मर्यादा की वेदी- प्रेमचंद

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

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yah vah samay tha jab chittau d mean mridubhashini mira pyari atmaoan ko eeshvar-prem ke pyale pilati thi. ranachho d ji ke mandir mean jab bhakti se vihval ho kar vah apane madhur svaroan mean apane piyooshapoorit padoan ko gati to shrotagan premanurag se unmatt ho jate. pratidin yah svargiy anand uthane ke lie sare chittau d ke log aise utsuk ho kar dau date jaise din bhar ki pyasi gayean door se kisi sarovar ko dekh kar usaki or dau dati haian. is prem-sudha-sagar se keval chittau davasiyoan hi ki tripti n hoti thi balki samast rajapootana ki marubhoomi plavit ho jati thi.

ek bar aisa sanyog hua ki jhalava d ke ravasahab aur mandar rajy ke kumar donoan hi lav-lashkar ke sath chittau d aye. ravasahab ke sath rajakumari prabha bhi thi jisake roop aur gun ki door-door tak charcha thi. yahian ranachho d ji ke mandir mean donoan ki aankhean milian. prem ne ban chalaya.

rajakumar sare din udasin bhav se shahar ki galiyoan mean ghooma karata. rajakumari virah se vyathit apane mahal ke jharokhoan se jhaanka karati. donoan vyakul ho kar sandhya samay mandir mean ate aur yahaan chandr ko dekh kar kumudini khil jati.

prem-pravin mira ne kee bar in donoan premiyoan ko satrishn netroan se paraspar dekhate hue pa kar unake man ke bhavoan ko ta d liya. ek din kirttan ke pashchath jab jhalava d ke ravasahab chalane lage to usane mandar ke rajakumar ko bula kar unake samane kh da kar diya aur kaha-ravasahab maian prabha ke lie var layi hooan ap ise svikar kijie.

prabha lajja se g d-si gayi. rajakumar ke gun-shil par ravasahab pahale hi se mohit ho rahe the unhoanne turant use chhati se laga liya.

usi avasar par chittau d ke rana bhojaraj ji mandir mean aye. unhoanne prabha ka mukh-chandr dekha. unaki chhati par saanp lotane laga.

2

jhalava d mean b di dhoom thi. rajakumari prabha ka aj vivah hoga. mandar se barat ayegi. mehamanoan ki seva-samman ki taiyariyaan ho rahi thian. dookanean saji huee thian. naubatakhane amodalap se gooanjate the. s dakoan par sugandhi chhi daki jati thi attalikaean pushp-lataoan se shobhayaman thian. par jisake lie ye sab taiyariyaan ho rahi thian vah apani vatika ke ek vriksh ke niche udas baithi huee ro rahi thi.

ranivas mean dominiyaan anandotsav ke git ga rahi thian. kahian suandariyoan ke hav-bhav the kahian abhooshanoan ki chamak-damak kahian has-parihas ki bahar. nain bat-bat par tej hoti thi. malin garv se phooli n samati thi. dhobin aankhean dikhati thi. kumharin matake ke sadrish phooli huee thi. mandap ke niche purohit ji bat-bat par suvarn-mudraoan ke lie thunakate the. rani sir ke bal khole bhookhi-pyasi charoan or dau dati thi. sabaki bauchharean sahati thi aur apane bhagy ko sarahati thi. dil khol kar hire-javahir luta rahi thi. aj prabha ka vivah hai. b de bhagy se aisi batean sunane mean ati haian. sabake sab apani-apani dhun mean mast haian. kisi ko prabha ki fikr nahian hai jo vriksh ke niche akeli baithi ro rahi hai.

ek ramani ne a kar nain se kaha-bahut badh-badh kar batean n kar kuchh rajakumari ka bhi dhyan hai chal unake bal gooanth.

nain ne daantoan tale jibh dabayi. donoan prabha ko dhooandhati huee bag mean pahuanchian. prabha ne unhean dekhate hi aansoo poanchh dale. nain motiyoan se maang bharane lagi aur prabha sir nicha kiye aankhoan se moti barasane lagi.

ramani ne sajal netr ho kar kaha-bahin dil itana chhota mat karo. muanhamaangi murad pa kar itani udas kyoan hoti ho

prabha ne saheli ki or dekh kar kaha-bahin jane kyoan dil baitha jata hai. saheli ne chhe d kar kaha-piya-milan ki bekali hai !

prabha udasin bhav se boli-koee mere man mean baitha kah raha hai ki ab unase mulakat n hogi.

saheli usake kesh sanvar kar boli-jaise ushakal se pahale kuchh aandhera ho jata hai usi prakar milap ke pahale premiyoan ka man adhir ho jata hai.

