आकाशदीप -जयशंकर प्रसाद

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

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‘‘bandi!’’

‘‘kya hai? sone do.’’

‘‘mukt hona chahate ho?’’

‘‘abhi nahian, nidra khulane par, chup raho.’’

‘‘phir avasar n milega.’’

‘‘b da shit hai, kahian se ek kambal dalakar koee shit se mukt karata.’’

‘‘aandhi ki sambhavana hai. yahi avasar hai. aj mere bandhan shithil haian.’’

‘‘to kya tum bhi bandi ho?’’

‘‘haan, dhire bolo, is nav par keval das navik aur prahari haian.’’

‘‘shastr milega?’’

‘‘mil jayaga. pot se sambaddh rajju kat sakoge?’’

‘‘haan.’’

samudr mean hilorean uthane lagian. donoan bandi apas mean takarane lage. pahale bandi ne apane ko svatantr kar liya. doosare ka bandhan kholane ka prayatn karane laga. laharoan ke dhakke ek-doosare ko sparsh se pulakit kar rahe the. mukti ki asha-sneh ka asambhavit aliangan. donoan hi andhakar mean mukt ho gaye. doosare bandi ne harshatirek se usako gale se laga liya. sahasa us bandi ne kaha-‘‘yah kya? tum stri ho?’’

‘‘kya stri hona koee pap hai?’’-apane ko alag karate hue stri ne kaha.

‘‘shastr kahaan hai-tumhara nam?’’

‘‘champa.’’

tarak-khachit nil ambar aur samudr ke avakash mean pavan oodham macha raha tha. andhakar se milakar pavan dusht ho raha tha. samudr mean andolan tha. nauka laharoan mean vikal thi. stri satarkata se ludhaqane lagi. ek matavale navik ke sharir se takarati huee savadhani se usaka kripan nikalakar, phir ludhaqate hue, bandi ke samip pahuanch gee. sahasa pot se path-pradarshak ne chillakar kaha-‘‘aandhi!’’

apatti-soochak toory bajane laga. sab savadhan hone lage. bandi yuvak usi tarah p da raha. kisi ne rassi pak di, koee pal khol raha tha. par yuvak bandi dhulak kar us rajju ke pas pahuancha, jo pot se sanlagn thi. tare dhank gaye. tarangean udvelit hueean, samudr garajane laga. bhishan aandhi, pishachini ke saman nav ko apane hathoan mean lekar kanduk-kri da aur attahas karane lagi.

ek jhatake ke sath hi nav svatantr thi. us sankat mean bhi donoan bandi khilakhila kar hans p de. aandhi ke hahakar mean use koee n sun saka.

bhag 2

anant jalanidhi mean oosha ka madhur alok phoot utha. sunahali kiranoan aur laharoan ki komal srishti muskarane lagi. sagar shant tha. navikoan ne dekha, pot ka pata nahian. bandi mukt haian.

nayak ne kaha-‘‘budhagupt! tumako mukt kisane kiya?’’

kripan dikhakar budhagupt ne kaha-‘‘isane.’’

nayak ne kaha-‘‘to tumhean phir bandi banaooanga.’’

‘‘kisake liye? potadhyaksh manibhadr atal jal mean hoga-nayak! ab is nauka ka svami maian hooan.’’

‘‘tum? jaladasyu budhagupt? kadapi nahian.’’-chauank kar nayak ne kaha aur apana kripan tatolane laga! champa ne isake pahale us par adhikar kar liya tha. vah krodh se uchhal p da.

‘‘to tum dvandvayuddh ke liye prastut ho jao; jo vijayi hoga, vah svami hoga.’’-itana kahakar budhagupt ne kripan dene ka sanket kiya. champa ne kripan nayak ke hath mean de diya.

bhishan ghat-pratighat arambh hua. donoan kushal, donoan tvarit gativale the. b di nipunata se budhagupt ne apana kripan daantoan se pak dakar apane donoan hath svatantr kar liye. champa bhay aur vismay se dekhane lagi. navik prasann ho gaye. parantu budhagupt ne laghav se nayak ka kripan vala hath pak d liya aur vikat huankar se doosara hath kati mean dal, use gira diya. doosare hi kshan prabhat ki kiranoan mean budhagupt ka vijayi kripan hathoan mean chamak utha. nayak ki katar aankhean pran-bhiksha maangane lagian.

budhagupt ne kaha-‘‘bolo, ab svikar hai ki nahian?’’

