उर्वशी -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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vilasat sandhy divakar ki kiranaian mala si.
prakriti gale mean jo khelati hai banamala si..
tuang lasaian girishriang bharyo kanan tarugan te.
jinake bhuj maian arujhi pavanahoo chalat jatan te..
nirbhay au svachchhand jahaan pai khag mrig dolat.
kari nana vidhi khel mel manamane bolat..
kal-kal-nadini svachchh sudha saritahoo sohai.
giri ke garai lagi si jo ati man ko mohai..
barasat amit amand anal sukhama chahu oraian.
vikasat kusuman chitai titai madhukar gan dauraian..
kahooan nikunjan mean koojat kokil kalabani.
papiha karat pukar kahu ko agam jani..
kahooan lol latika par niratat madhukaragan juri.
manju manjari te barasat makarand gandh bhari..
malayanil lahi nav mallika paragahi sukh soan.
bahat sada amod sahit va ban ke rukh soan..

aise ramanik udyan-pradesh ke ghane kanan mean ek chhoti-si paha di par kh da ek tejasvi yuvak vanasthali ki sandhy shobha dekh raha hai. soory ki sunahali kiranean usake mani-mandit kirit aur svarn kavach par rah-rahakar chamak uthati haian. mrigaya se thake hue yuvak ko, chi d ke b de vrikshoan ki ghani chhaya mean aye abhi der nahian huee hai. usake kale baloan ke lachchhe abhi shramavindu baha rahe haian. yuvak bar-bar baloan ko vishal bhal se hatata hua shramavindu poanchh raha hai. dhili pratyancha karake dhanush ko ek vriksh se tika diya hai. tho di door par ek prakand ashv hari-hari doob char raha hai. akasmath ramani-kanth ki krandan-dhvani sun p di. sunate hi art-tran-parayan ary yuvak ka hriday veg se bhar utha. yuvak usi shabd ki or chalate hue bola-‘sugriv’. sanket sunate hi ashv bhi pichhe chala.

kuchh door jane par dekha, jharane ke kinare ek sundari-

dhari komal kar kamal mukh, pag jal bich lalam.
thal jal kamal ikatr kari, baithi shobha dham..
nain bhare mad kai lasaian pyale madhu paripoor.
gandh vidhur ali pootari, manahuan nase mean choor..
sarad chand ki chaandani, saurabh aur suhag.
meli banayo aang ko, nav aravind parag..
sodhean saroj ki mal si charu anang bhare aang haian arasohaian.
dol kapolan pai arunaee amand chhata sukh ki sarasohaian..
diragh kanj se lochan mate rasile unide kahook lajauhaian.
chhootat ban dhare kharasan chadhi rahaian kam kaman si bhauhaian.
jehi chitavat chit jat, bat sune bisarat sabai.
naval lata se gat, phaansi sakai jo tarun ko..

yuvak us naisargik saundary-sagar se tatasth nahian rah saka. samip jakar poochha-‘‘shubhe! yahaan koee pi dit stri thi? jisaka krandan sunakar maian yahaan aya hooan.’’

sundari ne saral bhav se kaha-‘‘bhadr! yahaan to aur koee nahian hai. maian hi yahaan par kuchh ghana kanan dekh kar chhaya sevan kar rahi thi. chhaya mean mujhe vyakti ka bhram hua. strijan-sulabh bhay se akrant hokar maian hi chikh uthi thi. kshama kijie, apako kasht hua. apake ane se raha-saha bhay bhi door hua.’-itana kahakar yuvati ne yuvak ki shaury-vyanjak madhur moorti ko nirnimesh dekh kar ek smit kataksh kiya.

yuvak ne vichalit hokar kaha-‘‘achchha, ab maian jata hooan.’’

bhag 2

udyan-desh ki ramanik shail-mala, ayryavart ki uttar-sima ke phal-phool se lade hue kanan ki shobha, kis netr ko chakit nahian karati. mrigayavihari yuvak raja pururava mugdh hokar ek shilakhand par baithe hue vanashri dekh rahe haian. mrigashavakoan ke samip a jane par bhi bhayanak dhanush ki pratyancha dhili p di hai.

