शाप- 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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maian barlin nagar ka nivasi hooan. mere poojy pita bhautik vijnan ke suvikhyat jnata the. bhaugolik anveshan ka shauq mujhe bhi balyavastha hi se tha. unake svargavas ke bad mujhe yah dhun savar huee ki paidal prithvi ke samast desh-deshantaroan ki sair karooan. maian vipul dhan ka svami tha. ve sab rupaye ek baiank mean jama kar diye aur usase shart kar li ki mujhe yathasamay rupaye bhejata rahe is kary se nivritt ho kar maianne saphar ka saman poora kiya. avashyak vaijnanik yantr sath liye aur eeshvar ka nam le kar chal kh da hua. us samay yah kalpana mere hriday mean gudagudi paida kar rahi thi ki maian vah pahala prani hooan jise yah bat soojhi hai ki pairoan se prithvi ko nape. any yatriyoan ne rel jahaz aur motarakar ki sharan li hai. maian pahala hi vah vir-atma hooan jo apane pairoan ke boote par prakriti ke virath upavan ki sair ke lie udyat hua hai. agar mere sahas aur utsah ne yah kashtasadhy yatr poori kar li to bhadrasansar mujhe samman aur gaurav ke masanad par baithavega aur anant kal tak meri kirti ke rag alape jayeange. us samay mera mastishk inhian vicharoan se bhara hua tha. aur eeshvar ko dhanyavad deta hooan ki saharshoan kathinaiyoan ka samana karane par bhi dhairy ne mera sath n chho da aur utsah ek kshan ke lie bhi nirutsah n hua.

maian varshoan aise sthanoan mean raha hooan jahaan nirjanata ke atirikt koee doosara sathi n tha. varshoan aise sthanoan mean raha hooan jahaan ki prithvi aur akash him ki shilaean thian. maian bhayankar jantuoan ke pahaloo mean soya hooan. pakshiyoan ke ghoansaloan mean ratean kati haian kiantu ye sari balaean kat gayian aur vah samay ab door nahian hai ki sahity aur vijnan-sansar mere charanoan par shish navayean.

maianne is yatr mean b de-b de adbhut drishy dekhe aur kitani hi jatiyoan ke ahar-vyavahar rahan-sahan ka avalokan kiya. mera yatr-vrittaant vichar anubhav aur nirikshan ka ek amooly ratn hoga. maianne aisi-aisi ashcharyajanak ghatanaean aankhoan se dekhi haian jo aliph-laila ki kathaoan se kam manoranjak n hoangi. parantu vah ghatana jo maianne jnanasarovar ke tat par dekhi usaka udaharan mushkil se milega maian use kabhi n bhoolooanga. yadi mere is tamam parishram ka upahar yahi ek rahasy hota to bhi maian use paryapt samajhata. maian yah bata dena avashyak samajhata hooan ki maian mithyavadi nahian aur n siddhiyoan tatha vibhootiyoan par mera vishvas hai. maian us vidvanh ka bhakt hooan jisaka adhar tark aur nyay par hai. yadi koee doosara prani yahi ghatana mujhase bayan karata to mujhe us par vishvas karane mean bahut sankoch hota kintu maian jo kuchh bayan kar raha hooan vah saty ghatana hai. yadi mere is ashvasan par bhi koee us par avishvas kare to usaki manasik durbalata aur vicharoan ki sankirnata hai.

yatr ka satavaan varsh tha aur jyeshth ka mahina. maian himalay ke daman mean jnanasarovar ke tat par hari-hari ghas par leta hua tha rritu atyant suhavani thi. jnanasarovar ke svachchh nirmal jal mean akash aur parvat shreni ka pratibimb jalapakshiyoan ka pani par tairana shubhr himashreni ka soory ke prakash se chamakana adi drishy aise manohar the ki maian atmollas se vihval ho gaya. maianne svitajaralaiand aur amerika ke bahuprashansit drishy dekhe haian par unamean yah shaantiprad shobha kahaan ! manav buddhi ne unake prakritik sauandary ko apani kritrimata se kalankit kar diya hai. maian tallin ho kar is svargiy anand ka upabhog kar raha tha ki sahasa meri drishti ek sianh par ja p di jo mandagati se qadam badhata hua meri or a raha tha. use dekhate hi mera khoon sookh gaya hosh u d gaye. aisa vrihadakar bhayankar jantu meri najar se n gujara tha. vahaan jnan-sarovar ke atirikt koee aisa sthan nahian tha jahaan bhag kar apani jan bachata. maian tairane mean kushal hooan par maian aisa bhayabhit ho gaya ki apane sthan se hil n saka. mere aang-pratyang mere kaboo se bahar the. samajh gaya ki meri ziandagi yahian tak thi. is sher ke panje se bachane ki koee asha n thi. akasmath mujhe smaran hua ki meri jeb mean ek pistaul goliyoan se bhari huee rakhi hai jo maianne atmaraksha ke lie chalate samay sath le li thi aur ab tak pranapan se isaki raksha karata aya tha. ashchary hai ki itani der tak meri smriti kahaan soee rahi. maianne turant hi pistaul nikali aur nikat tha ki sher par var karooan ki mere kanoan mean yah shabd sunayi die musaphir eeshvar ke lie var n karana anyatha mujhe duahkh hoga. sianharaj se tujhe hani n pahuanchegi.