‘‘maian anuchar hooan, varunadev ki shapath. maian vishvasaghat nahian karooanga.’’ budhagupt ne use chho d diya.

champa ne yuvak jaladasyu ke samip akar usake kshatoan ko apani snigdh drishti aur komal karoan se vedana vihin kar diya. budhagupt ke sugathit sharir par rakt-bindu vijay-tilak kar rahe the.

vishram lekar budhagupt ne poochha ‘‘ham log kahaan hoange?’’

‘‘balidvip se bahut door, sambhavat: ek navin dvip ke pas, jisamean abhi ham logoan ka bahut kam ana-jana hota hai. sianhal ke vanikoan ka vahaan pradhany hai.’’

‘‘kitane dinoan mean ham log vahaan pahuancheange?’’

‘‘anukool pavan milane par do din mean. tab tak ke liye khady ka abhav n hoga.’’

sahasa nayak ne navikoan ko daan d lagane ki ajna di, aur svayan patavar pak dakar baith gaya. budhagupt ke poochhane par usane kaha-‘‘yahaan ek jalamagn shailakhand hai. savadhan n rahane se nav takarane ka bhay hai.’’

bhag 3

‘‘tumhean in logoan ne bandi kyoan banaya?’’

‘‘vanikh manibhadr ki pap-vasana ne.’’

‘‘tumhara ghar kahaan hai?’’

‘‘jahnavi ke tat par. champa-nagari ki ek kshatriy balika hooan. pita isi manibhadr ke yahaan prahari ka kam karate the. mata ka dehavasan ho jane par maian bhi pita ke sath nav par hi rahane lagi. ath baras se samudr hi mera ghar hai. tumhare akraman ke samay mere pita ne hi sat dasyuoan ko marakar jal-samadhi li. ek mas hua, maian is nil nabh ke niche, nil jalanidhi ke oopar, ek bhayanak anantata mean nissahay hooan-anath hooan. manibhadr ne mujhase ek din ghrinit prastav kiya. maianne use galiyaan sunaeean. usi din se bandi bana di gee.’’-champa rosh se jal rahi thi.

‘‘maian bhi tamralipti ka ek kshatriy hooan, champa! parantu durbhagy se jaladasyu ban kar jivan bitata hooan. ab tum kya karogi?’’

‘‘maian apane adrisht ko anirdisht hi rahane dooangi. vah jahaan le jay.’’ -champa ki aankhean nissim pradesh mean niruddeshy thi. kisi akaanksha ke lal dore n the. dhaval apaangoan mean balakoan ke sadrish vishvas tha. hatya-vyavasayi dasyu bhi use dekhakar kaanp gaya. usake man mean ek sambhramapoorn shraddha yauvan ki pahali laharoan ko jagane lagi. samudr-vaksh par vilambamayi rag-ranjit sandhya thirakane lagi. champa ke asanyat kuntal usaki pith par bikhare the. durdant dasyu ne dekha , apani mahima mean alaukik ek tarun balika! vah vismay se apane hriday ko tatolane laga. use ek nee vastu ka pata chala. vah thi-komalata!

usi samay nayak ne kaha-‘‘ham log dvip ke pas pahuanch gaye.’’

bela se nav takaraee. champa nirbhikata se kood p di. maanjhi bhi utare. budhagupt ne kaha-‘‘jab isaka koee nam nahian hai, to ham log ise champa-dvip kaheange.’’

champa hans p di.

bhag 4

paanch baras bad-

sharad ke dhaval nakshatr nil gagan mean jhalamala rahe the. chandr ki ujjval vijay par antariksh mean sharadalakshmi ne ashirvad ke phooloan aur khiloan ko bikher diya.

champa ke ek uchchasaudh par baithi huee taruni champa dipak jala rahi thi. b de yatn se abhrak ki manjoosha mean dip dharakar usane apani sukumar uangaliyoan se dori khianchi. vah dipadhar oopar chadhऩe laga. bholi-bholi aankhean use oopar chadhate b de harsh se dekh rahi thian. dori dhire-dhire khianchi gee. champa ki kamana thi ki usaka akash-dip nakshatroan se hilamil jay; kintu vaisa hona asambhav tha. usane ashabhari aankhean phira lian.

samane jal-rashi ka rajat shrriangar tha. varun balikaoan ke lie laharoan se hire aur nilam ki kri da shail-malayean ban rahi thian-aur ve mayavini chhalanayean-apani hansi ka kalanad chho dakar chhip jati thian. door-door se dhivaroan ka vanshi-jhanakar unake sangit-sa mukharit hota tha. champa ne dekha ki taral sankul jal-rashi mean usake kandil ka pratibimb astavyast tha! vah apani poornata ke lie saik doan chakkar katata tha. vah anamani hokar uth kh di huee. kisi ko pas n dekhakar pukara-‘‘jaya!’’

ek shyama yuvati samane akar kh di huee. vah jangali thi. nil nabhomandal-se mukh mean shuddh nakshatroan ki pankti ke saman usake daant hansate hi rahate. vah champa ko rani kahati; budhagupt ki ajna thi.

