kuchh der tak vichar mean magn kh da raha. usaki aankhean apane pairoan ke pas p de hue pattharoan par jami huee thian. tab vah palam sant ki batoan par vichar karata hua dhire dhire apani kuti ki or chala. usake man mean is samay bhishan sangram ho raha tha.

usane socha-sant palam ki salah achchhi maloom hoti hai. vah dooradarshi purush haian. unhean mere prastav ke auchity par sandeh hai, tathapi thayas ko ghat pishachoan ke hathoan mean chho d dena ghor nirdayata hogi. eeshvar mujhe prakash aur buddhi de.

chalate-chalate usane ek titar ko jal mean phanse hue dekha jo kisi shikari ne bichha rakha tha. yah titari maloom hoti thi, kyoanki usane ek kshan mean nar ko jal ke pas u dakar aur jal ke phande ko choanch se katate dekha, yahaan tak ki jal mean titari ke nikalane bhar ka chhidr ho gaya. yogi ne ghatana ko vicharapoorn netroan se dekha aur apani jnanashakti se sahaj mean isaka adhyatmik ashay samajh liya. titari ke roop mean thamas thi, jo papajal mean phansi huee thi, aur jaise titar ne rassi ka jal katakar use mukt kar diya tha, vah bhi apane yogabal aur sadupadesh se un adrishy bandhanoan ko kat sakata tha jinamean thamas phansi huee thi. use nishchay ho gaya ki eeshvar ne is riti se mujhe paramarsh diya hai. usane eeshvar ko dhanyavad diya. usaka poorv sankalp dri़dh ho gaya; lekin phir jo dekha, nar ki taang usi jal mean phansi huee thi jise katakar usane mada ko nivritt kiya tha to vah phir bhram mean p d gaya.

vah sari rat karavatean badalata raha. ushakal ke samay usane ek svapn dekha, thayas ki moorti phir usake sammukh upasthit huee. usake mukhachandr par kalushit vilas ki abha n thi, n vah apane svabhav ke anusar ratnajatit vastr pahane hue thi. usaka sharir ek lambi chau di chadar se dhaka hua tha, jisase usaka muanh bhi chhip gaya tha keval do aankhean dikhaee de rahi thian, jinamean se aansoo bah rahe the.

yah svapnadrishy dekhakar papanashi shok se vihval ho rone laga aur yah vishvas karake ki yah daivi adesh hai, usaka vikalp shant ho gaya. vah turant uth baitha, jarib hath mean li jo eesaee dharm ka ek chihn tha. kuti ke bahar nikala, savadhani se dvar band kiya, jisamean vanajantu aur pakshi andar jakar eeshvar granth ko ganda n kar dean jo usake sirahane rakha hua tha. tab usane apane pradhan shishy phalada ko bulaya aur use shesh teees shishyoan ke nirikshan mean chho dakar, keval ek dhila dhala choga pahane hue nil nadi ki or prasthan kiya. usaka vichar tha ki laibiya hota hua makadooniya naresh (sikandar) ke basaye hue nagar mean pahuanch jaooan. vah bhookh, pyas aur thakan ki kuchh paravah n karate hue pratahkal se sooryast tak chalata raha. jab vah nadi ke samip pahuancha to soory kshitij ki god mean ashray le chuka tha aur nadi ka raktajal kanchan aur agni ke paha doan ke bich mean laharean mar raha tha.

vah nadi ke tatavarti marg se hota hua chala. jab bhookh lagati kisi jhoanp di ke dvar par kh da hokar eeshvar ke nam par kuchh maang leta. tiraskaroan, upekshaoan aur katuvachanoan ko prasannata se shirodhary karata tha. sadhu ko kisi se amarsh nahian hota. use n dakuoan ka bhay tha, n van ke jantuoan ka, lekin jab kisi gaanv ya nagar ke samip pahuanchata to katarakar nikal jata. vah darata tha ki kahian balavrind use aankh-michauli khelate hue n mil jaaian athava kisi kuean par pani bharane vali ramaniyoan se samana n ho jae jo gh doan ko utarakar usase has-parihas kar baithean. yogi ke lie yah sabhi shanka ki batean haian, n jane kab bhoot-pishach usake kary mean vighn dal dean. use dharmagranthoan mean yah padhakar bhi shanka hoti hai ki bhagavan nagaroan ki yatra karate the aur apane shishyoan ke sath bhojan karate the. yogiyoan ki ashramavatika ke pushp jitane sundar haian, utane hi komal bhi hote haian, yahaan tak ki saansarik vyavahar ka ek jhoanka bhi unhean jhulasa sakata hai, unaki manoram shobha ko nasht kar sakata hai. inhian karanoan se papanashi nagaroan aur bastiyoan se alag alag rahata tha ki apane svajatiy bhaeeyoan ko dekhakar usaka chitt unaki or akarshit n ho jae.

vah nirjan margoan par chalata tha. sandhya samay jab pakshiyoan ka madhur kalarav sunaee deta aur samir ke mand jhoanke ane lagate to apane kanatop ko aankhoan par khianch leta ki us par prakriti saundary ka jadoo n chal jae. isake pratikool bharatiy rrishi mahatma prakriti saundary ke rasik hote the. ek saptah ki yatra ke bad vah silasil nam ke sthan par pahuancha. vahaan nil nadi ek sankari ghati mean hokar bahati hai aur usake tat par parvat shreni ki duhari mean d si bani huee hai. isi sthan par mistr nivasi apane pishach pooja ke dinoan mean moortiyaan aankit karate the. papanashi ko ek brihadakar 'sphitik'* thos patthar ka bana hua dikhaee diya. is bhay se ki is pratima mean ab bhi paishachik vibhootiyaan sanchit n hoan, papanashi ne salib ka chihn banaya aur prabhu masih ka smaran kiya. tatkshan usane pratima ke ek kan mean se ek chamagad d ko u dakar bhagate dekha. papanashi ko vishvas ho gaya ki maianne us pishach ko bhaga diya jo shatabdiyoan se in pratima mean adda jamaye hue tha. usaka dharmotsah badha, usane ek patthar uthakar pratima ke mukh par mara. chot lagate hi pratima ka mukh itana udas ho gaya ki papanashi ko us par daya a gayi. usane use sambodhit karake kaha- 'he pret, too bhi un pretoan ki bhaanti prabhu par eeman la jinhean pratah smaraniy entoni ne van mean dekha tha, aur maian eeshvar, usake putr aur alakh jyoti ke nam par tere udghar karuanga.'

yah vaky samapt hote hi sianphaks ke netroan mean agnijyoti parasphutit huee, usaki palakean kaanpane lagian aur usake pashanamukh se 'masih' ki dhvani nikali; mano papanashi ke shabd pratidhvanit ho gaye hoan. atev papanashi ne dahina hath uthakar us moorti ko ashirvad diya.

is prakar pashan hriday mean bhakti ka bij aropit karake papanashi ne apani rah li. tho di der ke bad ghati chau di ho gayi. vahaan kisi b de nagar ke avashisht chihn dikhaee diye. bache hue mandir jin khambhoan par avalambit the, vastav ke un b di b di pashan moortiyoan ne eeshvariy prerana se papanashi par ek lambi nigah dali. vah bhay se kaanp utha. is parakar vah satrah din tak chalata raha, kshudha se vyakul hota to vanaspatiyaan ukha dakar kha leta aur rat ko kisi bhavan ke khandahar mean, jangali billiyoan aur choohoan ke bich mean so rahata. rat ko aisi striyaan bhi dikhayi deti thian jinake pairoan ki jagah kaantedar pooanchh thi. papanashi ko maloom tha ki yah narakiy striyaan haian aur vah salib ke chihn banakar unhean bhaga deta tha.

atharahavean din papanashi ko basti se bahut door ek daridr jhoanp di dikhaee di. vah khajoor ke pattiyoan ki thi aur usaka adha bhag baloo ke niche daba hua tha. use asha huee ki inamean avashy koee sant rahata hoga. usane nikat akar ek bil ke raste andar jhaanka (usamean dvar n the) to ek gh da, pyaj ka ek gattha aur sookhi pattiyoan ka bichhavan dikhaee diya. usane vichar kiya, yah avashy kisi tapasvi ki kutiya hai, aur unake shighr hi darshan hoange, ham donoan ek doosare ke prati shubhakamanasoochak pavitr shabdoan ka uchcharan kareange. kadachit eeshvar apane kisi kaue dvara roti ka ek tuk da hamare pas bhej dega aur ham donoan milakar bhojan kareange.