chandroday hua. phir vahi sundari, vanadevi ki tarah manthar gati se usi jharane ke samip aee, jahaan pururava baithe haian. ab sundari ke hath mean ek chhoti-si vina bhi hai. sath mean do sundar meshashavak bhi haian, jo kabhi us yuvati ke age, kabhi pichhe, kabhi usake chinaanshuk ko khianchakar prem jata rahe haian. donoan paraspar saundary ka anubhav karane lage.

suman hot sundar chhavi dham.
nain tahaan pavat vishram..
kar chanchal n akaran hoy.
parasi prasann hot sab koy..
'suman n chhooo kathin kar', kasoan kahiye jay.
inako saurabh door te, paras pay kumhilay..

shant sandhya, nirjan pradesh; prakriti ki saloni chhata aur tis par do udvegapoorn hriday! bhala kaise sthir rah sakate haian? sundari ne chanchal pavan se andolit apane vasanoan ko samhalate hue kaha-‘‘bhadr! yadi ap tho di der ke lie mere pyare mesh-shavakoan ko samhalean, to maian apana vasan samhal looan, phir inhean jal pila dooan. aha! mere bachche pyase haian. maian apaki anugrihit hooangi. uhan, is pavan ne to mujhe aur bhi vyast kar rakha hai.’’

"sanyo sved parag soan vasi manju madhavi kunj.
lalit beli kanpai, mudabhari hiye madhukar punj..
milit parimal parasi hiy ko det anand poori..
basan det u day barasat hai kusum kar dhoori.."

sundari ne is svatantrata se apane ye asanyat vaky kahe ki yuvak-hriday spandit ho chala. pururava ne socha ki is yuvati ka kaisa pragalbh aur poorn vyavahar hai? ghrinit sankoch chhoo nahian gaya hai. kshanik vichar ne pururava ko sansar bhar ki ramaniyoan ke samane us sundari ko uttam pramanit kar diya, aur ekaek vah navin hriday-pragalbha ramani ke roop aur bhav se bhar gaya. yuvak ne mantr-mugdh hokar kaha-‘‘sundari! tumhari is ajna ko maian saharsh svikar karata hooan.’’

vijayini ne hansakar kaha-‘‘hamane in donoan ko bachchoan ki tarah pala hai. kya manushy hi ke bachche sundar hote haian? kya ye pyar karane ke yogy nahian haian? hamare desh ke sab meshashavak aise hi komal aur sundar hote haian.’’

pururava ne agrah se ek meshashavak ko god mean baitha liya. shila-khand par vina rakhakar sundari doosare ko jal pilane lagi. sundari ne pururava par kshan-bhar mean adhikar kar liya.

chir parajit manuj, kahu re kaun sukh ki as?
det sarabas sauanpi, in chir vijayini gan pas.
jinhaian keval hai vinod aher ko dinarain,
kadhi़ komal let hiy nij nain ko kari pain..
tahi nij kar mean nirakhi hansi karat vijay prakas,
pheri pheankat tahi ko jo sahat sahit hulas.
be nisane tir unake dhari amit anand,
nij vilas vinod bas je karat ketik chhand..

pururava ne kaha-‘‘sundari! tumhara parichay prapt karane ke lie chitt chanchal ho raha hai.’’

ramani ne kaha-‘‘chitt chir chanchal hai. usi ki gati rokane ke lie gandharv desh se chalakar sima kanan mean chali aee hooan. maian gandharv-kumari hooan. mujhe log apsara urvashi kahate haian.’’

meshashavak jal pi chuke the. gandharvakumari pururava ke samip hi shila-khand par baith gayi. akritrim vibhram se usane kahana arambh kiya-‘‘sundar yuvak, kya tumhian is desh ke raja ho? jaisa ki tumhara yah mani-jatit dhanush aur svarn kirit batala raha hai. maianne apane desh mean suna tha ki aryavart ke rajakumaroan mean pururava-sa balashali aur sundar koee nahian hai. kya tumhari mukhashri tumhare pururava hone mean sandeh dilati hai? nahian. maianne socha tha ki tumhean dekhane ke lie shailamala se utarakar door jana p dega; par tum mujhe yahian mile. sachamuch tumhean dekhane ke lie parishram karana vyarth n tha. sundar rajakumar! mevoan se lade hue, phooloan se khile hue gandharvadesh ke kanan mean vina bajate hue, mujhe aisa dhyan hota tha ki mere janm ka uddeshy hriday ki prabal vasana ki tripti aryavart ke kisi prant mean hai. priy! kaho, bolo, meri shanka door karo! nahian n karana.’’