prabha boli-nahian bahin yah bat nahian. mujhe shakun achchhe nahian dikhayi dete. aj din bhar meri aankh ph dakati rahi. rat ko maianne bure svapn dekhe haian. mujhe shanka hoti hai ki aj avashy koee n koee vighn p danevala hai. tum raja bhojaraj ko janati ho n

sandhya ho gayi. akash par taroan ke dipak jale. jhalava d mean boodhe-javan sabhi log barat ki agavani ke lie taiyar hue. maradoan ne pagean sanvarian shastr saje. yuvatiyaan shrriangar kar gati-bajati ranivas ki or chalian. hajaroan striyaan chhat par baithi barat ki rah dekh rahi thian.

achanak shor macha ki barat a gayi. log sanbhal baithe naga doan par chotean p dane lagian salamiyaan dagane lagian. javanoan ne gho doan ko e d lagayi. ek kshan mean savaroan ki ek sena rajabhavan ke samane a kar kh di ho gayi. logoan ko dekh kar b da ashchary hua kyoanki yah mandar ki barat nahian thi balki rana bhojaraj ki sena thi.

jhalava davale abhi vismit kh de hi the kuchh nishchay n kar sake the ki kya karana chahie. itane mean chittau davaloan ne rajabhavan ko gher liya. tab jhalava di bhi sachet hue. sanbhal kar talavarean khianch lian aur akramanakariyoan par toot p de. raja mahal mean ghus gaya. ranivas mean bhagad d mach gayi.

prabha solaho shrriangar kiye saheliyoan ke sath baithi thi. yah halachal dekhakar ghab dayi. itane mean ravasahab haanphate hue aye aur bole-beti prabha rana bhojaraj ne hamare mahal ko gher liya hai. tum chatapat oopar chali jao aur dvar ko band kar lo. agar ham kshatriy haian to ek chittau di bhi yahaan se jita n jayaga.

ravasahab bat bhi poori n karane paye the ki rana kee viroan ke sath a pahuanche aur bole-chittau davale to sir katane ke lie aye hi haian. par yadi ve rajapoot haian to rajakumari ko le kar hi jayeange. vriddh ravasahab ki aankhoan se jvala nikalane lagi. ve talavar khianch kar rana par jhapate. unhoanne var bacha liya aur prabha se kaha-rajakumari hamare sath chalogi

prabha sir jhukaye rana ke samane a kar boli-haan chalooangi.

ravasahab ko kee adamiyoan ne pak d liya tha. ve t dap kar bole-prabha too rajapoot ki kanya hai

prabha ki aankhean sajal ho gayian. boli-rana bhi to rajapootoan ke kulatilak haian. ravasahab ne krodh mean a kar kaha-nirlajja !

katar ke niche p da hua balidan ka pashu jaisi din drishti se dekhata hai usi bhaanti prabha ne ravasahab ki or dekh kar kaha-jis jhalava d ki god mean pali hooan kya use rakt se rangava dooan

ravasahab ne krodh se kaanp kar kaha-kshatriyoan ko rakt itana pyara nahian hota. maryada par pran dena unaka dharm hai !

tab prabha ki aankhean lal ho gayian. chehara tamatamane laga.

boli-rajapoot-kanya apane satitv ki raksha ap kar sakati hai. isake lie rudhir pravah ki avashyakata nahian.

pal bhar mean rana ne prabha ko god mean utha liya. bijali ki bhaanti jhapat kar bahar nikale. unhoanne use gho de par bitha liya ap savar ho gaye aur gho de ko u da diya. any chittau diyoan ne bhi gho doan ki bagean mo d dian usake sau javan bhoomi par p de t dap rahe the par kisi ne talavar n uthayi thi.

rat ko das baje mandaravale bhi pahuanche. magar yah shok-samachar pate hi laut gaye. mandar-kumar nirasha se achet ho gaya. jaise rat ko nadi ka kinara sunasan ho jata hai usi tarah sari rat jhalava d mean sannata chhaya raha.

3

chittau d ke rang-mahal mean prabha udas baithi samane ke sundar paudhoan ki pattiyaan gin rahi thi. sandhya ka samay tha. rang-birang ke pakshi vrikshoan par baithe kalarav kar rahe the. itane mean rana ne kamare mean pravesh kiya. prabha uth kar kh di ho gayi.