man mean yah batean sochata hua usane sant ko khojane ke lie kutiya ki parikrama ki. ek sau pag bhi n chala hoga ki use nadi ke tat par ek manushy palthi mare baitha dikhaee diya. vah nagn tha. usake sir aur dadhi ke bal san ho gaye the aur sharir eeant se bhi zyada lal tha. papanashi ne sadhuoan ke prachalit shabdoan mean usaka abhivadan kiya- 'bandhu, bhagavan tumhean shanti de, tum ek din svarg ke anand labh karo.'

par us vriddh purush ne isaka kuchh uttar n diya, achal baitha raha. usane mano kuchh suna hi nahian. papanashi ne samajha ki vah dhyan mean magn hai. vah hath baandhakar ukadooan baith gaya aur sooryast tak eesh prarthana karata raha. jab ab bhi vah vriddh purush moortivat baitha raha to usane kaha- 'poojy pita, agar apaki samadhi toot gayi hai to mujhe prabhu masih ke nam par ashirvad dijie.'

vriddh purush ne usaki or bina take hi uttar diya-

'pathik, maian tumhari bat nahian samajha aur n prabhu masih ko hi janata hooan.'

papanashi ne vismit hokar kaha- 'are jisake prati rrishiyoan ne bhavishyavani ki, jisake nam par lakhoan atmaean balidan ho gayian, jisaki sizar ne bhi pooja ki, aur jisaka jayaghosh silasili ki pratima ne abhi abhi kiya hai, kya us prabhu masih ke nam se bhi tum parichit nahian ho ? kya yah sambhav hai ?'

vriddh- 'haan mitravar, yah sambhav hai, aur yadi sansar mean koee vastu nishchit hoti to nishchit bhi hota !'

papanashi us purush ki ajnanavastha par bahut vismit aur dukhi hua. bola- 'yadi tum prabhu masih ko nahian janate to tumhara dharm karm sab vyarth hai, tum kabhi anantapad nahian prapt kar sakate.'

vuddh- 'karm karana, ya karm se hatana donoan hi vyarth haian. hamare jivan aur maran mean koee bhed nahian.'

papanashi- 'kya, kya? kya tum anant jivan ke akaankshi nahian ho ? lekin tum to tapasviyoan ki bhaanti vanyakuti mean rahate ho ?'

'haan, aisa jan p data hai.'

'kya maian tumhean nagn aur virat nahian dekhata ?'

'haan, aisa jan p data hai.'

'kya tum kandamool nahian khate aur ichchhaoan ka daman nahian karate ?'

'haan, aisa jan p data hai.'

'kya tumane sansar ke mayamoh ko nahian tyag diya hai ?'

'haan, aisa jan p data hai. maianne un mithya vastuoan ko tyag diya hai, jin par sansar ke prani jan dete haian.'

'tum meri bhaanti ekantasevi, tyagi aur shudghacharan ho. kintu meri bhaanti eeshvar ki bhakti aur anant sukh ki abhilasha se yah vrat nahian dharan kiya hai. agar tumhean prabhu masih par vishvas nahian hai to tum kyoan satvik bane hue ho ? agar tumhean svarg ke anant sukh ki abhilasha nahian hai to sansar ke padarthoan ko kyoan nahian bhogate ?'

vuddh purush ne gambhir bhav se javab diya- 'mitr, maianne sansar ki uttam vastuoan ka tyag nahian kiya hai aur mujhe isaka garv hai ki maianne jo jivan path grahan kiya hai vah samantayah santoshajanak hai, yadyapi yatharth to yah hai ki sansar ki uttam ya nikrisht, bhale ya bure jivan ka bhed hi mithya hai. koee vastu svatah bhali ya buri, saty ya asaty, hanikar ya labhakar, sukhamay ya dukhamay nahian hoti. hamara vichar hi vastuoan ko in gunoan mean abhooshit karata hai, usi bhaanti jaise namak bhojan ko svad pradan karata hai.'

papanashi ne apavad kiya- 'to tumhare matanusar sansar mean koee vastu sthayi nahian hai ? tum us thake hue kutte ki bhaanti ho, jo kich d mean p da so raha hai- ajnan ke andhakar mean apana jivan nasht kar rahe ho. tum pratimavadiyoan se bhi gaye gujare ho.'

'mitr, kuttoan aur rrishiyoan ka apaman karana saman hi vyarth hai. kutte kya haian, ham yah nahian janate. hamako kisi vastu ka leshamatr bhi jnan nahian.'

'to kya tum bhraantivadiyoan mean ho ? kya tum us nibuddhi, karmahin sampraday mean ho, jo soory ke prakash mean aur ratri ke andhakar mean koee bhed nahian kar sakate ?'

'haan mitr, maian vastav mean bhramavadi hooan. mujhe is sampraday mean shanti milati hai, chahe tumhean hasyaspad jan p data ho. kyoanki ek hi vastu bhinn bhinn avasthaoan mean bhinn bhinn roop dharan kar leti hai. is vishal minaroan hi ko dekho. prabhat ke prakash mean yah keshar ke kangooroan se dekh p date haian. sandhya samay soory ki jyoti doosari or p dati hai aur kale kale tribhujoan ke sadrish dikhaee dete haian. yatharth mean kis rang ke haian, isaka nishchay kaun karega ? badaloan hi ko dekho. vah kabhi apani damak se kundan ko jalate haian, kabhi apani kalima se andhakar ko mat karate haian. vishv ke sivay aur kaun aisa nipun hai jo unake vividh avaranoan ki chhaya utar sake ? kaun kah sakata hai ki vastav mean is meghasamooh ka kya rang hai ? soory mujhe jyotirmay dikhata hai, kintu maian usake tattv ko nahian janata. maian ag ko jalate hue dekhata hooan, par nahian janata ki kaise jalati hai aur kyoan jalati hai ? mitravar, tum vyarth meri upeksha karate ho. lekin mujhe isaki bhi chinta nahian ki koee mujhe kya samajhata hai, mera man karata hai ya ninda.'

papanashi ne phir shanka ki- 'achchha ek bat aur bata do. tum is nirjan van mean pyaj aur chhuhare khakar jivan vyatit karate ho ? tum itana kasht kyoan bhogate ho. tumhare hi saman maian bhi indriyoan ka daman karata hooan aur ekant mean rahata hooan. lekin maian yah sab kuchh eeshvar ko prasann karane ke lie, svargiy anand bhogane ke lie karata hooan. yah ek marjaniy uddeshy hai, paralok sukh ke lie hi is lok mean kasht uthana buddhisangat hai. isake pratikool vyarth bina kisi uddeshy ke sanyam aur vrat ka palan karana, tapasya se sharir aur rakt ko ghulana niri moorkhata hai. agar mujhe vishvas n hota- he anadi jyoti, is durvachan ke lie kshama kar- agar mujhe us saty par vishvas hai, jisaka eeshvar ne rrishiyoan dvara upadesh kiya hai, jisaka usake paramapriy putr ne svayan acharan kiya hai, jisaki dharm sabhaoan ne aur atmasamarpan karane vale mahanh purushoan ne sakshi di hai- agar mujhe poorn vishvas n hota ki atma ki mukti ke lie sharirik sanyam aur nigrah paramavashyak hai; yadi maian bhi tumhari hi tarah ajney vishayoan se anabhijn hota, to maian turant saansarik manushyoan mean akar mil jata, dhanoparjan karata, sansar ke sukhi purushoan ki bhaanti sukhabhog karata aur vilasadevi ke pujariyoan se kahata- ao mere mitro, mad ke pyale bhar bhar pilao, phooloan ke sej bichhao, itr aur phulel ki nadiyaan baha do. lekin tum kitane b de moorkh ho ki vyarth hi in sukhoan ko tyag rahe ho, tum bina kisi labh ki asha ke yah sab kasht uthate ho. dete ho, magar pane ki asha nahian rakhate. aur nakal karate ho ham tapasviyoan ki, jaise abodh bandar divar par rang potakar apane man mean samajhata hai ki maian chitrakar ho gaya. isaka tumhare pas kya javab hai ?'

vriddh ne sahishnuta se uttar diya- 'mitr, kich d mean sone vale kutte aur abodh bandar ka javab hi kya ?'

papanashi ka uddeshy keval is vriddh purush ko eeshvar ka bhakt banana tha. usaki shantivritti par vah lajjit ho gaya. usaka krodh u d gaya. b di namrata se kshama prarthana ki- 'mitravar, agar mera dharmotsah auchity ki sima se bahar ho gaya hai to mujhe kshama karo. eeshvar sakshi hai ki mujhe tumase nahian, keval tumhari bhranti se ghrina hai ! tumako is andhakar mean dekhakar mujhe hardik vedana hoti hai, aur tumhare udghar ki chinta mere rom-rom mean vyapt ho rahi hai. tum mere prashnoan ka uttar do, maian tumhari uktiyoan ka khandan karane ke lie utsuk hooan.'