pururava-‘‘gandharvakumari! tumane thik socha. maian hi pururava hooan. mrigaya ke lie apani uttar-pashchim sima ke kanan mean chala aya hooan. kintu sundari, tum akeli kyoan ho? kaise yahaan a gayi?’’

‘‘rajan! mera desh, prakriti ka ramaniy udyan hai. maian usamean vina bajati huee svatantr ghooma karati hooan. desh ke raja ka dauratmy badha dekhakar aur tumhari roop-katha sunakar, mujhe idhar chale ane ka sahas hua! rajan! kya maian samany nartaki hone yogy hooan? maian kya doosaroan ke vilas ki samagri banooangi? kya mere hriday mean apana kuchh nahian hai? kya vah doosaroan se kam hai?’’-kahate-kahate urvashi ke mukh par bhishan sundarata jhalakane lagi.

pururava-‘‘kya tum dustar shail-marg mean bhayabhit nahian huee.’’

urvashi-‘‘rajakumar! striyoan ko bhay kahaan. us samay mera krandan aparichit hone ke karan tumhean bulane ka bahana tha. aur hamare yahaan ke draksha mean ras adhik hota hai. ras mean madakata b di tivr hoti hai. aur maian jise apane hath se dene lagooan, vah jab tak bolane ki samathry rahe, nahian nahian kar sakata. samajhe.’’

pururava ne dekha ‘bhayanak saundary’, hriday ab nahian samhal sakata. vyakul hokar kaha-‘‘sundari! kya meri seva svikar hogi?’’

yuvati ab poorn vijay pa chuki thi. ab usaki pariksha aur bhog ka samay aya. hansakar boli-‘‘rajanh , smaran rahe ki meri svatantrata nahian chhini ja sakati. tumhara vistrit rajy hai. meri ichchha tumhean dekhane ki thi, so dekh liya. dekho, tumhara bhayanak dhanush kisi kam ka nahian. ab tumhare oopar daya ati hai. jao, apsari ke pher mean mat p do. maian bhi tumhare roop aur shil ka git vina par gati aur bajati huee chali jaooangi.’’

pururava ne vyagr hokar kaha-‘‘priye! ab daya ki avashyakata nahian. ab tumhara sath maian nahian chho d sakata.’’

urvashi ne is bat ko anasuni karake gana arambh kar diya. vina bajane lagi.

tumhari sabahi nirali bat.
pharakat rahat milan asha mean palakan mean n samat.
roop sudha saravar ki saphari basat nahian dinarat;
pyase hi tu rahat nain tum yah kaisi hai bat?
dekhat hi dekhat din bitat tu n nek aghat;
pyaso pay pivat hai moorakh dooban ko nahian jat.

akash ke jharokhe se andhakar ka parda hatakar surasundariyoan ki tarah taragan jhaankane lage ki chandrama aj kyoan itana hans raha hai?

bhag 3

pramod bhari ye supadmini vrind bhari makarand lagi lalachan.
chitaun lagi nij pitam or rahyo nahian dhir chhutyo sakuchan.
viyogini pit kapol soan chandrakala ab ses lagi darasan.
parag ke puanj se dhoosar aang kali ras laike karaian gan.
pyari oosha ke sukesh kalap mean sohat bhooshan kaiandhoan mani ko.
kai rati kamini ko bharayo lal su hala te pyara hai nilamani ko.
prachi disha barabal ke bhal mean lagyo gulal ko mangal tiko..
kheli ke hori nishank nisha te mayank kadhyo hulasaikai ji ko.