rana bole-prabha maian tumhara aparadhi hooan. maian balapoorvak tumhean mata-pita ki god se chhin laya par yadi maian tumase kahooan ki yah sab tumhare prem se vivash ho kar maianne kiya to tum man mean hansogi aur kahogi ki yah nirale anoothe dhang ki priti hai par vastav mean yahi bat hai. jabase maianne ranachho d ji ke mandir mean tumako dekha tab se ek kshan bhi aisa nahian bita ki maian tumhari sudhi mean vikal n raha hoooan. tumhean apanane ka any koee upay hota to maian kadapi is pashavik dhang se kam n leta. maianne ravasahab ki seva mean baranbar sandeshe bheje par unhoanne hamesha meri upeksha ki. aant mean jab tumhare vivah ki avadhi a gayi aur maianne dekha ki ek hi din mean tum doosare ki prem-patri ho jaogi aur tumhara dhyan karana bhi meri atma ko dooshit karega to lachar hokar mujhe yah aniti karani p di. maian manata hooan ki yah sarvatha meri svarthandhata hai. maianne apane prem ke samane tumhare manogat bhavoan ko kuchh n samajha par prem svayan ek badhi huee svarthaparata hai jab manushy ko apane priyatam ke sivay aur kuchh nahian soojhata. mujhe poora vishvas tha ki maian apane vinit bhav aur prem se tumako apana looanga. prabha pyas se marata hua manushy yadi kisi gadhe mean muanh dal de to vah dand ka bhagi nahian hai. maian prem ka pyasa hooan. mira meri sahadharmini hai. usaka hriday prem ka agadh sagar hai. usaka ek chulloo bhi mujhe unmatt karane ke lie kafi tha par jis hriday mean eeshvar ka vas ho vahaan mere lie sthan kahaan tum shayad kahogi ki yadi tumhare sir par prem ka bhoot savar tha to kya sare rajapootane mean striyaan n thian. nissandeh rajapootane mean sundarata ka abhav nahian hai aur n chittau dadhipati ki or se vivah ki batachit kisi ke anadar ka karan ho sakati hai par isaka javab tum ap hi ho. isaka dosh tumhare hi oopar hai. rajasthan mean ek hi chittau d hai ek hi rana aur ek hi prabha. sambhav hai mere bhagy mean premanand bhogana n likha ho. yah maian apane karm-lekh ko mitane ka tho da-sa prayatn kar raha hooan parantu bhagy ke adhin baithe rahana purushoan ka kam nahian hai. mujhe isamean saphalata hogi ya nahian isaka phaisala tumhare hath hai.

prabha ki aankhean zamin ki taraph thian aur man phudakanevali chi diya ki bhaanti idhar-udhar u data phirata tha. vah jhalava d ko marakat se bachane ke lie rana ke sath ayi thi magar rana ke prati usake hriday mean krodh ki tarangean uth rahi thian. usane socha tha ki ve yahaan ayeange to unhean rajapoot kul-kalank anyayi durachari duratma kayar kah kar unaka garv choor-choor kar dooangi. usako vishvas tha ki yah apaman unase n saha jayaga aur ve mujhe balath apane kaboo mean lana chaheange. is aantim samay ke lie usane apane hriday ko khoob mazaboot aur apani katar ko khoob tej kar rakha tha. usane nishchay kar liya tha ki isaka ek var un par hoga doosara apane kaleje par aur is prakar yah pap-kaand samapt ho jayaga. lekin rana ki namrata unaki karunatmak vivechana aur unake vinit bhav ne prabha ko shaant kar diya. ag pani se bujh jati hai. rana kuchh der vahaan baithe rahe phir uth kar chale gaye.

4

prabha ko chittau d mean rahate do mahine gujar chuke haian. rana usake pas phir n aye. is bich mean unake vicharoan mean kuchh aantar ho gaya hai. jhalava d par akraman hone ke pahale mirabaee ko isaki bilakul khabar n thi. rana ne is prastav ko gupt rakha tha. kiantu ab mirabaee prayah unhean is duragrah par lajjit kiya karati hai aur dhire-dhire rana ko bhi vishvas hone laga hai ki prabha is tarah kaboo mean nahian a sakati. unhoanne usake sukh-vilas ki samagri ekatr karane mean koee kasar nahian rakh chho di thi. lekin prabha unaki taraph aankh utha kar bhi nahian dekhati. rana prabha ki lauandiyoan se nity ka samachar poochha karate haian aur unhean roj vahi nirashapoorn vrittaant sunayi deta hai. murajhayi huee kali kisi bhaanti nahian khilati. atev unako kabhi-kabhi apane is dussahas par pashchattap hota hai. ve pachhatate haian ki maianne vyarth hi yah anyay kiya. lekin phir prabha ka anupam sauandary netroan ke samane a jata hai aur vah apane man ko is vichar se samajha lete haian ki ek sagarva suandari ka prem itani jaldi parivartit nahian ho sakata. nissandeh mera mridu vyavahar bhi kabhi n kabhi apana prabhav dikhalayega.

prabha sare din akeli baithi-baithi ukatati aur jhuanjhalati thi. usake vinod ke nimitt kee ganevali striyaan niyukt thian kiantu rag-rang se use aruchi ho gayi. vah pratikshan chiantaoan mean doobi rahati thi.

rana ke namr bhashan ka prabhav ab mit chuka tha aur usaki amanushik vritti ab phir apane yatharth roop mean dikhayi dene lagi thi. vakchaturata shaantikarak nahian hoti. vah keval niruttar kar deti hai. prabha ko ab apane avakh ho jane par ashchary hota hai. use rana ki batoan ke uttar bhi soojhane lage haian. vah kabhi-kabhi unase l d kar apani kismat ka phaisala karane ke lie vikal ho jati hai.