vriddh purush ne shantipoorvak kaha- 'mere lie bolana ya chup rahana ek hi bat hai. tum poochhate ho, isalie suno- jin karanoan se maianne vah satvik jivan grahan kiya hai. lekin maian tumase inaka prativad nahian sunana chahata. mujhe tumhari vedana, shanti ki koee paravah nahian, aur n isaki paravah hai ki tum mujhe kya samajhate ho. mujhe n prem hai n ghrina. buddhiman purush ko kisi ke prati mamatv ya dvesh n hona chahie. lekin tumane jijnasa ki hai, uttar dena mera kartavy hai. suno, mera nam timaklij hai. mere mata-pita dhani saudagar the. hamare yahaan naukaoan ka vyapar hota tha. mera pita sikandar ke saman chatur aur karyakushal tha; par vah utana lobhi n tha. mere do bhaee the. vah bhi jahajoan hi ka vyapar karate the. mujhe vidya ka vyasan tha. mere b de bhaee ko pitaji ne ek dhanavan yuvati se vivah karane par badhy kiya, lekin mere bhaee shighr hi usase asantusht ho gaye. unaka chitt asthir ho gaya. isi bich mean mere chhote bhaee ka us stri se kulashit sambandh ho gaya. lekin vah stri donoan bhaiyoan mean kisi ko bhi n chahati thi. use ek gavaiye se prem tha. ek din bhed khul gaya. donoan bhaiyoan ne gavaiye ka vadh kar dala. meri bhavaj shok se avyavasthit chitt ho gayi. yah tinoan abhage prani buddhi ko vasanaoan ki balidevi par chadhakar shahar ki galiyoan mean phirane lage. nange, sir ke bal baye, muanh se phichakur bahate, kutte ki bhaanti chillate rahate the. l dake un par patthar pheankate aur un par kutte dau date. ant mean tinoan mar gaye aur mere pita ne apane hi hathoan se un tinoan ko qabr mean sulaya. pitaji ko bhi itana shok hua ki unaka dana-pani chhoot gaya aur vah aparimit dhan rahate hue bhi bhookh se t dap t dapakar paralok sidhare. maian ek vipul sampati ka varis ho gaya. lekin ghar valoan ki dasha dekhakar mera chitt sansar se virakt ho gaya tha. maianne us sampatti ko deshatan mean vyay karane ka nishyach kiya. itali, yoonan, aphrika adi deshoan ki yatra ki; par ek prani bhi aisa n mila jo sukhi ya jnani ho. maianne iskandriya aur ethens mean darshan ka adhyayan kiya aur usake apavadoan ko sunate mere kan bahare ho gaye. nidan desh-videsh ghoomata hua maian bharatavarsh mean ja pahuancha aur vahaan gangatat par mujhe ek nagn purush ke darshan hue jo vahian tis varshoan se moorti ki bhaanti nishchal padmasan lagaye baitha hua tha. usake trinavat sharir par lataean chadh gayi thian aur usaki jataoan mean chi diyoan ne ghoansale bana liye the, phir bhi vah jivit tha. use dekhakar mujhe apane donoan bhaiyoan ki, bhavaj ki, gavaiye ki, pita ki yad ayi aur tab mujhe jnat hua ki yahi ek jnani purush hai. mere man mean vichar utha ki manushyoan ke duahkh ke tin karan hote haian. ya to vah vastu nahian milati jisaki unhean abhilasha hoti hai athava use pakar unhean usake hath se nikal jane ka bhay hota hai athava jis chiz ko vah bura samajhate haian usaka unhean sahan karana p data hai. in vicharoan ko chitt se nikal do aur sare duahkh ap-hi-ap shaant ho jaegean. sansar ke shreshth padarthoan ka parityag kar dooanga aur usi bharatiy yogi ki bhaanti maun aur nishchal rahooanga.'

papanashi ne is kathan ko dhyan se suna aur tab bola- 'timo, maian svikar karata hooan ki tumhara kathan bilkul arthashoony nahian hai. sansar ki dhanasampatti ko tuchchh samajhana buddhimanoan ka kam hai. lekin apane anant sukh ki upeksha karana parale sire ki nadani hai. isase eeshvar ke krodh ki ashanka hai. mujhe tumhare ajnan par b da duahkh hai aur maian saty ka upadesh karuanga jisamean tumako usake astitv ka vishvas ho jae aur tum ajnakari balak ke saman usaki ajna palan karo.'

timaklij ne bat katakar kaha- 'nahian nahian, mere sir apane dharm sidghantoan ka bojh mat lado. is bhool mean n p do ki tum mujhe apane vicharoan ke anukool bana sakoge. yah tark vitark sab mithya hai. koee mat n rakhana hi mera mat hai. kisi sampraday mean n hona hi mera sampraday hai. mujhe koee duahkh nahian, isalie ki mujhe kisi vastu ki mamata nahian. apani rah jao, aur mujhe is udasinavastha se nikalane ki cheshta n karo. maianne bahut kasht jhele haian aur yah dasha thande jal se snan karane ki bhaanti sukhakar pratit ho rahi hai.'

papanashi ko manav charitr ka poora jnan tha. vah samajh gaya ki is manushy par eeshvar ki kripadrishti nahian huee hai aur usaki atma ke udghar ka samay abhi door hai. usane timaklij ka khandan n kiya ki kahian usaki udgharak shakti ghatak n ban jae kyoanki vidharmiyoan se shastrarth karane mean kabhi kabhi aisa ho jata hai ki unake udghar ke sadhan unake apakar ke yantr ban jate haian. atev jinhean sadjnan prapt hai. unhean b di chaturaee se usaka prachar karana chahie. usane timaklij ko namaskar kiya aur ek lambi saans khianchakar rat hi ko phir yatra par chal p da.

sooryoday hua to usane jalapakshiyoan ko nadi ke kinare ek pair par kh de dekha. unaki pili aur gulabi gardanoan ko pratibimb jal mean dikhaee deta tha. komal beant vriksh apani hari-hari pattiyoan ko jal par phailae hue the. svachchh akash mean sarasoan ka samooh tribhuj ke akar mean u d raha tha aur jha diyoan mean chhipe hue bugaloan ki avaz sunaee deti thi. jahaan tak nigah jati thi nadi ka hara jal hilakore mar raha tha. ujale pal vali naukaean chi diyoan ki bhaanti tair rahi thian, aur kinaroan par jahaan-tahaan shvet bhavan jagamaga rahe the. tatoan par halka kuhara chhaya hua tha aur dvipoan ke a d se jo, khajoor, phool aur phal ke vrikshoan se ke hue the; ye battakh, lalasar, haril adi ye chi diyaan kalarav karati huee nikal rahi thi. baeean or marusthal tak hare-bhare khetoan aur vrikshapuanjoan ki shobha aankhoan ko mugdh kar deti thi. pake hue gehooan ke khetoan par soory ki kiranean chamak rahi thian aur bhoomi se bhini-bhini sugandh ke jhoanke ate the. yah prakriti shobha dekhakar papanashi ne ghutanoan par girakar eeshvar ki vandana ki- 'bhagavanh, meri yatra samapt huee. tujhe dhanyavad deta hooan. dayanidhi, jis prakar toone in aanjir ke paudhoan par os ki booandoan ki varsha ki hai, usi prakar thayas par, jise toone apane prem se racha hai, apani daya ki drishti kar. meri hardik ichchha hai ki vah teri premamayi raksha ke adhin ek navavikasit pushp ki bhaanti svargatuly jerushalam mean apane yash aur kirti ka parasar kare.'

aur taduparant use jab koee vriksh phooloan se sushobhit athava koee chamakile paroan vala pakshi dikhaee deta to use thayas ki yad ati. kee din tak nadi ke bayean kinare par, ek urvar aur abad prant mean chalane ke bad, vah iskandriya nagar mean pahuancha, jise yoonaniyoan ne 'ramanik' aur 'svarnamayi' ki upadhi de rakhi thi. sooryoday ki ek gh di bit chuki thi, jab use ek paha di ke shikhar par vah vistrit nagar najar aya, jisaki chhatean kanchanamayi prakash mean chamak rahi thian. vah thahar gaya aur man mean vichar karane laga- 'yahi vah manoram bhoomi hai jahaan maianne mrityulok mean pardapan kiya, yahian mere papamay jivan ki utpatti huee, yahian maianne vishakt vayu ka aliangan kiya, isi vinashakari raktasagar mean maianne jalavihar kiye ! vah mera palana hai jisake ghatak god mean maianne kam ki madhur loriyaan sunian. sadharan bolachal mean kitana pratibhashali sthan hai, kitana gaurav se bhara hua. iskandriya ! meri vishal janmabhoomi ! tere balak tera putravat samman karate haian, yah svabhavik hai. lekin yogi prakriti ko avahelaniy samajhata hai, sadhu bahiroop ko tuchchh samajhata hai, parabhu masih ka das janmabhoomi ko videsh samajhata hai, aur tapasvi is prithvi ka prani hi nahian. maianne apane hriday ko teri or se pher liya hai. maian tumase ghrina karata hooan. maian teri sampatti ko, teri vidya ko, tere shastroan ko, tere sukhavilas ko, aur teri shobha ko ghrinit samajhata hooan, too pishachoan ka kri dasthal hai, tujhe dhikkar hai ! arthaseviyoan ki apavitr shaiyya nastikata ka vitanda kshetr, tujhe dhikkar hai ! aur jibaril, too apane pairoan se us ashuddh vayu ko shuddh kar de jisamean maian saans lene vala hooan, jisamean yahaan ke vishaile kitanu meri atma ko bhrasht n kar dean.'