maianne chakit hokar pichhe ki or dekha to ek yuvati ramani ati huee dikhayi di. usake hath mean ek sone ka lota tha aur doosare mean ek tashtari. maianne jarmani ki hoorean aur kohakaph ki pariyaan dekhi haian par himachal parvat ki yah apsara maianne ek hi bar dekhi aur usaka chitr aj tak hriday-pat par khiancha hua hai. mujhe smaran nahian ki raphail ya korejiyo ne bhi kabhi aisa chitr khiancha ho. baiandaik aur remabraand ke akriti-chitroan ne bhi aisi manohar chhavi nahian dekhi. pistaul mere hath se gir p di. koee doosari shakti is samay mujhe apani bhayavah paristhiti se nishchiant n kar sakati thi.

maian us suandari ki or dekh hi raha tha ki vah sianh ke pas ayi. sianh use dekhate hi kh da ho gaya aur meri or sashank netroan se dekh kar megh ki bhaanti garja. ramani ne ek roomal nikal kar usaka muanh poanchha aur phir lote se doodh uandel kar usake samane rakh diya. sianh doodh pine laga. mere vismay ki ab koee sima n thi. chakit tha ki yah koee tilism hai ya jadoo. vyavahar-lok mean hooan athava vichar-lok mean. sota hooan ya jagata. maianne bahudha sarakasoan mean palatoo sher dekhe haian kiantu unhean kaboo mean rakhane ke lie kin-kin raksha-vidhanoan se kam liya jata hai ! usake pratikool yah maansahari pashu us ramani ke sammukh is bhaanti leta hua hai mano vah sianh ki yoni mean koee mrig-shavak hai. man mean prashn hua suandari mean kaun-si chamatkarik shakti hai jisane sianh ko is bhaanti vashibhoot kar liya kya pashu bhi apane hriday mean komal aur rasik bhav chhipaye rakhate haian kahate haian ki mahuar ka alap kale nag ko bhi mast kar deta hai. jab dhvani mean yah siddhi hai to sauandary ki shakti ka anuman kaun kar sakata hai. roop-lality sansar ka sabase amooly ratn hai prakriti ke rachana-naipuny ka sarvashreshth aansh hai.

jab sianh doodh pi chuka to suandari ne roomal se usaka muanh poanchha aur usaka sir apane jaangh par rakh kar use thapakiyaan dene lagi. sianh pooanchh hilata tha aur suandari ki arunavarn hatheliyoan ko chatata tha. tho di der ke bad donoan ek gupha mean aantarhit ho gaye. mujhe bhi dhun savar huee ki kisi prakar is tilism ko kholooan is rahasy ka udghatan karooan. jab donoan adrishy ho gaye to maian bhi utha aur dabe paanv us gupha ke dvar tak ja pahuancha. bhay se mere sharir ki boti-boti kaanp rahi thi magar is rahasyapat ko kholane ki utsukata bhay ko dabaye hue thi. maianne gupha ke bhitar jhaanka to kya dekhata hooan ki prithvi par jari ka pharsh bichha hua hai aur karachobi gavatakiye lage hue haian. sianh masanad par garv se baitha hua hai. sone-chaandi ke patr suandar chitr phooloan ke gamale sabhi apane-apane sthan par saje hue haian vah gupha rajabhavan ko bhi lajjit kar rahi hai.