magar ab vad-vivad kis kam ka vah sochati hai ki maian ravasahab ki kanya hooan par sansar ki drishti mean rana ki rani ho chuki. ab yadi maian is kaid se chhoot bhi jaooan to mere lie kahaan thikana hai maian kaise muanh dikhaooangi isase keval mere vansh ka hi nahian varanh samast rajapoot-jati ka nam doob jayaga. mandar-kumar mere sachche premi haian. magar kya ve mujhe aangikar karegean aur yadi ve nianda ki paravah n karake mujhe grahan bhi kar lean to unaka mastak sada ke lie nicha ho jayaga aur kabhi n kabhi unaka man meri taraph se phir jayaga. ve mujhe apane kul ka kalank samajhane lageange. ya yahaan se kisi tarah bhag jaooan lekin bhag kar jaooan kahaan bap ke ghar vahaan ab meri paith nahian. mandar-kumar ke pas isamean unaka apaman hai aur mera bhi. to kya bhikharini ban jaooan isamean bhi jag-hansaee hogi aur n jane prabal bhavi kis marg par le jay. ek abala stri ke lie suandarata pranaghatak yantr se kam nahian. eeshvar vah din n aye ki maian kshatriy-jati ka kalank banooan. kshatriy-jati ne maryada ke lie pani ki tarah rakt bahaya hai. unaki hajaroan deviyaan par-purush ka muanh dekhane ke bhay se sookhi lak di ke saman jal mari haian. eeshvar vah gh di n aye ki mere karan kisi rajapoot ka sir lajja se nicha ho. nahian maian isi kaid mean mar jaooangi. rana ke anyay sahooangi jalooangi marooangi par isi ghar mean. vivah jisase hona tha ho chuka. hriday mean usaki upasana karooangi par kanth ke bahar usaka nam n nikalooangi.

ek din jhuanjhala kar usane rana ko bula bheja. ve aye. unaka chehara utara tha. ve kuchh chiantit-se the. prabha kuchh kahana chahati thi par unaki soorat dekh kar use un par daya a gayi. unhoanne use bat karane ka avasar n de kar svayan kahana shuroo kiya.

prabha tumane aj mujhe bulaya hai. yah mera saubhagy hai. tumane meri sudhi to li magar yah mat samajho ki maian mridu-vani sunane ki asha le kar aya hooan. nahian maian janata hooan jisake lie tumane mujhe bulaya hai. yah lo tumhara aparadhi tumhare samane kh da hai. use jo dand chaho do. mujhe ab tak ane ka sahas n hua. isaka karan yahi dand-bhay tha. tum kshatrani ho aur kshatraniyaan kshama karana nahian janatian. jhalava d mean jab tum mere sath ane par svayan udyat ho gayian to maianne usi kshan tumhare jauhar parakh liye. mujhe maloom ho gaya ki tumhara hriday bal aur vishvas se bhara hua hai. use kaboo mean lana sahaj nahian. tum nahian janatian ki yah ek mas maianne kis tarah kata hai. t dap-t dap kar mar raha hooan par jis tarah shikari biphari huee sianhani ke sammukh jane se darata hai vahi dasha meri thi. maian kee bar aya. yahaan tumako udas tyauriyaan chadhaye baithe dekha. mujhe aandar pair rakhane ka sahas n hua magar aj maian bina bulaya mehaman nahian hooan. tumane mujhe bulaya hai aur tumhean apane mehaman ka svagat karana chahie. hriday se n sahi-jahaan agni prajvalit ho vahaan thandak kahaan-batoan hi se sahi apane bhavoan ko daba kar hi sahi mehaman ka svagat karo. sansar mean shatru ka adar mitroan se bhi adhik kiya jata hai.

prabha ek kshan ke lie krodh ko shaant karo aur mere aparadhoan par vichar karo. tum mere oopar yahi dosharopan kar sakati ho ki maian tumhean mata-pita ki god se chhin laya. tum janati ho krishna bhagavanh rukmini ko har laye the. rajapootoan mean yah koee nayi bat nahian hai. tum kahogi isase jhalava davaloan ka apaman hua par aisa kahana kadapi thik nahian. jhalava davaloan ne vahi kiya jo mardoan ka dharm tha. unaka purusharth dekh kar ham chakit ho gaye. yadi ve kritakary nahian hue to yah unaka dosh nahian hai. viroan ki sadaiv jit nahian hoti. ham isalie saphal hue ki hamari sankhya adhik thi aur is kam ke lie taiyar ho kar gaye the. ve nishshank the is karan unaki har huee. yadi ham vahaan se shighr hi pran bacha kar bhag n ate to hamari gati vahi hoti jo ravasahab ne kahi thi. ek bhi chittau di n bachata. lekin eeshvar ke lie yah mat socho ki maian apane aparadh ke dooshan ko mitana chahata hooan. nahian mujhase aparadh hua hai aur maian hriday se us par lajjit hooan. par ab to jo kuchh hona tha ho chuka. ab is big de hue khel ko maian tumhare oopar chho data hooan. yadi mujhe tumhare hriday mean koee sthan mile to maian use svarg samajhooanga. doobate hue ko tinake ka sahara bhi bahut hai. kya yah sanbhav hai

prabha boli-nahian.