is tarah apane vicharodgaroan ko shant karake papanashi shahar mean pravisht hua. yah dvar patthar ka ek vishal mandap tha. usake meharab ki chhaanh mean kee daridr bhikshuk baithai hue pathikoan ke samane hath phaila phailakar khairat maang rahe the.

ek vridgha stri ne jo vahaan ghutanoan ke bal baithi thi, papanashi ki chadar pak d li aur use choomakar boli- 'eeshvar ke putr, mujhe ashirvad do ki paramatma mujhase santusht ho. maianne paralaukik sukh ke nimitt is jivan mean anek kasht jhele. tum dev purush ho, eeshvar ne tumhean duahkhi praniyoan ke kalyan ke lie bheja hai, atev tumhari charanaraj kanchan se bhi bahumooly hai.'

papanashi ne vriddh ko hathoan se sparsh karake ashirvad diya. lekin vah mushkil se bis qadam chala hoga ki l dakoan ke ek gol ne usako muanh chidhana aur us par patthar pheankana shuroo kiya aur taliyaan bajakar kahane lage- 'jara apani vishalamoorti dekhie ! ap langoor se bhi kale haian, aur apaki dadhi bakare ki dadhi se lambi hai. bilkul bhutana maloom hota hai. ise kisi bag mean marakar lataka do, ki chi diyaan hauva samajhakar u dean. lekin nahian, bag mean gaya to seant mean sab phool nasht ho jaegean. usaki soorat hi manahoos hai. isaka maans kauoan ko khila do.' yah kahakar unhoanne patthar ki ek bauchhar chho d di.

lekin papanashi ne keval itana kaha- 'eeshvar, too is abodh balakoan ko subuddhi de, vah nahian janate ki ve kya karate haian.'

vah age chala to sochane laga- us vridgha stri ne mera kitana samman kiya aur in l dakoan ne kitana apaman kiya. is bhaanti ek hi vastu ko bhram mean p de hue prani bhinnabhinn bhavoan se dekhate haian. yah svikar karana p dega ki timaklij mithyavadi hote hue bhi bilkul nirbuddhi n tha. vah aandha to itana janata tha ki maian prakash se vanchit hooan. usaka vachan in duragrahiyoan se kahian uttam tha jo ghane aandhakar mean baithe pukarate haian- 'vah soory hai !' vah nahian janate ki sansar mean sab kuchh maya, mrigatrishna, u data hua baloo hai. keval eeshvar hi sthayi hai.

vah nagar mean b de veg se paanv uthata hua chala. das varsh ke bad dekhane par bhi use vahaan ka ek-ek patthar parichit maloom hota tha, aur pratyek patthar usake man mean kisi dushkarm ki yad dilata tha. isalie usane s dakoan se j de hue pattharoan par apane pairoan ko patakana shuroo kiya aur jab pairoan se rakt bahane laga to use anand sa hua. s dak ke donoan kinaroan par b de b de mahal bane hue the jo sugandh ki lapatoan se alasit jan p date the. devadar, chhuhare adi ke vriksh sir uthaye hue in bhavanoan ko mano balakoan ki bhaanti god mean khila rahe the. adhakhule dvaroan mean se pital ki moortiyaan sangamaramar ke gamaloan mean rakhi huee dikhaee de rahi thian aur svachchh jal ke hauz kuanjoan ki chhaya mean laharean mar rahe the. poorn shanti chhaee thi. shoragul ka nam n tha. haan, kabhi kabhi dvar se ane vali vina ki dhvani kan mean a jati thi. papanashi ek bhavan ke dvar par ruka jisaki sayaban ke stambh yuvatiyoan ki bhaanti sundar the. divaroan par yoonan ke sarvashreshth rrishiyoan ki pratimaean shobha de rahi thian. papanashi ne aphalatooann, sukarat arastoo, epikyuras aur jinoan ki pratimaean pahachanian aur man mean kaha- in mithya bhram mean p dane vale manushyoan ko kirtiyoan ko moortiyoan ko moortiman karana moorkhata hai. ab unake miyya vicharoan ki kalee khul gayi. unaki atma ab narak mean p di s d rahi hai, aur yahaan tak ki aphalatooann bhi, jisane sansar ko apani pragalbhata se guanjarit kar diya tha, ab pishachoan ke sath too-too maian-maian kar raha hai. dvar par ek hathau di rakhi huee thi. papanashi ne dvar khatakhataya. ek gulam ne turant dvar khol diya aur ek sadhu ko dvar par kh de dekhakar karkash svar mean bola- 'door ho yahaan se, doosara dvar dekh, nahian to maian dande se khabar looanga.'

papanashi ne saral bhav se kaha- 'maian kuchh bhiksha maangane nahian aya hooan. meri keval yahi ichchha hai ki mujhe apane svami nisiyas ke pas le chalo.'

gulam ne aur bhi big dakar javab diya- 'mera svami tum jaise kuttoan se mulakat nahian karata !'

papanashi- 'putr, jo maian kahata hooan vah karo, apane svami se itana hi kah do ki maian usase milana chahata hooan.'

daraban ne krodh ke avesh mean akar kaha- 'chala ja yahaan se, bhikhamanga kahian ka !' aur apani chh di uthakar usane papanashi ke muanh par zor se lagaee. lekin yogi ne chhati par hath baandhe, bina zara bhi uttejit hue, shaant bhav se yah chot sah li aur tab vinayapoorvak phir vahi bat kahi- 'putr, meri yachana svikar karo.'

daraban ne chakit hokar man mean kaha- yah to vichitr adami hai jo mar se bhi nahian darata aur turant apane svami se papanashi ka sandesha kah sunaya.

nisiyas abhi snanagar se nikala tha. do yuvatiyaan usaki deh par tel ki malish kar rahi thian. vah roopavan purush tha, bahut hi prasannachitt. usake mukh par komal vyang ki abha thi. yogi ko dekhate hi vah uth kh da hua aur hath phailaye hue usaki or badha- 'ao mere mitr, mere bandhu, mere sahapathi, ao. maian tumhean pahachan gaya, yadyapi tumhari soorat is samay adamiyoan ki si nahian, pashuoan ki si hai. ao, mere gale se lag jao. tumhean vah din yad hai jab ham vyakaran, alankar aur darshan shastr padhate the ? tum us samay bhi tivar aur uddand prakriti ke manushy the, par poorn satyavadi tumhari tripti ek chutaki bhar namak mean ho jati thi par tumhari danashilata ka varapar n tha. tum apane jivan ki bhaanti apane dhan ki bhi kuchh paravah n karate the. tumamean us samay bhi tho di si jhak thi jo buddhi ki kushalata ka lakshan hai. tumhare charitr ki vichitrata mujhe bahut bhali maloom hoti thi. aj tumane us varshoan ke bad darshan diye haian. hriday se maian tumhara svagat karata hooan. tumane vanyajivan ko tyag diya aur eesaiyoan ki durmati ko tilaanjali dekar phir apane sanatan dharm par arudh ho gaye, isake lie tumhean badhaee deta hooan. maian saphed patthar par is din ka smarak banaooanga.'

yah kahakar usane un donoan yuvati sundariyoan ko adesh diya- 'mere pyare mehaman se hathoan pairoan aur dadhi mean sugandh lagao.'

yuvatiyaan hansian aur turant ek thal, sugandh ki shishi aur aeena layian. lekin papanashi ne kathor svar se unhean mana kiya aur aankhean nichi kar lian ki un par nigah n p d jae kyoanki donoan nagn thian. nisiyas ne tab usake lie gav takiye aur bistar mangaye aur nana prakar ke bhojan aur uttam sharab usake samane rakhi. par usane ghrina ke sath sab vastuoan ko samane se hata diya. tab bola- 'nisiyas, maianne us satpath ka parityag nahian kiya jise tumane galati se 'eesaiyoan ki durmati' kaha hai. vahi to saty ki atma aur jnan ka pran hai. adi mean keval 'shabd' tha aur 'shabd' ke sath eeshvar tha, aur shabd hi eeshvar tha. usi ne samast brahmand ki rachana ki. vahi jivan ka strot hai aur jivan manavajati ka prakash hai.'