‘‘mahanavik kab tak aveange, bahar poochho to.’’ champa ne kaha. jaya chali gee.

dooragat pavan champa ke anchal mean vishram lena chahata tha. usake hriday mean gudagudi ho rahi thi. aj n jane kyoan vah besudh thi. vah dirghakal dridh purush ne usaki pith par hath rakh chamatkrit kar diya. usane phirakar kaha-‘‘budhagupt!’’

‘‘bavali ho kya? yahaan baithi huee abhi tak dip jala rahi ho, tumhean yah kam karana hai?’’

‘‘kshiranidhishayi anant ki prasannata ke lie kya dasiyoan se akash-dip jalavaooan?’’

‘‘hansi ati hai. tum kisako dip jalakar path dikhalana chahati ho? usako, jisako tumane bhagavanh man liya hai?’’

‘‘haan, vah bhi kabhi bhatakate haian, bhoolate haian, nahian to, budhagupt ko itana aishvary kyoan dete?’’

‘‘to bura kya hua, is dvip ki adhishvari champarani!’’

‘‘mujhe is bandigrih se mukt karo. ab to bali, java aur sumatra ka vanijy keval tumhare hi adhikar mean hai mahanavik! parantu mujhe un dinoan ki smriti suhavani lagati hai, jab tumhare pas ek hi nav thi aur champa ke upakool mean pany lad kar ham log sukhi jivan bitate the-is jal mean aganit bar ham logoan ki tari alokamay prabhat mean tarikaoan ki madhur jyoti mean-thirakati thi. budhagupt! us vijan anant mean jab maanjhi so jate the, dipak bujh jate the, ham-tum parishram se thakakar paloan mean sharir lapetakar ek-doosare ka muanh kyoan dekhate the? vah nakshatroan ki madhur chhaya.....’’

‘‘to champa! ab usase bhi achchhe dhang se ham log vichar sakate haian. tum meri pranadatri ho, meri sarvasv ho.’’

‘‘nahian-nahian, tumane dasyuvritti chho d di parantu hriday vaisa hi akarun, satrishn aur jvalanashil hai. tum bhagavan ke nam par hansi u date ho. mere akash-dip par vyang kar rahe ho. navik! us prachand aandhi mean prakash ki ek-ek kiran ke lie ham log kitane vyakul the. mujhe smaran hai, jab maian chhoti thi, mere pita naukari par samudr mean jate the-meri mata, mitti ka dipak baans ki pitari mean bhagirathi ke tat par baans ke sath ooanche taang deti thi. us samay vah prarthana karati-‘bhagavan! mere path-bhrasht navik ko andhakar mean thik path par le chalana.’ aur jab mere pita barasoan par lautate to kahate-‘sadhvi! teri prarthana se bhagavanh ne sankatoan mean meri raksha ki hai.’ vah gadgad ho jati. meri maan? ah navik! yah usi ki puny-smriti hai. mere pita, vir pita ki mrityu ke nishthur karan, jaladasyu! hat jao.’’-sahasa champa ka mukh krodh se bhishan hokar rang badalane laga. mahanavik ne kabhi yah roop n dekha tha. vah thathakar hans p da.

‘‘yah kya, champa? tum asvasth ho jaogi, so raho.’’-kahata hua chala gaya. champa muththi baandhe unmadini-si ghoomati rahi.

bhag 5

nirjan samudr ke upakool mean vela se takara kar laharean bikhar jati thian. pashchim ka pathik thak gaya tha. usaka mukh pila p d gaya. apani shant gambhir halachal mean jalanidhi vichar mean nimagn tha. vah jaise prakash ki unmalin kiranoan se virakt tha.

champa aur jaya dhire-dhire us tat par akar kh di ho geean. tarang se uthate hue pavan ne unake vasan ko ast-vyast kar diya. jaya ke sanket se ek chhoti-si nauka aee. donoan ke us par baithate hi navik utar gaya. jaya nav khene lagi. champa mugdh-si samudr ke udas vatavaran mean apane ko mishrit kar dena chahati thi.