rana-jhalava d jana chahati ho

prabha-nahian.

rana-mandar ke rajakumar ke pas bhej dooan

prabha-kadapi nahian.

rana-lekin mujhase yah tumhara kudhana dekha nahian jata.

prabha-ap is kasht se shighr hi mukt ho jayange.

rana ne bhayabhit drishti se dekh kar kaha jaisi tumhari ichchha aur ve vahaan se uth kar chale gaye.

5

das baje rat ka samay tha. ranachho d ji ke mandir mean kirtan samapt ho chuka tha aur vaishnav sadhu baithe hue prasad pa rahe the. mira svayan apane hath se thal la-la kar unake age rakhati thi. sadhuoan aur abhyagatoan ke adar-satkar mean us devi ko atmik anand prapt hota tha. sadhugan jis prem se bhojan karate the usase yah shanka hoti thi ki svadapoorn vastuoan mean kahian bhakti-bhajan se bhi adhik sukh to nahian hai. yah siddh ho chuka hai ki eeshvar ki di huee vastuoan ka sadupayog hi eeshvaropasana ki mukhy riti hai. isilie ye mahatma log upasana ke aise achchhe avasaroan ko kyoan khote ve kabhi pet par hath pherate aur kabhi asan badalate the. muanh se nahian kahana to ve ghor pap ke saman samajhate the. yah bhi mani huee bat hai ki jaisi vastuoan ka ham sevan karate haian vaisi hi atma bhi banati hai. isalie ve mahatmagan ghi aur khoye se udar ko khoob bhar rahe the.

par unhian mean ek mahatma aise bhi the jo aankhean band kiye dhyan mean magn the. thal ki or takate bhi n the. inaka nam premanand tha. ye aj hi aye the. inake chehare par kaanti jhalakati thi. any sadhu kha kar uth gaye parantu unhoanne thal chhua bhi nahian.

mira ne hath jo d kar kaha-maharaj apane prasad ko chhua bhi nahian. dasi se koee aparadh to nahian hua

sadhu-nahian ichchha nahian thi.

mira-par meri vinay apako manani p degi.

sadhu-maian tumhari ajna ka palan karooanga to tumako bhi meri ek bat manani hogi.

mira-kahie kya ajna hai.

sadhu-manani p degi.

mira-manooangi.

sadhu-vachan deti ho

mira-vachan deti hooan ap prasad payean.

mirabaee ne samajha tha ki sadhu koee mandir banavane ya koee yajn poorn kara dene ki yachana karega. aisi batean nityaprati hua hi karati thian aur mira ka sarvasv sadhu-seva ke lie arpit tha parantu usake lie sadhu ne aisi koee yachana n ki. vah mira ke kanoan ke pas muanh le ja kar bola-aj do ghante ke bad rajabhavan ka chor daravaza khol dena.

mira vismit ho kar boli-ap kaun haian

sadhu-mandar ka rajakumar.

mira ne rajakumar ko sir se paanv tak dekha. netroan mean adar ki jagah ghrina thi. kaha-rajapoot yoan chhal nahian karate.

rajakumar-yah niyam us avastha ke lie hai jab donoan paksh saman shakti rakhate hoan.

mira-aisa nahian ho sakata.

rajakumar-apane vachan diya hai usaka palan karana hoga.

mira-maharaj ki ajna ke samane mere vachan ka koee mahattv nahian.

rajakumar-maian yah kuchh nahian janata. yadi apako apane vachan ki kuchh bhi maryada rakhani hai to use poora kijie.

mira-(soch kar) mahal mean ja kar kya karoge

rajakumar-nayi rani se do-do batean.

mira chianta mean vilin ho gayi. ek taraph rana ki k di ajna thi aur doosari taraph apana vachan aur usaka palan karane ka parinam. kitani hi pauranik ghatanaean usake samane a rahi thian. dasharath ne vachan palane ke lie apane priy putr ko vanavas de diya. maian vachan de chuki hooan. use poora karana mera param dharm hai lekin pati ki ajna ko kaise todooan yadi unaki ajna ke viruddh karati hooan to lok aur paralok donoan big date haian. kyoan n unase spasht kah dooan. kya ve meri yah prarthana svikar n kareange maianne aj tak unase kuchh nahian maanga. aj unase yah dan magooangi. kya ve mere vachan ki maryada ki raksha n kareange unaka hriday kitana vishal hai ! nissandeh ve mujh par vachan to dane ka dosh n lagane deange.