marichimali apani svarnamayi dharaoan se dhara ko sianchane lage haian. sukhad samir apani manthar gati se girishriangoan tatha vrikshoan par p dati huee bhuvanabhaskar ki kiranoan ko vichalit karane ka udyog kar raha hai. kusumit daloan par baithe hue pakshigan apane mridul kanth se prabhat ka yashogan kar rahe haian.

navayauvan, navin samagam mean pulakit, bhog mean doobe hue, vilas-sagar mean tairate hue, ek-doosare ke sahare jharana ke tat par baithe hue pururava aur urvashi hansati huee srishti ka anand le rahe haian. urvashi ke samane chune hue phooloan ka dher hai. pururava use uthakar dete haian, vah un phooloan se ek sundar mala gooanth rahi hai. mala banane par urvashi ne use pururava ko pahana diya. prasannata karate hue unhoanne us mala ko urvashi ke gale mean pahanana chaha, kintu usane pahanane mean apani anichchha prakat ki. pururava virakt hue. kabhi kunjoan mean, kabhi shriangoan par, kabhi jharane par, varsha, sharadh aur vasant ki manohar ratriyoan mean urvashi ka kusum shrriangar karate hue pururava ne barasoan bita diye. aj tak donoan ki ichchha ek thi. ek ke chitt mean kisi kary karane ki prerana hoti, jo doosare ke manonit hota. usi ekagr vritti mean thokar lagane ka yah pahala avasar hai. phir bhi pururava ne kaha-‘‘priye! yah mala tumhare gale mean b di sundar maloom hogi, pahin kyoan nahian leti ho?’’

urvashi ne kaha-‘‘vastu ke sundar hone hi se ham use gale lagane ko badhy nahian haian.’’

pururava ne uttejit hokar kaha-‘‘to phir ham ise nadi mean pheank dete haian. jab tumhean pahanana hi nahian tha to itane parishram se mala banane ki kya avashyakata thi?’’

urvashi ne hansakar kaha-‘‘phooanloan ko sundar dekhakar ikaththa kiya. unaka upayog karane ke lie mala banaee. phir dhyan mean aya ki mala tikaoo nahian hai. phool chhoone se kumhilate haian, unamean kit hote haian, use maian pahanakar kya karooangi. tumhean pahana diya, kyoanki phool dal mean hi achchhe maloom hote haian.’’

pururava apratibh-se ho gaye. unaka vah sab sundar lilamay bhav tirohit ho chala. urvashi yah dekhakar hansi aur usane mala lekar apane gale mean pahan li. kshanik kalah ke bad prem ka nootan sanskaran unhean b da manoram maloom hone laga.

bhag 4

shail shriang ko parasi megh mandali suhavai ;
kari gambhir ninad navin mridang sunave.
hari bhee sab bhoomi hare taruvaragan sohaian;
hari latayean lapati tarun te man ko mohaian.
sukhad suhavan lagat atihi praphulit dhan kanan;
shital bahat samir aho parasat jo pranan.
badhi kanti jag bich yuva hvai prakriti dikhani;
khile kusum ke mis manahuan sundari musukyani.

manohar gupha paha di mean premi ki tarah hriday khole baithi hai. draksha ki lata use ghere hai. shilpi ke hathoan se bane hue chitrit rangamahal mean bhi varsha ka aisa sukh nahian mil sakata, jaisa ki yah parvatiy gupha de rahi hai. pururava ekatak us parvatiy pavas ki shobha dekh rahe haian. hriday kuchh anamana hai. urvashi ke hath mean vina hai, jo surili baj rahi hai. aur urvashi ki kokil-kanth-dhvani bhi usase milakar apoorv samaan baandh rahi hai.

hiyo yah bhayo nadi barasati,
um di padyo kul-kool chhodiqe bhoole sabai sanghati.
nisadin beg badhyo bahibe ko hauans n hiye samati
lapati tarun te patit kiyo vah vikal bhayo lagi chhati.
payo sukh n malinata badhi vahi divas vahi rati.
bhavasagar ke prabal lahar mean dhara nitahi samati. hiyo..