‘‘itana jal! itani shitalata! hriday ki pyas n bujhi. pi sakooangi? nahian! to jaise vela mean chot khakar sindhu chilla uthata hai, usi ke saman rodan karooan? ya jalate hue svarn-golak sadrish anant jal mean doob kar bujh jaooan?’’-champa ke dekhate-dekhate pi da aur jvalan se arakt bimb dhire-dhire sindhu mean chauthaee-adha, phir sampoorn vilin ho gaya. ek dirgh nishvas lekar champa ne muanh pher liya. dekha, to mahanavik ka bajara usake pas hai. budhagupt ne jhuk kar hath badhaya. champa usake sahare bajare par chadh gayi. donoan pas-pas baith gaye.

‘‘itani chhoti nav par idhar ghoomana thik nahian. pas hi vah jalamagn shail khand hai. kahian nav takara jati ya oopar chadh jati, champa to?’’

‘‘achchha hota, budhagupt! jal mean bandi hona kathor prachiroan se to achchha hai.’’

ah champa, tum kitani nirday ho! budhagupt ko ajna dekar dekho to, vah kya nahian kar sakata. jo tumhare liye naye dvip ki srishti kar sakata hai, nee praja khoj sakata hai, naye rajy bana sakata hai, usaki pariksha lekar dekho to..... kaho, champa! vah kripan se apana hriday-pind nikal apane hathoan atal jal mean visarjan kar de.’’-mahanavik-jisake nam se bali, java aur champa ka akash gooanjata tha, pavan tharrata tha-ghutanoan ke bal champa ke samane chhalachhalaee aankhoan se baitha tha.

samane shailamala ki choti par hariyali mean vistrit jal-desh mean, nil piangal sandhya, prakriti ki sahriday kalpana, vishram ki shital chhaya, svapnalok ka srijan karane lagi. us mohini ke rahasyapoorn nilajal ka kuhak sphut ho utha. jaise madira se sara antariksh sikt ho gaya. srishti nil kamaloan mean bhar uthi. us saurabh se pagal champa ne budhagupt ke donoan hath pak d liye. vahaan ek aliangan hua, jaise kshitij mean akash aur sindhu ka. kintu us parirambh mean sahasa chaitany hokar champa ne apani kanchuki se ek kripan nikal liya.

‘‘budhagupt! aj maian apane pratishodh ka kripan atal jal mean duba deti hooan. hriday ne chhal kiya, bar-bar dhokha diya!’’-chamakakar vah kripan samudr ka hriday bedhata hua vilin ho gaya.

‘‘to aj se maian vishvas karooan, kshama kar diya gaya?’’-ashcharyachakit kampit kanth se mahanavik ne poochha.

‘vishvas? kadapi nahian, budhagupt ! jab maian apane hriday par vishvas nahian kar saki, usi ne dhokha diya, tab maian kaise kahooan? maian tumhean ghrina karati hooan, phir bhi tumhare lie mar sakati hooan. aandher hai jaladasyu. tumhean pyar karati hooan.’’ champa ro p di.

vah svapnoan ki rangin sandhya, tam se apani aankhean band karane lagi thi. dirgh nishvas lekar mahanavik ne kaha-‘‘is jivan ki punyatam gh di ki smriti mean ek prakash-grih banaooanga, champa! champa yahian us paha di par. sambhav hai ki mere jivan ki dhuandhali sandhya usase alokapoorn ho jay.’’

bhag 6

champa ke doosare bhag mean ek manoram shailamala thi. vah bahut door tak sindhu-jal mean nimagn thi. sagar ka chanchal jal us par uchhalata hua use chhipaye tha. aj usi shailamala par champa ke adi-nivasiyoan ka samaroh tha. un saboan ne champa ko vanadevi-sa sajaya tha. tamralipti ke bahut se sainik navikoan ki shreni mean van-kusum-vibhooshita champa shivikaroodh hokar ja rahi thi.

shail ke ek uanche shikhar par champa ke navikoan ko savadhan karane ke lie sudridh dip-stambh banavaya gaya tha. aj usi ka mahotsav hai. budhagupt stambh ke dvar par kh da tha. shivika se sahayata dekar champa ko usane utara. donoan ne bhitar padarpan kiya tha ki baansuri aur dhol bajane lage. panktiyoan mean kusum-bhooshan se saji van-balaean phool uchhalati huee nachane lagian.

dip-stambh ki oopari khidaqi se yah dekhati huee champa ne jaya se poochha-‘‘yah kya hai jaya? itani balikaean kahaan se bator laeean?’’