dvar par meri parachhaeean dekh kar vah suandari bahar nikal ayi aur mujhase kaha yatri too kaun hai aur idhar kyoankar a nikala

kitani manohar dhvani thi. maianne abaki bar samip se dekha to suandari ka mukh kumhalaya hua tha. usake netroan se nirasha jhalak rahi thi usake svar mean bhi karuna aur vyatha ki khatak thi. maianne uttar diya devi maian yoorop ka nivasi hooan yahaan deshatan karane aya hooan. mera param saubhagy hai ki ap se sambhashan karane ka gaurav prapt hua. sundari ke gulab se oanthoan par madhur musakan ki jhalak dikhayi di usamean kuchh kutil hasy ka bhi aansh tha. kadachith yah mere is asvabhavik vaky-pranali ka dyotak tha. too videsh se yahaan aya hai. atithy-satkar hamara karttavy hai. maian aj tujhe nimantran deti hooan svikar kar.

maianne avasar dekh kar uttar diya apaki yah kripa mere lie gaurav ki bat hai par is rahasy ne meri bhookh-pyas band kar di hai. kya maian asha karooan ki ap is par kuchh prakash daleangi

sundari ne thandi saans le kar kaha meri ramakahani vipatti ki ek b di katha hai tujhe sun kar duahkh hoga. kiantu maianne jab bahut agrah kiya to usane mujhe pharsh par baithane ka sanket kiya aur apana vrittaant sunane lagiah

maian kashmir desh ki rahanevali rajakanya hooan. mera vivah ek rajapoot yoddha se hua tha. unaka nam nrisianhadev tha. ham donoan b de anand se jivan vyatit karate the. sansar ka sarvottam padarth roop hai doosara svasthy aur tisara dhan. paramatma ne hamako ye tinoan hi padarth prachur pariman mean pradan kiye the. khed hai ki maian unase mulakat nahian kar sakati. aisa sahasi aisa sundar aisa vidvanh purush sare kashmir mean n tha. maian unaki aradhana karati thi. unaka mere oopar apar sneh tha. kee varshoan tak hamara jivan ek jalashrot ki bhaanti vriksh-puanjoan aur hare-bhare maidanoan mean pravahit hota raha.

mere p dos mean ek mandir tha. pujari ek pandit shridhar the. ham donoan pratahkal tatha sandhya samay us mandir mean upasana ke lie jate. mere svami krishna ke bhakt the. mandir ek suramy sagar ke tat par bana hua tha. vahaan ka parishkrit mand samir chitt ko pulakit kar deta tha. isalie ham upasana ke pashchath bhi vahaan ghantoan vayu-sevan karate rahate the. shridhar b de vidvan vedoan ke jnata shastroan ke jananevale the. krishna par unaki bhi avichal bhakti thi. samast kashmir mean unake paandity ki charcha thi. vah b de sanyami santoshi atmajnani purush the. unake netroan se shaanti ki jyotirekhaean nikalati huee maloom hoti thian. sadaiv paropakar mean magn rahate the. unaki vani ne kabhi kisi ka hriday nahian dukhaya. unaka hriday nity paravedana se pi dit rahata tha.

pandit shridhar mere patidev se lagabhag das varsh b de the par unaki dharmapatni vidyadhari meri samavayaska thian. ham donoan saheliyaan thian. vidyadhari atyant ganbhir shaant prakriti ki stri thian. yadyapi rang-roop mean vahi rani thian par vah apani avastha se santusht thian. apane pati ko vah devatuly samajhati thian.