akasmath gandharv-kumari chauank p di. vina usake hath se chhoot p di. pururava ne dekha, to samane ek gandharv yuvak chala a raha hai! yuvak ke hriday ka veg usake mukh par lakshit ho raha hai. yuvak sidha urvashi ke samane akar kh da ho gaya, aur parnasamput mean se ek vanyakusum ki mala nikal, bina ruke hue urvashi ko pahana di, aur bola-‘‘ah! urvashi! kitane dinoan par tumhean dekh paya. aisi malaean maian kahaan nity tumhean pahanata tha, kahaan tumhean khojate-khojate mere pairoan mean chhale p d gaye. nirday! aj ki mala b de chav ki van-phooloan se bani huee tumhean arpan karata hooan. kya yah svikar hogi.’’

pururava ne priya ke nilendivar netroan ko tamaras roop dharan karate hue dekhakar apaman samajha. usi kshan t dillata ke saman asi ko koshadhan se bahar karake k dakakar kaha-‘‘abodh yuvak! too kaun hai jo apani mrityu ko ap hi bulata hai?’’

urvashi ki or dekhate hue hansakar yuvak gandharv ne kaha-‘‘ah! kya ap hi yamaraj haian? itana krodh karane ka karan kya hai?’’

pururava ne kaha-‘‘tumhean mala pahanane ka kya adhikar tha? kya yah tumane ramani ka apaman nahian kiya?’’

yuvak ne kaha-‘‘phooloan ki mala se to urvashi ko moochrchha nahian a sakati. aur maian to aisi mala nity pahanata tha. kyoan urvashi! kya isamean tumhara apaman hua?’’

urvashi se is tarah batean karate hue dekhakar pururava apane krodh ko sanvaran nahian kar sake. ‘‘savadhan’’ kahate hue asi-praharodyat ho gaye. yuva bhi sridridh hast mean asi grahan karake yuddh mean sannaddh hua. ghat-pratyaghat hone lage.

bhare krodh jal jalad yug, bhirat karat aghat;

bijjulata si asi yugal, lapati-lapati chhuti jat.

aryavir ke prabal hathoan ka veg gandharvayuvak sahan nahian kar saka. kandhe par gahara hath baithane par vah gir p da. urvashi se ab nahian raha gaya. ‘‘bechara keyoorak!’’ kahakar use uthane lagi. talavar poanchhate hue pururava virakt hokar vahaan se chal p de. shighrata ke karan samip ke meshashavak ka dhyan n raha. pair se usaki pooanchh dab gayi. shavak chilla utha. kuchh dhyan n karake pururava chale gaye. gandharvabala ka unnat hriday tivratar ho gaya. vah keyoorak ka ghav dhone lagi.

pururava ko shail-shilaean komal ya kathor nahian maloom hoti haian. jidhar pair uthata hai, udhar chale ja rahe haian. meghamandali-mandit ek ooanche shriang par, jahaan se indradhanush nikala hua hai, ek sundari ka sajiv chitr dikhaee p da. dhire-dhire usaki svar-lahari gooanjane lagi-

‘‘kyoan birag dharat anuragi milo bhayo sukh kyoan tyagai?
kha le pi le mauj mana le moh niand te kyoan jagai?
suman kunj mean vina sundar mukh jo prem sahit bolai;
moorakh hai jo svapn lok hit tahi chhabine kau dolai.

pururava ka hriday kuchh naram ho chala. ve palate. dekha to apane parvatiy prakoshth mean gandharv-kumari baithi hai. usaka kaushey vasan ast-vyast hai. kuntal bikhare hue haian. pururava pas baithakar use sulajhane lage.

aj draksha-mandap mean gandharvabala pushpabharan-bhooshita hokar baithi hai. hath mean chhoti vina hai. keyoorak ke ghav achchhe ho chale haian. vah bhi samane baitha hai. urvashi ki or dekh kar nishvas lekar bola-‘‘priye! shaishav-sahachar ko kya tum aisa bhool jaogi? kya tumhean kuchh daya nahian hai?’’