nisiyas ne uttar diya- 'priy papanashi, kya tumhean asha hai ki maian arthahin shabdoan ke jhankar se chakit ho jaooanga ? kya tum bhool gaye ki maian svayan chhota-mota darshanik hooan? kya tum samajhate ho ki meri shaanti un chith doan se ho jaegi jo kuchh nirbuddhi manushyoan ne imaliyas ke vastroan se pha d liya hai, jab isaliyas, phalatooan, aur any tattvajnaniyoan se meri shaanti n huee ? rrishiyoan ke nikale hue sidghant keval kalpit kathaean haian jo manav saral hridayata ke manoranjan ke nimitt kahi gayi hai. unako padhakar hamara manoranjan usi bhaanti hota hai jaise any kathaoan ko padhakar.'

isake bad apane mehaman ka hath pak dakar vah use ek kamare mean le gaya jahaan hajaroan lapete hue bhojapatr tokaroan mean rakhe hue the. unhean dikhakar bola- 'yahi mera pustakalay hai. isamean un sidghantoan mean se kitanoan hi ka sangrah hai jo jnaniyoan ne srishti ke rahasy ki vyakhya karane ke lie avishkrit kiye haian. 'serapiyam' mean bhi atul dhan ke hote hue; sab sidghantoan ka sangrah nahian hai ! lekin shok ! yah sab keval rog pi dit manushyoan ke svapn haian !'

usane tab apane mehaman ko ek hathidaant ki kurasi par zabaradasti baithaya aur khud bhi baith gaya. papanashi ne in pustakoan ko dekhakar tyauriyaan chadhayian aur bola-'in sabako agni ki bheant kar dena chahie.'

nisiyas bola- 'nahian priy mitr, yah ghor anarth hoga; kyoanki rugn purushoan ko mita dean to sansar shushk aur niras ho jaega aur ham sab vicharashaithily mean ja p deange.

papanashi ne usi dhvani mean kaha- 'yah saty hai ki moortivadiyoan ke sidghant mithya aur bhrantikarak haian. kintu eeshvar ne, jo saty ka roop hai, manavasharir dharan kiya aur alaukik vibhootiyoan dvara apane ko prakat kiya aur hamare sath rahakar hamara kalyan karata raha.'

nisiyas ne uttar diya- 'priy papanashi, tumane yah bat achchhi kahi ki eeshvar ne manavasharir dharan kiya. tab to vah manushy hi ho gaya. lekin tum eeshvar aur usake roopantaroan ka samarthan karane to nahian aye? batalao tumhean meri sahayata to n chahie? maian tumhari kya madad kar sakata hooan?'

papanashi bola- 'bahut kuchh! mujhe aisa hi sugandhit ek vastr de do jaisa tum pahane hue ho. isake sath sunahare kh daooan aur ek pyala tel bhi de do ki maian apani da़dhi aur baloan mean chup d looan. mujhe ek hazar svarn mudraoan ki ek thaili bhi chahie nisiyas! maian eeshvar ke nam par aur purani mitrata ke nate tumase sahayata maangane aya hooan.'

nisiyas ne apana sarvottm vastr mangava diya. us par kimakhvab ke bootoan mean phooloan aur pashuoan ke chitr bane hue the. donoan yuvatiyoan ne use kholakar usaka bh dakila rang dikhaya aur pratiksha karane lagi ki papanashi apana ooni labada utare to pahanayean, lekin papanashi ne zor dekar kaha ki yah kadapi nahian ho sakata. meri khal chahe utar jae par yah ooni labada nahian utar sakata. vivash hokar unhoanne us bahumooly vastr ko labade ke oopar hi pahana diya. donoan yuvatiyaan sundari thian, aur vah purushoan se sharamati n thian. vah papanashi ko is durange bhesh mean dekhakar khoob hansi. ek ne use apana pyara samant kaha, doosari ne usaki da़dhi khianch li. lekin papanashi ne un par drishtipat tak n kiya. sunahari kh daooan pairoan mean pahanakar aur thaili kamare mean baandhakar usane nisiyas se kaha, jo vinod bhav se usaki or dekh raha tha- 'nisiyas, in vastuoan ke vishay mean kuchh sandeh mat karana, kyoanki maian inaka sadupayog karuanga.'

nisiyas bola- 'priy mitr, mujhe koee sandeh nahian haian kyoanki mera vishvas hai ki manushy mean n bhale kam karane ki kshamata hai n bure. bhalaee v buraee ka adhar keval pratha par hai. maian un sab kutsit vyavaharoan ka palan karata hooan jo is nagar mean prachalit haian. isalie meri ganana sajjan purushoan mean hai. achchha mitr, ab jao aur chain karo.'

lekin papanashi ne usase apana uddeshy prakat karana avashyak samajha. bola- 'tum thayas ko janate ho jo yahaan ki rangashalaoan ka shrriangar hai?' nisiyas ne kaha- 'vah param sundari hai aur kisi samay maian usake premiyoan mean tha. usaki khatir maianne ek karakhana aur do anaj ke khet bech dale aur usake virah varnan mean nikrisht kavitaoan se bhare hue tin granth likh dale. yah nirvivad hai ki roopalality sansar ki sabase prabal shakti hai, aur yadi hamare sharir ki rachana aisi hoti ki ham ajivan us par adhikrit rah sakate to ham darshanikoan ke jivan aur bhram, maya aur moh, purush aur prakriti ki jara bhi paravah n karate. lekin mitr, mujhe yah dekhakar ashchary hota hai ki tum apani kuti chho dakar keval thayas ki charcha karane ke lie aye ho.'

yah kahakar nisiyas ne ek thandi saans khianchi. papanashi ne use bhitar netroan se dekha. usaki yah kalpana hi asambhav maloom hoti thi ki koee manushy itani savadhani se apane papoan ko prakat kar sakata hai. use jara bhi ashchary n hota, agar zamin phat jati aur usamean se agnijvala nikalakar use nigal jati. lekin zamin sthir bani rahi, aur nisiyas hath par mastak rakhe chupachap baitha hua apane poorv jivan ki smritiyoan par mlanamukh se muskarata raha. yogi tab utha aur gambhir svar mean bola- 'nahian nisiyas, maian apana ekantavas chho dakar is pishach nagari mean thayas ki charcha karane nahian aya hooan. balki, eeshvar ki sahayata se maian is ramani ko apavitr vilas ke bandhanoan se mukt kar dooanga aur use prabhu masih ki sevarth bheant karuanga. agar nirakar jyoti ne mera sath n chho da to thayas avashy is nagar ko tyagakar kisi vanita dhamarshram mean pravesh karegi.'

nisiyas ne uttar diya- 'madhur kalaoan aur lality ki devi vinas ko rusht karate ho to savadhan rahana. usaki shakti apar hai aur yadi tum usaki pradhan upasika ko le jaoge to vah tumhare oopar vajraghat karegi.'

papanashi bola- 'prabhu masih meri raksha kareange. meri unase yah bhi prarthana hai ki vah tumhare hriday mean dharm ki jyoti prakashit karean aur tum us andhakaramay koop mean se nikal ao jisamean p de hue e diyaan rag d rahe ho.'

yah kahakar vah garv se mastak uthaye bahar nikala. lekin nisiyas bhi usake pichhe chala. dvar par ate ate use pa liya aur tab apana hath usake kandhe par rakhakar usake kan mean bola- 'dekho vinas ko kruddh mat karana. usaka pratyaghat atyant bhishan hota hai.'

kintu papanashi ne is chetavani ko tuchchh samajha, sir pherakar bhi n dekha. vah nisiyas ko patit samajhata tha, lekin jis bat se use jalan hoti thi vah yah thi ki mera purana mitr thayas ka premamatr rah chuka hai. use aisa anubhav hota tha ki isase ghor aparadh ho hi nahian sakata. ab se vah nisiyas ko sansar ka sabase adham, sabase ghrinit prani samajhane laga. usane bhrashtachar se sadaiv napharat ki thi, lekin aj ke pahale yah pap use itana narakiy kabhi n pratit hua tha. usaki samajh mean prabhu masih ke krodh aur svarg dootoan ke tiraskar ka isase nindy aur koee vishay hi n tha.

usake man mean thayas ko in vilasiyoan se bachane ke lie aur bhi tivr akaanksha jagrit huee. ab bina ek kshan vilamb kiye mujhe thamas se bheant karani chahie. lekin abhi madhyahn kal tha aur jab tak dopahar ki garami shant n ho jae, thayas ke ghar jana uchit n tha. papanashi shahar ki s dakoan par ghoomata raha. aj usane kuchh bhojan n kiya tha jisamean us par eeshvar ki daya drishti rahe. kabhi vah dinata se aankhean zamin ki or jhuka leta tha, aur kabhi anurakt hokar akash ki or takane lagata tha. kuchh der idhar udhar nishprayojan ghoomane ke bad vah bandaragah par ja pahuancha. samane vistrit bandaragah tha, jisamean asankhy jalayan aur naukaean langar dale p di huee thian, aur unake age nila samudr, shvet chadar o़edhe hans raha tha. ek nauka ne, jisaki patavar par ek apsara ka chitr bana hua tha, abhi langar khola tha. daandean pani mean chalane lage, maanjhiyoan ne gana arambh kiya aur dekhate dekhate vah shvet vastradharini jalakanya yogi ki drishti mean keval ek svapnachitr ki bhaanti rah gayi. bandaragah se nikalakar, vah apane pichhe jagamagata hua jalamarg chho dati khule samudr mean pahuanch gayi.

papanashi ne socha- 'maian bhi kisi samay sansar sagar par gote hue yatra karane ko utsuk tha lekin mujhe shighr hi apani bhool maloom ho gayi. mujh par apsara ka jadoo n chala.'