shravan ka mahina tha. akash par kale-kale badal mandara rahe the mano kajal ke parvat u de ja rahe haian. jharanoan se doodh ki dharean nikal rahi thian aur charoan or hariyali chhaee huee thi. nanhi-nanhi phuharean p d rahi thian mano svarg se amrit ki booandean tapak rahi haian. jal ki booandean phooloan aur pattiyoan ke gale mean chamak rahi thian. chitt ko abhilashaoan se ubharanevala shama chhaya hua tha. yah vah samay hai jab ramaniyoan ko videshagami priyatam ki yad rulane lagati hai jab hriday kisi se aliangan karane ke lie vyagr ho jata hai jab sooni sej dekh kar kaleje mean hook-si uthati hai. isi rritu mean virah ki mari viyoginiyaan apani bimari ka bahana karati haian jisamean unaka pati unhean dekhane ave. isi rritu mean mali ki kanya dhani sa di pahan kar kyariyoan mean ithalati huee champa aur bele ke phooloan se aanchal bharati hai kyoanki har aur gajaroan ki maang bahut badh jati hai. maian aur vidyadhari oopar chhat par baithi huee varsharritu ki bahar dekh rahi thian aur kalidas ka rritusanhar padhati thian ki itane mean mere pati ne a kar kaha aj ka suhavana din hai. jhoola jhoolane mean b da anand ayega. savan mean jhoola jhoolane ka prastav kyoankar radd kiya ja sakata tha. in dinoan pratyek ramani ka chitt ap hi ap jhoola jhoolane ke lie vikal ho jata hai. jab van ke vriksh jhoola jhoolate hoan jab sari prakriti aandolit ho rahi ho to ramani ka komal hriday kyoan n chanchal ho jay ! vidyadhari bhi raji ho gayi. resham ki doriyaan qadam ki dal par p d gayian chandan ka patara rakh diya gaya aur maian vidyadhari ke sath jhoola jhoolane chali. jis prakar jnanasarovar pavitr jal se paripoorn ho raha hai usi bhaanti hamare hriday pavitr anand se paripoorn the. kintu shok ! vah kadachith mere saubhagyachandr ki aantim jhalak thi. maian jhoole ke pas pahuanch kar patare par ja baithi kiantu komalaangi vidyadhari oopar n a saki. vah kee bar uchaki parantu patare tak n a saki. tab mere patidev ne sahara dene ke lie usaki baanh pak d li ! us samay unake netroan mean ek vichitr trishna ki jhalak thi aur mukh par ek vichitr aturata. vah dhime mean malhar ga rahe the kiantu vidyadhari jab patare par ayi to usaka mukh doobate hue soory ki bhaanti lal ho raha tha netr arunavarn ho rahe the. usane patidev ki or krodhonmatt ho kar kaha:

toone kam ke vash ho kar mere sharir mean hath lagaya hai. maian apane pativrat ke bal se tujhe shap deti hooan ki too isi kshan pashu ho ja.

yah kahate hi vidyadhari ne apane gale se rudraksh ki mala nikal kar mere patidev ke oopar pheank diya aur tatkshan hi patare ke samip mere patidev ke sthan par ek vishal sianh dikhalayi diya.

ai musaphir apane priy patidevata ki yah gati dekh kar mera rakt sookh gaya aur kaleje par bijali-si a giri. maian vidyadhari ke pairoan se lipat gayi aur phoot-phoot kar rone lagi. us samay apani aankhoan se dekh kar anubhav hua ki pativrat ki mahima kitani prabal hai. aisi ghatanaean maianne puranoan mean padhi thian parantu mujhe vishvas n tha ki vartaman kal mean jabaki stri-purush ke sambandh mean svarth ki matr dinoandin adhik hoti jati hai pativrat dharm mean yah prabhav hoga parantu yah nahian kah sakati ki vidyadhari ke vichar kahaan tak thik the. mere pati vidyadhari ko sadaiv bahin kah kar sanbodhit karate the. vah atyant svaroopavanh the aur roopavanh purush ki stri ka jivan bahut sukhamay nahian hota par mujhe un par sanshay karane ka avasar kabhi nahian mila. vah strivrat dharm ka vaise hi palan karate the jaise sati apane dharm ka. unaki drishti mean kucheshta n thi aur vichar atyant ujjval aur pavitr the. yahaan tak ki kalidas ki shrriangaramay kavita bhi unhean priy n thi magar kam ke marmabhedi banoan se kaun bacha hai ! jis kam ne shiv brahma jaise tapasviyoan ki tapasya bhang kar di jis kam ne narad aur vishvamitr jaise rrishiyoan ke mathe par kalank ka tika laga diya vah kam sab kuchh kar sakata hai. sambhav hai ki surapan ne uddipak rritu ke sath mil kar unake chitt ko vichalit kar diya ho. mera guman to yah hai ki yah vidyadhari ki keval bhraanti thi. jo kuchh bhi ho usane shap de diya. us samay mere man mean bhi uttejana huee ki jis shakti ka vidyadhari ko garv hai kya vah shakti mujhamean nahian hai kya maian pativrata nahian hooan kiantu ha ! maianne kitana hi chaha ki shap ke shabd muanh se nikalooan par meri jaban band ho gayi. akhand vishvas jo vidyadhari ko apane pativrat par tha mujhe n tha vivashata ne mere pratikar ke aveg ko shaant kar diya. maianne b di dinata ke sath kaha-bahin tumane yah kya kiya

vidyadhari ne nirday ho kar kaha-maianne kuchh nahian kiya. yah usake karmoan ka phal hai.