‘‘he ras megh n dravat vari kyoan mit;
ashalata nirakhi ham hot sabhit.
tohi n avat daya suhiya kathor;
birah tapavat aangahi nishi aru bhor.
prem-tirth mean karike majjan asu ;
bhaye tript nahian ajahooan, bujhi n pyas.’’

urvashi ne vina par thokar marate hue usi chhand mean gana arambh kiya-

‘‘are pathik yah soee upavan kunj;
jamean bhooli dharai nahian pag alipunj.
chitr kalpane! alisam mat gunjar;
yahian taru mean nahian hot sukusumit dar.
chandr vahai, yah ahai lakhai n chakor;
kumudini bikasit hoy n lakhi yahi or.
yah vah chumbak ahai jo nij te daur;
lapatat loha ke sang ati barajor.
alankar yah vahai rahai dhuni hin;
yah vah nav ras ahai ju sab ras chhin.
yadi upavan mean rahai pavan kahuan nahian;
ya marut ke lage kali murajhahian.
priyahian chahai to sikhai nehu suniti;
sukh du:kh sabahi sahai lahai tab priti.
pathik dhir dhari chaliye path ati door;
hvai katibaddh sada saneh mean choor.’’

git band ho chuka hai ; kintu svaralahari abhi gooanj rahi hai. nirnimesh keyoorak aur urvashi anyony dekh rahe haian. pururava ne vahaan akar is navin lila ko dekha. keyoorak ko dekhate hi talavar apane kosh mean jhanajhana uthi; par hriday ne use rok diya. pururava ne kaha-‘‘urvashi! aj to adh‌bhut roop hai. aur, saman bhi sab naye haian. tumhari yah chhata! yugal jo di ki manohar lila darshaniy hai.’’

urvashi tanakar kh di ho gee. kaha-‘‘haan rajakumar! yah mera shaishav sahachar hai. ek din maian ise chahati thi. aj yah tumhare hathoan se ahat hua hai, to kya maian isaki tho di-si shushrusha bhi nahian kar sakati. saik doan bar isane mere liye apane pranoan ki bazi laga di hai.’’ kahate-kahate urvashi ka kanth-svar sabal ho chala. phir kar usane keyoorak se kaha-‘‘keyoorak, tum yahaan se hat jao.’’ mantramugdh ki tarah keyoorak vahaan se chala. pururava vahian baith gaye. urvashi bhi tho di der mean uthakar samip ke aram mean chali gee.

pururava usi draksha-mandap mean baithe haian. bhayanak dhanush ki pratyancha dhili ho gee hai, bechari ki kaun khoj kare. pururava ko abhi tak urvashi ke baloan ke sulajhane se avasar hi nahian mila. varsha ki ratri ne apana adhikar dhire-dhire phailaya. pururava ke bhitar bhi andhera hai aur bahar bhi; unhean parinam chintavyagr kiye hai. apsara urvashi ke pher mean p de hue pururava ko ab nikalana dustar hai. abhi tak vah inaki vasana ke pratyek veg ko saralata se ek or baha deti thi. pururava ko unaki avastha sachet kar rahi hai, phir bhi ve lachar haian. garvit-hriday ko ekadhipaty se vanchit hone ka anubhav hone laga. phir bhi ve sukh ki asha mean hriday ko sukhane lage. jyoan-jyoan antaratma virakt hone lagi, apane anand mean vishvas ghatane laga. lalasa badhऩe lagi. ab unhean bank bhauanh vali apsara urvashi ko apane vash mean rakhane ki utkantha vyagr kiye hai. vichar karate-karate nishithini aur gadhi nilima mean rang gee.

akasmath urvashi dau di aee aur boli-‘‘is bhiru manushy ke bharose maian mari gee. ab maian kya karooan?’’

pururava uth kh de hue aur bole-‘‘bat kya hai? sunooan bhi?’’

urvashi ne kaha-‘‘mere pyare bachche.....’’

shighrata se pururava bole-‘‘haan haan, to unhean kya hua?’’

urvashi ne sisakate hue kaha-‘‘gandharv keyoorak donoan ko utha le gaya.’’

pururava ne poochha-‘‘vah kidhar gaya?’’

urvashi ne jidhar sanket kiya, talavar khianchakar pururava udhar hi chal p de.