---

inhian vicharoan mean magn vah rassiyoan ki geanduli par baith gaya. nidra se usaki aankhean band ho gayian. niand mean use ek svapn dikhaee diya. use maloom hua ki kahian se turahiyoan ki avaz kan mean a rahi hai, akash raktavarn ho gaya hai. use jnat hua ki dhamardharm ke vichar ka din a pahuancha. vah b di tanmayata se eeshavandana karane laga. isi bich mean usane ek atyant bhayankar jantu ko apani or ate dekha, jisake mathe par parakash ka ek saliv laga hua tha. papanashi ne use pahachan liya-silasili ki pishachamoorti thi. us jantu ne use daantoan ke niche daba liya aur use lekar chala, jaise billi apane bachche ko lekar chalati hai. is bhaanti vah jantu papanashi ko kitane hi dvipoan se hota, nadiyoan ko par karata, paha doan ko phaandata ant mean ek nirjan sthan mean pahuancha, jahaan dahakate hue paha d aur jhulasate rakh ke eroan ke sivay aur kuchh najar n ata tha. bhoomi kitane hi sthaloan par phat gayi thi aur usamean se ag ki lapat nikal rahi thi. jantu ne papanashi ko dhire se utar diya aur kaha-'dekho !'

papanashi ne ek khoh ke kinare jhukakar niche dekha. ek ag ki nadi prithvi ke antasthal mean do kalekale parvatoan ke bich se bah rahi thi. vahaan dhuandhale parakash mean narak ke doot papatmaoan ko kasht de rahe the. in atmaoan par unake mrit sharir ka halaka avaran tha, yahaan tak ki vah kuchh vastr bhi pahane hue thi. aise darun kashtoan mean bhi yah atmaean bahut duahkhi n jan p dati thian. unamean se ek jo lambi, gauravarn, aankhean band kiye hue thi, hath mean ek talavar liye ja rahi thi. usake madhur svaroan se samast marubhoomi gooanj rahi thi. vah devataoan aur shooraviroan ki virudavali ga rahi thi. chhotechhote hare rang ke daity unake hoanth aur kanth ko lal lohe ki salakhoan se chhed rahe the. yah amar kavi homar ki paratichchhaya thi. vah itana kasht jhelakar bhi gane se baj n ati thi. usake samip hi anakagoras, jisake sir ke bal gir gaye the, dhool mean parakal se shaklean bana raha tha. ek daity usake kanoan mean khaulata hua tel dal raha tha; par usaki ekagarata ko bhang n kar sakata tha. isake atirikt papanashi ko aur kitani hi atmaean dikhaee dian jo jalati huee nadi ke kinare baithi huee usi bhaanti pathanapathan, vadaparativad, upasanadhyan mean magn thian jaise yoonan ke gurukuloan mean gurushishy kisi vriksh ki chhaya mean baithakar kiya karate the, vriddh timaklij hi sabase alag tha aur bharantivadiyoan ki bhaanti sir hila raha tha. ek daity usaki aankhoan ke samane ek mashal hila raha tha, kintu timaklij aankhean hi n kholata tha.

is drishy se chakit hokar papanashi ne us bhayankar jantu ki or dekha jo use yahaan laya tha. kadachit usase poochhana chahata tha ki yah kya rahasy hai ? par vah jantu adrishy ho gaya tha aur usaki jagah ek stri muanh par nakab dale kh di thi. vah boli-'yogi, khoob aankhean kholakar dekh ! in bharasht atmaoan ka duragarah itana jatil hai ki narak mean bhi unaki bharanti shant nahian huee. yahaan bhi vah usi maya ke khilaune bane hue haian. mrityu ne unake bharamajal ko nahian to da kyoanki paratyaksh hi, keval mar jane se hi eeshvar ke darshan nahian hote. jo log jivanabhar ajnanandhakar mean p de hue the, vah marane par bhi moorkh hi bane raheange. yah daityagan eeshvariy nyay ke yantr hi to haian. yahi karan hai ki atmaean unhean n dekhati haian n unas bhayabhit hoti haian. vah saty ke jnan se shoony the, atev unhean apane akarmoan ka bhi jnan n tha. unhoanne jo kuchh kiya ajnan ki avastha mean kiya. un par vah dosharopan nahian kar sakata phir vah unhean dand bhogane par kaise majaboor kar sakata hai ?'

papanashi ne uttejit hokar kaha-'eeshvar sarvashaktiman hai, vah sab kuchh kar sakata hai.

nakabaposh stri ne uttar diya-'nahian, vah asaty ko saty nahian kar sakata. usako dand bhog ke yogy banane ke lie pahale unako ajnan se mukt karana hoga, aur jab vah ajnan se mukt ho jaeeange to vah dhamartmaoan ki shreni mean a jaeeange !'

papanashi udvign aur mamarhat hokar phir khoh ke kinaroan par jhuka. usane nisiyas ki chhaya ko ek pushpamala sir par dale, aur ek jhulase hue meanhadi ke vriksh ke niche baithe dekha. usaki bagal mean ek ati roopavati veshya baithi huee thi aur aisa vidit hota tha ki vah parem ki vyakhya kar rahe haian. veshya ki mukhashri manohar aur apiratam thi. un par jo agni ki varsha ho rahi thi vah os ki booandoan ke saman sukhad aur shital thi, aur vah jhulasati huee bhoomi unake pairoan se komal trin ke saman dab jati thi. yah dekhakar papanashi ki krodhagni zor se bh dak uthi. usane chillakar kaha-eeshvar, is durachari par vajaraghat kar ! yah nisiyas hai. use aisa kuchal ki vah roye, karahe aur krodh se daant pise. usane thayas ko bharasht kiya hai.

sahasa papanashi ki aankhanean khul geean. vah ek balishth maanjhi ki god mean tha. maanjhi bola-'bas mitr, shant ho jao. jal devata sakshi hai ki tum niand mean buri tarah chauank p date ho. agar maianne tumhean samhal n liya hota to tum ab tak pani mean dubakiyaan khate hote. aj maianne tumhari jan bachaee.'

papanashi bola-'eeshvar ki daya hai.'

vah turant uth kh da hua aur is svapn par vichar karata hua age b़a. avashy hi yah dusvapn hai. narak ko mithya samajhana eeshvariy nyay ka apaman karana hai. is svapn ko pareshak koee pishach hai.

eesaee tapasviyoan ke man mean nity yah shanka uthati rahati ki is svapn ka hetu eeshvar hai ya pishach. pishachadi unhean nity ghere rahate the. manushyoan se jo muanh mo data hai, usaka gala pishachoan se nahian chhoot sakata. marubhoomi pishachoan ka kri dakshetr hai. vahaan nity unaka shor sunaee deta hai. tapasviyoan ko parayah anubhav se, svapn ki vyavastha se jnan ho jata hai ki yah mard eeshvariy parerana hai ya pishachik paralobhan. par kabhikabhi bahut yatn karane par bhi unhean bharam ho jata tha. tapasviyoan aur pishachoan mean nirantar aur mahaghor sangaram hota rahata tha. pishachoan ko sadaiv yah dhun rahati thi ki yogiyoan ko kisi tarah dhokhe mean dalean aur unase apani ajna manava lean. sant j aaun ek parasiddh purush the. pishachoan ke raja ne sath varsh tak lagatar unhean dhokha dene ki cheshta ki, par sant j aaun usaki chaloan ko ta d liya karate the. ek din pishacharaja ne ek vairagi ka roop dharan kiya aur j aaun ki kuti mean akar bola-'j aaun, kal sham tak tumhean anashan (varat) rakhana hoga.' j aaun ne samajha, vah eeshvar ka doot hai aur do din tak nirjal raha. pishach ne un par keval yahi ek vijay parapt ki, yadyapi isase pishacharaj ka koee kutsit uddeshy n poora hua, par sant j aaun ko apani parajay ka bahut shok hua. kintu papanashi ne jo svapn dekha tha usaka vishay hi kahe deta tha ki isaka karta pishach hai.