‘‘aj rani ka byah hai n?’’-kah kar jaya ne hans diya.

budhagupt vistrit jalanidhi ki or dekh raha tha. use jhakajhor kar champa ne poochha-‘‘kya yah sach hai?’’

‘‘yadi tumhari ichchha ho, to yah sach bhi ho sakata hai, champa! ‘‘kitane varshoan se maian jvalamukhi ko apani chhati mean dabaye hooan.

‘‘chup raho, mahanavik ! kya mujhe nissahay aur kangal janakar tumane aj sab pratishodh lena chaha?’’

‘‘maian tumhare pita ka ghatak nahian hooan, champa! vah ek doosare dasyu ke shastr se mare.’’

‘‘yadi maian isaka vishvas kar sakati. budhagupt, vah din kitana sundar hota, vah kshan kitana sprihaniy! ah! tum is nishthurata mean bhi kitane mahanh hote.’’

jaya niche chali gee thi. stambh ke sankirn prakoshth mean budhagupt aur champa ekant mean ek doosare ke samane baithe the.

budhagupt ne champa ke pair pak d liye. uchchhvasit shabdoan mean vah kahane laga-champa, ham log janmabhoomi-bharatavarsh se kitani door in nirih praniyoan mean indr aur shachi ke saman poojit haian. par n jane kaun abhishap ham logoan ko abhi tak alag kiye hai. smaran hota hai vah darshanikoan ka desh! vah mahima ki pratima! mujhe vah smriti nity akarshit karati hai; parantu maian kyoan nahian jata? janati ho, itana mahattv prapt karane par bhi maian kangal hooan! mera patthar-sa hriday ek din sahasa tumhare sparsh se chandrakantamani ki tarah dravit hua.

‘‘champa! maian eeshvar ko nahian manata, maian pap ko nahian manata, maian daya ko nahian samajh sakata, maian us lok mean vishvas nahian karata. par mujhe apane hriday ke ek durbal aansh par shraddha ho chali hai. tum n jane kaise ek bahaki huee tarika ke saman mere shoony mean udit ho gee ho. alok ki ek komal rekha is nivi datam mean muskarane lagi. pashu-bal aur dhan ke upasak ke man mean kisi shant aur ekant kamana ki hansi khilakhilane lagi; par maian n hans saka!

‘‘chalogi champa? potavahini par asankhy dhanarashi lad kar rajarani-si janmabhoomi ke aank mean? aj hamara parinay ho, kal hi ham log bharat ke lie prasthan karean. mahanavik budhagupt ki ajna sindhu ki laharean manati haian. ve svayan us pot-punj ko dakshin pavan ke saman bharat mean pahuancha deangi. ah champa! chalo.’’

champa ne usake hath pak d liye. kisi akasmik jhatake ne ek palabhar ke liai donoan ke adharoan ko mila diya. sahasa chaitany hokar champa ne kaha-‘‘budhagupt! mere lie sab bhoomi mitti hai; sab jal taral hai; sab pavan shital hai. koee vishesh akaanksha hriday mean agni ke saman prajvalit nahian. sab milakar mere lie ek shoony hai. priy navik! tum svadesh laut jao, vibhavoan ka sukh bhogane ke lie, aur mujhe, chho d do in nirih bhole-bhale praniyoan ke du:kh ki sahanubhooti aur seva ke lie.’’

‘‘tab maian avashy chala jaooanga, champa! yahaan rahakar maian apane hriday par adhikar rakh sakooan-isamean sandeh hai. ah! un laharoan mean mera vinash ho jay.’’- mahanavik ke uchchhvas mean vikalata thi. phir usane poochha-‘‘tum akeli yahaan kya karogi?’’

‘‘pahale vichar tha ki kabhi-kabhi is dip-stambh par se alok jala kar apane pita ki samadhi ka is jal se anveshan karooangi. kintu dekhati hooan, mujhe bhi isi mean jalana hoga, jaise akash-dip.’’

7

ek din svarn-rahasy ke prabhat mean champa ne apane dip-stambh par se dekha-samudrik navoan ki ek shreni champa ka upakool chho dakar pashchim-uttar ki or maha jal-vyal ke saman santaran kar rahi hai. usaki aankhoan se aansoo bahane lage.

yah kitani hi shatabdiyoan pahale ki katha hai. champa ajivan us dip-stambh mean alok jalati rahi. kintu usake bad bhi bahut din, dipanivasi, us maya-mamata aur sneh-seva ki devi ki samadhi-sadrish pooja karate the.

ek din kal ke kathor hathoan ne use bhi apani chanchalata se gira diya.