uttariy parvatoan ka prabhat, oosha ki aspasht moorti, pururava ke ramanik vilas-kanan mean aj kuchh adh‌bhut pratit hoti hai. chinta-jagaran se urvashi ki alas-kalit chhata darshaniy hai, prabhat-kalpa rajani ki tarah vah bhi kshin-prabha ho rahi hai. phir bhi kabhi-kabhi antarik bhavoan se usaka mukh prachi ki tarah araktim ho jata hai.

apani vina bajakar vah gane lagi-

‘‘madhukar! bit chali ab rat,
shishir kalit yah kundakali hooan, phooli n aang samat.
ab to chho d du:kh guanjaran avasar ki sab bat;
asha arun kiran mala si prachi mean darasat.’’

vipanchi svar mean mohit mrig ki tarah pururava a pahuanche, unhean dekhate hi urvashi ne poochha-‘‘mile?’’

udas hokar dhanush aur toonir pheankate hue pururava ne kaha-‘‘abhi tak nahian.’’

abhi ve baithe bhi nahian the ki urvashi tamakakar kh di ho gee, aur boli-‘‘achchha, to ab maian hi jati hooan, keyoorak aur apane pyare bachchoan ko khoj looangi?’’

pururava ne kaha-‘‘kya mujhase bhi ve mesh-shavak pyare haian? jo tum unake lie mujhe chho dakar chali jaogi?’’

urvashi ne dridh hokar kaha-‘‘maian to unhean dekhe bina nahian rah sakati. avashy jaooangi.’’

‘‘samujh lee sab bat, prem niti nibahi bhali.

aur n kije ghat, kari suni ki hi kari.’’

pururava ne gadgadh kanth se kaha-‘‘kya mere aur tumhare prem ka yahi parinam tha?’’

urvashi ne gambhir hansi ke sath kaha-

‘‘dipak aur patang ke, prem kiye phal kaun?
jari nij jarat pas mean, avat aurahuan jaun.’’

aur bhi-

‘‘neh jaravat duhun ko, dipak aur patang;
jaribo aur jaraibo, yahi rahat umang.

pururava ne vyakul hokar-‘‘kya tumhean mere prem ka vishvas nahian? tikhi sura ki tarah tumhari chah ‘‘aur lao’’ ki pukar macha rahi hai, bhala tumhari tripti kaise ho?’’

urvashi ne kaha-‘‘tumhean dhokha hua, aur meri bhool thi. maianne samajha ki tumhean manonukool bana looangi aur tumhean prem ka lalach tha.’’

pururava ne kaha-‘‘gandharv kumari! hamane tumhean b de pyare adhe gaye hue git ki tarah smaran kiya hai.’’

urvashi ne tikhepan se kaha-‘‘use bhool jao.’’

ni:shvas lete hue pururava ne kaha-‘‘jivan ki pahali garmi mean tumhean himajal ka patr samajha tha.’’

‘‘vah bhram tha’’-usi svar mean urvashi ne kaha.

pururava ne uttejit hokar kaha-‘‘to yah bhram sada ke lie phailega. kitani kumari aur kumaroan ka isase nash hoga.’’

urvashi aur tan gee aur boli-‘‘yah to hovega hi. maian to pahale hi kah chuki hooan ki maian svatantr hooan. isi svatantrata ko chhinane ke lie age chalakar anek kathor niyam baneange, b de-b de pralobhan aur b di-b di dhamakiyaan hoangi, phir bhi yah hamara dal bana rahega aur svatantr rahega. maian bhi svatantr rahooangi. mere pichhe n p do. ham logoan ka hriday bhe diyoan se bhi bhayanak hai. ab jao, rajy mean bahut se sukh tumhari asha mean haian.’’

pururava ne usaka hath pak dakar kaha-‘‘nirday, nishthur, kya yahi pranay-parinam hai.’’

urvashi jhatake se hath chhu dakar moh-nisha ki tarah chali gee. andhakar ki tarah keshabhar pichhe p de the. pururava ne kshanik vyamoh ke bad dekha ki bhagavanh bhuvan-bhaskar arun rag se sari dhara ko plavit kar rahe haian. prakriti sushamasaheli ko sath lekar makarand aur phooloan ka argh de rahi hai. pururava sab bhool gaye. unaka hriday, bhitar bhi usi alok se alokit ho gaya. vishvabhar us saundary se bhar utha.