vah eeshvar se din shabdoan mean kah raha tha-'mujhase aisa kaunasa aparadh hua jisake dandasvaroop toone mujhe pishach ke phande mean dal diya.' sahasa use maloom hua ki maian manushyoan ke ek b de samooh mean idharudhar dhakke kha raha hooan. kabhi idhar ja p data hooan, kabhi udhar. use nagaroan ki bhi dabha d mean chalane ka abhyas n tha. vah ek j d vastu ki bhaanti idhar udhar thokarean khata phirata tha, aur apane kamakhvab ke kurate ke daman se ulajhakar vah kee bar girategirate bacha. ant mean usane ek manushy se poochha-'tum log sabake-sab ek hi disha mean itani h dab di ke sath kahaan dau de ja rahe ho ? kya kisi sant ka upadesh ho raha hai ?'

us manushy ne uttar diya-'yatri, kya tumhean maloom nahian ki shighar hi tamasha shuroo hoga aur thayas rangamanch par upasthit hogi. ham sab usi thiyetar mean ja rahe haian. tumhari ichchha ho to tum bhi hamare sath chalo. is apsara ke darshan matr hi se ham kritarth ho jaeeange.'

papanashi ne socha ki thayas ko rangashala mean dekhana mere uddeshy ke anukool hoga. vah us manushy ke sath ho liya. unake samane tho di door par rangashala sthit thi. usake mukhy dvar par chamakate hue parade p de the aur usaki vistrit vrittakar divarean anek paratimaoan se saji huee thian. any manushyoan ke sath yah donoan purush bhi tang gali mean dakhil hue. gali ke doosare sire par arddhachandr ke akar ka rangamanch bana hua tha jo is samay parakash se jagamaga raha tha. ve darshakoan ke sath ek jagah par baithe. vahaan niche ki or kisi talab ke ghat ki bhaanti siyioan ki katar rangashala tak chali gayi thi. rangashala mean abhi koee n tha, par vah khoob saji huee thi. bich mean koee parada n tha. rangashala ke madhy mean kabar ki bhaanti ek chabootarasa bana hua tha. chabootare ke charoan taraph ravatiyaan thian. ravatiyoan ke samane bhale rakhe hue the aur lambilambi khooantiyoan par sunahari alean latak rahi thian. stej par sannata chhaya hua tha. jab darshakoan ka ardhavritt thasathas bhar gaya to madhumakkhiyoan ki bhinabhinahatasi dabi huee avaz ane lagi. darshakoan ki aankhean anurag se bhari huee, vrihad nistabdh rangamanch ki or lagi huee thian. striyaan hansati thian aur nianboo khati thian aur nityaparati natak dekhane vale purush apani jagahoan se doosaroan ko hansahans pukarate the.

papanashi man mean eeshvar ki pararthana kar raha tha aur muanh se ek bhi mithya shabd nahian nikalata tha, lekin usaka sathi natyakal ki avanati ki chachar karane laga-'bhaee, hamari is kala ka ghor patan ho gaya hai. parachin samay mean abhineta chehare pahanakar kaviyoan ki rachanaean uchch svar se gaya karate the. ab to vah gooangoan ki bhaanti abhinay karate haian. vah purane saman bhi gayab ho gaye. n to vah chehare rahe jinamean avaz ko phailane ke lie dhatu ki jibh bani rahati thi, n vah ooanche kh daooan hi rah gaye jinhean pahanakar abhinetagan devataoan ki tarah lambe ho jate the, n vah ojasvini kavitaean rahian aur n vah marmasparshi abhinayachatury. ab to purushoan ki jagah rangamanch par striyoan ka dauradaura hai, jo bina sankoch ke khule muanh manch par ati haian. us samay ke yoonananivasi striyoan ko stej par dekhakar n jane dil mean kya kahate. striyoan ke lie janata ke sammukh manch par ana ghor lajja ki bat hai. hamane is kuparatha ko svikar karake apane madhyatmik patan ka parichay diya hai. yah nirvivad hai ki stri purush ka shatru aur manavajati ka kalank hai.

papanashi ne isaka samarthan kiya-'bahut saty kahate ho, stri hamari paranaghatika hai. usase hamean kuchh anand parapt hota hai aur isalie usase sadaiv darana chahie.'

usake sathi ne jisaka nam doriyan tha, kaha-'svarg ke devataoan ki shapath khata hooan; stri se purush ko anand nahian parapt hota, balki chinta, duahkh aur ashanti. parem hi hamare darunatam kashtoan ka karan hai. suno mitr, jab meri tarunavastha thi to maian ek dvip ki sair karane gaya tha aur vahaan mujhe ek bahut b da meanhadi ka vriksh dikhaee diya jisake vishay mean yah dantakatha parachalit hai ki phidara jin dinoan himolait par ashik thi to vah virahadasha mean isi vriksh ke niche baithi rahati thi aur dil bahalane ke lie apane baloan ki suiyaan nikalakar in pattiyoan mean chubhaya karati thi. sab pattiyaan chhid gayian. phidara ki paremakatha to tum janate hi hoge. apane paremi ka sarvanash karane ke pashchath vah svayan gale mean phaansi dal, ek hathidaant ki khooanti se latakar mar gayi. devataoan ki aisi ichchha huee ki phidara ki asahy virahavedana ke chihnasvaroop is vriksh ki pattiyoan mean nity chhed hote rahe. maianne ek patti to d li aur lakar use apane palang ke sirahane lataka diya ki vah mujhe parem ki kutilata ki yad dilati rahe aur mere guru, amar epikyuras ke sidghantoan par atal rakhe, jisaka uddeshy tha ki kuvasana se darana chahie. lekin yatharth mean parem jigar ka ek rog hai aur koee yah nahian kah sakata ki yah rog mujhe nahian lag sakata.'

papanashi ne parashn kiya-'doriyan, tumhare anand ke vishay kya haian ?'

doriyan ne khed se kaha-'mere anand ka keval ek vishay hai, aur vah bhi bahut akarshak nahian. vah dhyan hai jisaki pachanashakti dooshit ho gayi ho usake lie anand ka aur kya vishay ho sakata hai ?'

papanashi ko avasar mila ki vah is anandavadi ko adhyatmik sukh ki diksha de jo eeshvaradhana se parapt hota hai. bola-'mitr doriyan; saty par kan dharo, aur parakash garahan karo.'

lekin sahasa usane dekha ki sabaki aankhean meri taraph uthi haian aur mujhe chup rahane ka sanket kar rahe haian. natyashala mean poorn shanti sthapit ho gayi aur ek kshan mean viragan ki dhvani sunaee di.

khel shuroo hua. homar ki iliyad ka ek duahkhant drishy tha. trojan yuddh samapt ho chuka tha. yoonan ke vijayi soorama apani chholadariyoan se nikalakar kooch ki taiyari kar rahe the ki ek adbhut ghatana huee. rangabhoomi ke madhyasthit samadhi par badaloan ka ek tuk da chha gaya. ek kshan ke bad badal hat gaya aur eshilis ka paret sone ke shastroan se saja hua parakat hua. vah yodghaoan ki or hath phailaye mano kah raha hai, helas ke sapooto, kya tum yahaan se parasthan karane ko taiyar ho ? tum us desh ko jate ho jahaan jana mujhe phir nasib n hoga aur meri samadhi ko bina kuchh bheant kiye hi chho de jate ho.

yoonan ke vir samant, jinamean vriddh nestar, agamemanan, ulaises adi the, samadhi ke samip akar is ghatana ko dekhane lage. pirras ne jo eshilis ka yuvak putr tha, bhoomi par mastak jhuka diya. ulis ne aisa sanket kiya jisase vidit hota tha vah mritatma ki ichchha se sahamat hai. usane agamemanan se anurodh kiya-ham saboan ko eshilis ka yash manana chahie, kyoanki helas hi ki manaraksha mean usane viragati payi hai. usaka adesh hai ki parayam ki putri, kumari p aauliksena meri samadhi par samarpit ki jae. yoonanaviroan, apane nayak ka adesh svikar karo !

kintu samarat agamemanan ne apatti ki-'trojan ki kumariyoan ki raksha karo. parayam ka yashasvi parivar bahut duahkh bhog chuka hai.'

usaki apatti ka karan yah tha ki vah ulaises ke anurodh se sahamat hai. nishchay ho gaya ki p aauliksena eshilis ko bali di jae. mrit atma is bhaanti shant hokar yamalok ko chali gayi. charitroan ke varttalap ke bad kabhi uttejak aur kabhi karun svaroan mean gana hota tha. abhinay ka ek bhag samapt hote hi darshakoan ne taliyaan bajayian.