is tarah man mean nishchay karake vah boli-kab khol dooan

rajakumar ne uchhal kar kaha-adhi rat ko.

mira-maian svayan tumhare sath chalooangi.

rajakumar-kyoan

mira-tumane mere sath chhal kiya hai. mujhe tumhara vishvas nahian hai.

rajakumar ne lajjit ho kar kaha-achchha to ap dvar par kh di rahiyega.

mira-yadi phir koee daga kiya to jan se hath dhona p dega.

rajakumar-maian sab kuchh sahane ke lie taiyar hooan.

6

mira yahaan se rana ki seva mean pahuanchi. ve usaka bahut adar karate the. ve kh de ho gaye. is samay mira ka ana ek asadharan bat thi. unhoanne poochha-baee ji kya ajna hai

mira-apase bhiksha maangane ayi hooan. nirash n kijiega. maianne aj tak apase koee vinati nahian ki par aj ek brahm-phaans mean phans gayi hooan. isamean se mujhe ap hi nikal sakate haian mandar ke rajakumar ko to ap janate haian

rana-haan achchhi tarah.

mira-aj usane mujhe b da dhokha diya. ek vaishnav mahatma ka roop dharan kar ranachho d ji ke mandir mean aya aur usane chhal karake mujhe vachan dene par badhy kiya. mera sahas nahian hota ki usaki kapat vinay apase kahooan.

rana-prabha se mila dene ko to kaha

mira-ji haan usaka abhipray vahi hai. lekin saval yah hai ki maian adhi rat ko rajamahal ka gupt dvar khol dooan. maianne use bahut samajhaya bahut dhamakaya par vah kisi bhaanti n mana. nidan vivash ho kar jab maianne kah diya tab usane prasad paya ab mere vachan ki laj apake hath hai. ap chahe use poora karake mera man rakhean chahe use to d kar mera man to d dean. ap mere oopar jo kripadrishti rakhate haian usi ke bharose maianne vachan diya. ab mujhe is phande se ubarana apaka kam hai.

rana kuchh der soch kar bole-tumane vachan diya hai usaka palan karana mera karttavy hai. tum devi ho tumhare vachan nahian tal sakate. dvar khol do. lekin yah uchit nahian hai ki vah akele prabha se mulakat kare. tum svayan usake sath jana. meri khatir se itana kasht uthana. mujhe bhay hai ki vah usaki jan lene ka irada karake n aya ho. eershya mean manushy aandha ho jata hai. baee ji maian apane hriday ki bat tumase kahata hooan. mujhe prabha ko har lane ka atyant shok hai. maianne samajha tha ki yahaan rahate-rahate vah hil-mil jayagi kiantu vah anuman galat nikala. tujhe bhay hai ki yadi use kuchh din yahaan aur rahana p da to vah jiti n bachegi. mujh par ek abala ki hatya ka aparadh lag jayaga. maianne usase jhalava d jane ke lie kaha par vah raji n huee. aj tum un donoan ki batean suno. agar vah mandar-kumar ke sath jane par raji ho to maian prasannatapoorvak anumati de dooanga. mujhase kudhana nahian dekha jata. eeshvar is suandari ka hriday meri or pher deta to mera jivan saphal ho jata. kiantu jab yah sukh bhagy mean likha hi nahian hai to kya vash hai. maianne tumase ye batean kahian isake lie mujhe kshama karana. tumhare pavitr hriday mean aise vishayoan ke lie sthan kahaan

mira ne akash ki or sankoch se dekh kar kaha-to mujhe ajna hai maian chor-dvar khol dooan

rana-tum is ghar ki svamini ho mujhase poochhane ki zaroorat nahian.

mira rana ko pranam kar chali gayi.

7

adhi rat bit chuki thi. prabha chupachap baithi dipak ki or dekh rahi thi aur sochati thi isake ghulane se prakash hota hai yah batti agar jalati hai to doosaroan ko labh pahuanchati hai. mere jalane se kisi ko kya labh maian kyoan ghulooan mere jine ki zaroorat hai

usane phir khi daki se sir nikal kar akash ki taraph dekha. kale pat par ujjval tare jagamaga rahe the. prabha ne socha mere aandhakaramay bhagy mean ye diptiman tare kahaan haian mere lie jivan ke sukh kahaan haian kya rone ke lie jiooan aise jine se kya labh aur jine mean upahas bhi to hai. mere man ka hal kaun janata hai sansar meri nianda karata hoga. jhalava d ki striyaan mere mrityu ke shubh samachar sunane ki pratiksha kar rahi hoangi. meri priy mata lajja se aankhean n utha sakati hoangi. lekin jis samay mere marane ki khabar milegi garv se unaka mastak ooancha ho jayaga. yah behayaee ka jina hai. aise jine se marana kahian uttam hai.

prabha ne takiye ke niche se ek chamakati huee katar nikali. usake hath kaanp rahe the. usane katar ki taraph aankhean jamayian. hriday ko usake abhivadan ke lie mazaboot kiya. hath uthaya kintu hath n utha atma dridh n thi. aankhean jhapak gayian. sir mean chakkar a gaya. katar hath se chhoot kar zamin par gir p di.

prabha kruddh ho kar sochane lagi-kya maian vastav mean nirlajj hooan maian rajapootani ho kar marane se darati hooan man-maryada kho kar behaya log hi jiya karate haian. vah kaun-si akaanksha hai jisane meri atma ko itana nirbal bana rakha hai. kya rana ki mithi-mithi batean rana mere shatru haian. unhoanne mujhe pashu samajh rakha hai jise phansane ke pashchath ham pianjare mean band karake hilate haian. unhoanne mere man ko apani vakh-madhurata ka kri da-sthal samajh liya hai. ve is tarah ghuma-ghuma kar batean karate haian aur meri taraph se yuktiyaan nikal kar unaka aisa uttar dete haian ki jaban hi band ho jati hai. hay ! nirdayi ne mera jivan nasht kar diya aur mujhe yoan khelata hai ! kya isilie jiooan ki usake kapat bhavoan ka khilauna banooan

phir vah kaun-si abhilasha hai kya rajakumar ka prem unaki to ab kalpana hi mere lie ghor pap hai. maian ab us devata ke yogy nahian hooan priyatam ! bahut din hue maianne tumako hriday se nikal diya. tum bhi mujhe dil se nikal dalo. mrityu ke sivay ab kahian mera thikana nahian hai. shankar ! meri nirbal atma ko shakti pradan karo. mujhe karttavy-palan ka bal do.

prabha ne phir katar nikali. ichchha dridh thi. hath utha aur nikat tha ki katar usake shokatur hriday mean chubh jay ki itane mean kisi ke paanv ki ahat sunayi di. usane chauank kar sahami drishti se dekha. mandar-kumar dhire-dhire pair dabata hua kamare mean dakhil hua.

8

prabha use dekhate hi chauank p di. usane katar ko chhipa liya. rajakumar ko dekh kar use anand ki jagah romaanchakari bhay utpann hua. yadi kisi ko jara bhi sandeh ho gaya to inaka pran bachana kathin hai. inako turant yahaan se nikal jana chahie. yadi inhean batean karane ka avasar dooan to vilamb hoga aur phir ye avashy hi phans jayeange. rana inhean kadapi n chho deange. ye vichar vayu aur bijali ki tivrata ke sath usake mastishk mean dau de. vah tivr svar mean boli-bhitar mat ao.

rajakumar ne poochha-mujhe pahachana nahian

prabha-khoob pahachan liya kintu yah batean karane ka samay nahian hai. rana tumhari ghat mean haian. abhi yahaan se chale jao.

rajakumar ne ek pag aur age badhaya aur nirbhikata se kaha-prabha tum mujhase nishthurata karati ho.

prabha ne dhamaka kar kaha-tum yahaan thaharoge to maian shor macha dooangi.

rajakumar ne uddandata se uttar diya-isaka mujhe bhay nahian. maian apani jan hatheli par rakh kar aya hooan. aj donoan mean se ek ka aant ho jayaga. ya to rana raheange ya maian rahooanga. tum mere sath chalogi

prabha ne dridhata se kaha-nahian.

rajakumar vyangy bhav se bola-kyoan kya chittau d ki jalavayu pasand a gayi

prabha ne rajakumar ki or tiraskrit netroan se dekh kar kaha-sansar mean apani sab ashaean poori nahian hotian. jis tarah yahaan maian apana jivan kat rahi hooan vah maian hi janati hooan kintu lok-nianda bhi to koee chiz hai ! sansar ki drishti mean maian chittau d ki rani ho chuki. ab rana jis bhaanti rakhean usi bhaanti rahooangi. maian aant samay tak unase ghrina karooangi jalooangi kudhooangi. jab jalan n sahi jayagi to vish kha looangi ya chhati mean katar mar kar mar jaooangi lekin isi bhavan mean. is ghar ke bahar kadapi pair n rakhooangi.

rajakumar ke man mean sandeh hua ki prabha par rana ka vashikaran mantr chal gaya. yah mujhase chhal kar rahi hai. prem ki jagah eershya paida huee. vah usi bhav se bola-aur yadi maian yahaan se utha le jaooan prabha ke tivar badal gaye. boli-to maian vahi karooangi jo aisi avastha mean kshatraniyaan kiya karati haian. apane gale mean chhuri mar looangi ya tumhare gale mean.