papanashi jo paratyek vishay mean dharmasidghantoan ka vyavahar kiya karata tha, bola-'abhinay se siddh hota hai ki sattahin devataoan ka upasak kitane nirdayi hote haian.

doriyan ne uttar diya-'yah dosh parayah sabhi matavadoan mean paya jata hai. saubhagy se mahatma epikyu ras ne, jinhean eeshvariy jnan parapt tha, mujhe adrishy ki mithya shankaoan se mukt kar diya.'

itane mean abhinay phir shuroo hua. hekyuba, jo p aauliksena ki mata thi, us chholadari se bahar nikali jisamean vah kaid thi. usake shvet kesh bikhare hue the, kap de phatakar taratar ho gaye the. usaki shokamoorti dekhate hi darshakoan ne vedanapoorn ah bhari. hekyuba ko apani kanya ke vishadamay ant ka ek svapn dvara jnan ho gaya tha. apane aur apani putri ke durbhagy par vah sir pitane lagi. ulaises ne usake samip jakar kaha-'p aauliksena par se apana matrisneh ab utha lo. vridgha stri ne apane bal noch liye, muanh ka nakhoan se khasota aur nirdayi yodgha ulaises ke hathoan ko chooma, jo ab bhi dayashoony shanti se kahata jan p data tha-'hekyuba, dhairy se kam lo. jis vipatti ka nivaran nahian ho sakata, usake samane sir jhukao. hamare desh mean bhi kitani hi mataean apane putroan ke lie roti rahi haian jo aj yahaan vrikshoan ke niche mohanidra mean magn haian. aur hekyuba ne, jo pahale eshiya ke sabase samriddhishali rajy ki svamini thi aur is samay gulami ki be diyoan mean jak di huee thi, nairashy se dharati par sir patak diya.'

tab chholadariyoan mean se ek ke samane ka parada utha aur kumari p aauliksena parakat huee. darshakoan mean ek sanasanisi dau d gayi. unhoanne thayas ko pahachan liya. papanashi ne us veshya ko phir dekha jisaki khoj mean vah aya tha. vah apane gore hath se bhari parade ko oopar uthaye hue thi. vah ek vishal paratima ki bhaanti sthir kh di thi. usake apoorv lochanoan se garv aur atmotsarg jhalak raha tha aur usake paradipt saundary se samast darshakavrind ek nirupay lalasa ke aveg se tharra uthe !

papanashi ka chitt vyagar ho utha. chhati ko donoan hathoan se dabakar usane ek thandi saans li aur bola-'eeshvar ! toone ek parani ko kyoankar itani shakti paradan ki hai?

kintu doriyan jara bhi ashanti n hua. bola-'vastav mean jin paramanuoan ke ekatr ho jane se is stri ki rachana huee hai usaka sanyog bahut hi nayanabhiram hai. lekin yah keval parakriti ki ek kri da hai, aur paramanu j davastu hai. kisi din vah svabhavik riti se vichchhinn ho jaeange. jin paramanuoan se laila aur kliyopetra ki rachana huee thi vah ab kahaan haian ? maian manata hooan ki striyaan kabhikabhi bahut roopavati hoti haian, lekin vah bhi to vipatti aur ghrinotpadak avasthaoan ke vashibhoot ho jati haian. buddhimanoan ko yah bat maloom hai, yadyapi moorkh log is par dhyan nahian dete.'

yogi ne bhi thayas ko dekha. darshanik ne bhi. donoan ke man mean bhinnabhinn vichar utpann hue. ek ne eeshvar se phariyad ki, doosare ne udasinata se tattv ka niroopan kiya.

itane mean rani hekyuba ne apani kanya ko isharoan se samajhaya, mano kah rahi hai-is hridayahin ulaises par apana jadoo dal ! apane roopalavany, apane yauvan aur apane ashruparavah ka ashray le.

thayas, ya kumari p aauliksena ne chholadari ka parada gira diya. tab usane ek qadam age b़aya, logoan ke dil hath se nikal gaye. aur jab vah garv se taloan par qadam uthati huee ulaises ki or chali to darshakoan ko aisa maloom hua mano vah saundary ka kendr hai. koee ape mean n raha. sabaki aankhean usi or lagi huee thian. any sabhi ka rang usake samane phika p d gaya. koee unhean dekhata bhi n tha.

ulaises ne muanh pher liya aur muanh chadar mean chhipa liya ki is daya bhikharini ke netrakataksh aur paremaliangan ka jadoo us par n chale. p aauliksena ne usase isharoan se kaha-'mujhase kyoan darate ho ? maian tumhean paremapash mean phansane nahian ayi hooan. jo anivary hai, vah hoga. usake samane sir jhukati hooan. mrityu ka mujhe bhay nahian hai. parayam ki l daki aur vir hektar ki bahan, itani gayigujari nahian hai ki usaki shayya, jisake lie b deb de samarat lalayit rahate the, kisi videshi purush ka svagat kare. maian kisi ki sharanagat nahian hona chahati.'

hekyuba jo abhi tak bhoomi par achetasi p di thi sahasa uthi aur apani piray putri ko chhati se laga liya. yah usaka antim nairashyapoorn aliangan tha. pativanchit matrihriday ke lie sansar mean koee avalamb n tha. p aauliksena ne dhirese mata ke hathoan se apane ko chhu da liya, mano usase kah rahi thi- 'mata, dhairy se kam lo ! apane svami ki atma ko dukhi mat karo. aisa kyoan karati ho ki yah log nidaryata se zamin par girakar mujhe alag kar lean ?'

thayas ka mukhachandr is shokavastha mean aur bhi madhur ho gaya tha, jaise megh ke halake avaran se chandrama. darshakavrind ko usane jivan ke aveshoan aur bhavoan ka kitana apoorv chitr dikhaya ! isase sabhi mugdh the ! atmasamman, dhairy, sahas adi bhavoan ka aisa alaukik, aisa mugdhakar digdarshan karana thayas ka hi kam tha. yahaan tak ki papanashi ko bhi us par daya a gayi. usane socha, yah chamakadamak ab tho de hi dinoan ke aur mehaman haian, phir to yah kisi dhamarshram mean tapasya karake apane papoan ka parayashchit karegi.

abhinay ka ant nikat a gaya. hekyuba moorchhit hokar gir p di, aur p aauliksena ulaises ke sath samadhi par ayi. yodghagan use charoan or se ghere hue the. jab vah balivedi par ch़i to eshilij ke putr ne ek sone ke pyale mean sharab lekar samadhi par gira di. matami git gaye ja rahe the. jab bali dene vale pujariyoan ne use pak dane ko hath phailaya to usane sanket dvara batalaya ki maian svachchhand rahakar marana chahati hooan, jaisaki rajakanyaoan ka dharm hai. tab apane vastroan ko utarakar vah vajar ko hridayasthal mean rakhane ko taiyar ho gayi. pirras ne sir pherakar apani talavar usake vakshasthal mean bhoank di. rudhir ki dhara bah nikali. koee lag rakhi gayi thi. thayas ka sir pichhe ko latak gaya, usaki aankhean tilamilane lagian aur ek kshan mean vah gir p di.

yodghagan to bali ko kafan pahana rahe the. pushpavarsha ki ja rahi thi. darshakoan ki artadhvani se hava gooanj rahi thi. papanashi uth kh da hua aur uchchasvar se usane yah bhavishyavani ki-'mithyavadiyoan, aur paretoan ke poojane valoan ! yah kya bharam ho gaya hai ! tumane abhi jo drishy dekha hai vah keval ek roopak hai. us katha ka adhyatmik arth kuchh aur hai, aur yah stri tho de hi dinoan mean apani ichchha aur anurag se, eeshvar ke charanoan mean samarpit ho jaegi.

isake ek ghante bad papanashi ne thayas ke dvar par janjir khatakhatayi.

thayas us samay reesoan ke muhalle mean, sikandar ki samadhi ke nikat rahati thi. usake vishal bhavan ke charoan or sayedar vriksh the, jinamean se ek jaladhara kritrim chattanoan ke bich se hokar bahati thi. ek buyi habshin dasi ne jo muandariyoan se ladi huee thi, akar dvar khol diya aur poochha-'kya ajna hai ?'

papanashi ne kaha-'maian thamas se bheant karana chahata hooan. eeshvar sakshi hai ki maian yahaan isi kam ke lie aya hooan.'

vah amiroan kese vastr pahane hue tha aur usaki batoan se rob patakata tha. atev dasi use andar le gayi. aur boli-'thayas pariyoan ke kuanj mean virajaman hai.'

sanbandhit lekh

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