rajakumar ek pag aur age badha kar yah katuvaky bola-rana ke sath to tum khushi se chali ayi. us samay chhuri kahaan gayi thi

prabha ko yah shabd shar-sa laga. vah tilamila kar boli-us samay isi chhuri ke ek var se khoon ki nadi bahane lagati. maian nahian chahati thi ki mere karan mere bhaee-bandhuoan ki jan jay. isake sivay maian kuanvari thi. mujhe apani maryada ke bhang hone ka koee bhay n tha. maianne pativrat nahian liya. kam se kam sansar mujhe aisa samajhata tha. maian apani drishti mean ab bhi vahi hooan kiantu sansar ki drishti mean kuchh aur ho gayi hooan. lok-laj ne mujhe rana ki ajnakarini bana diya hai. pativrat ki be di jabaradasti mere pairoan mean dal di gayi hai. ab isaki raksha karana mera dharm hai. isake viparit aur kuchh karana kshatraniyoan ke nam ko kalankit karana hai. tum mere ghav par vyarth namak kyoan chhi dakate ho yah kaun-si bhalamanasi hai mere bhagy mean jo kuchh bada hai vah bhog rahi hooan. mujhe bhogane do aur tumase vinati karati hooan ki shighr hi yahaan se chale jao.

rajakumar ek pag aur badha kar dusht-bhav se bola-prabha yahaan a kar tum triyacharitr mean nipun ho gayi. tum mere sath vishvasaghat karake ab dharm ki a d le rahi ho. tumane mere pranay ko pairoan tale kuchal diya aur ab maryada ka bahana dhooandh rahi ho. maian in netroan se rana ko tumhare saundary-pushp ka bhramar banate nahian dekh sakata. meri kamanaean mitti mean milati haian to tumhean le kar jayeangi. mera jivan nasht hota hai to usake pahale tumhare jivan ka bhi ant hoga. tumhari bevaphaee ka yahi dand hai. bolo kya nishchay karati ho is samay mere sath chalati ho ya nahian kile ke bahar mere adami kh de haian.

prabha ne nirbhayata se kaha-nahian.

rajakumar-soch lo nahian to pachhataogi.

prabha-khoob soch liya.

rajakumar ne talavar khianch li aur vah prabha ki taraph lapake. prabha bhay se aankhean band kiye ek qadam pichhe hat gayi. maloom hota tha use moorchchha a jayagi.

akasmath rana talavar liye veg ke sath kamare mean dakhil hue. rajakumar sanbhal kar kh da ho gaya.

rana ne sianh ke saman garaj kar kaha-door hat. kshatriy striyoan par hath nahian uthate.

rajakumar ne tan kar uttar diya-lajjahin striyoan ki yahi saza hai.

rana ne kaha-tumhara vairi to maian tha. mere samane ate kyoan lajate the. jara maian bhi tumhari talavar ki kat dekhata.

rajakumar ne aianth kar rana par talavar chalayi. shastr-vidya mean rana ati kushal the. var khali de kar rajakumar par jhapate. itane mean prabha jo moorchchhit avastha mean divar se chimati kh di thi bijali ki tarah kauandh kar rajakumar ke samane kh di ho gayi. rana var kar chuke the. talavar ka poora hath usake kandhe par p da. rakt ki phuhar chhootane lagi. rana ne ek thandi saans li aur unhoanne talavar hath se pheank kar girati huee prabha ko sanbhal liya.

kshanamatr mean prabha ka mukhamandal varnahin ho gaya. aankhean bujh gayian. dipak thanda ho gaya. mandar-kumar ne bhi talavar pheank di aur vah aankhoan mean aansoo bhar prabha ke samane ghutane tek kar baith gaya. donoan premiyoan ki aankhean sajal thian. patiange bujhe hue dipak par jan de rahe the.

prem ke rahasy nirale haian. abhi ek kshan hua rajakumar prabha par talavar le kar jhapata tha. prabha kisi prakar usake sath chalane par udyat n hoti thi. lajja ka bhay dharm ki be di karttavy ki divar rasta roke kh di thi. parantu use talavar ke samane dekh kar usane us par apana pran arpan kar diya. priti ki pratha nibah di lekin apane vachan ke anusar usi ghar mean.

haan prem ke rahasy nirale haian. abhi ek kshan pahale rajakumar prabha par talavar le kar jhapata tha. usake khoon ka pyasa tha. eershya ki agni usake hriday mean dahak rahi thi. vah rudhir ki dhara se shaant ho gayi. kuchh der tak vah achet baitha rota raha. phir utha aur usane talavar utha kar zor se apani chhati mean chubha li. phir rakt ki phuhar nikali. donoan dharaean mil gayian aur unamean koee bhed n raha.

prabha usake sath chalane par raji n thi. kiantu vah prem ke bandhan ko to d n saki. donoan us ghar hi se nahian sansar se ek sath sidhare.