maian-tumhean chho d kar aur kisaki sharan jaooan kya tum itani daya n karogi

vidyadhari-mere kiye ab kuchh nahian ho sakata.

maian-devi tum pativratadharini ho tumhare vaky ki mahima apar hai. tumhara krodh yadi manushy se pashu bana sakata hai to kya tumhari daya pashu se manushy n bana sakegi

vidyadhari-prayashchitt karo. isake atirikt uddhar ka aur koee upay nahian.

ai musaphir maian rajapoot ki kanya hooan. maianne vidyadhari se adhik anunay-vinay nahian ki. usaka hriday daya ka agar tha. yadi maian usake charanoan par shish rakh deti to kadachith use mujh par daya a jati kiantu rajapoot ki kanya itana apaman nahian sah sakati. vah ghrina ke ghav sah sakati hai krodh ki agni sah sakati hai par daya ka bojh usase nahian uthaya jata. maianne patare se utar kar patidev ke charanoan par sir jhukaya aur unhean sath liye hue apane makan chali ayi.

kee mahine gujar gaye. maian patidev ki seva-sushrusha mean tan-man se vyast rahati. yadyapi unaki jihva vanivihin ho gayi thi par unaki akriti se spasht prakat hota tha ki vah apane karm se lajjit the. yadyapi unaka roopaantar ho gaya tha par unhean maans se atyant ghrina thi. meri pashushala mean saik doan gayean-bhaiansean thian kiantu sherasianh ne kabhi kisi ki or aankh utha kar bhi n dekha. maian unhean donoan vela doodh pilati aur sandhya samay unhean sath lekar paha diyoan ki sair karati. mere man mean n jane kyoan dhairy aur sahas ka itana sanchar ho gaya tha ki mujhe apani dasha asahy n jan p dati thi. mujhe nishchay tha ki shighr hi is vipatti ka aant bhi hoga.

inhian dinoan haridvar mean ganga-snan ka mela laga. mere nagar se yatriyoan ka ek samooh haridvar chala. maian bhi unake sath ho li. din-dukhi janoan ko dan dene ke lie rupayoan aur asharphiyoan ki thailiyaan sath le lian. maian prayashchitt karane ja rahi thi isalie paidal hi yatr karane ka nishchay kar liya. lagabhag ek mahine mean haridvar ja pahuanchi. yahaan bharatavarsh ke pratyek praant se asankhy yatri aye hue the. sannyasiyoan aur tapasviyoan ki sankhya grihasthoan se kuchh hi kam hogi. dharmashalaoan mean rahane ka sthan n milata tha. gangatat par parvatoan ki god mean maidanoan ke vakshahsthal par jahaan dekhie adami hi adami najar ate the. door se vah chhote-chhote khilaune ki bhaanti dikhayi dete the. miloan tak adamiyoan ka pharsh-sa bichha hua tha. bhajan aur kirtan ki dhvani nity kanoan mean ati rahati thi. hriday mean asim shuddhi ganga ki laharoan ki bhaanti laharean marati thi. vahaan ka jal vayu akash sab shuddh the.

mujhe haridvar aye tin din vyatit hue the. prabhat ka samay tha. maian ganga mean kh di snan kar rahi thi. sahasa meri drishti oopar ki or uthi to maianne kisi adami ko pul ki or jhaankate dekha. akasmath us manushy ka paanv oopar uth gaya aur saik doan hi gaj ki ooanchaee se ganga mean gir p da. saharshoan aankhean yah drishy dekh rahi thi par kisi ka sahas n hua ki us abhage manushy ki jan bachaye. bharatavarsh ke atirikt aisa samavedanashoony aur kaun desh hoga aur yah vah desh hai jahaan paramarth manushy ka karttavy bataya gaya hai. log baithe hue apanguoan ki bhaanti tamasha dekh rahe the. sabhi hatabuddhi- se ho rahe the. dhara prabal veg se pravahit thi aur jal barf se bhi adhik shital. maianne dekha ki vah dhara ke sath bahata chala jata tha. yah hriday-vidarak drishy mujhase n dekha gaya. maian tairane mean abhyast thi. maianne eeshvar ka nam liya aur man ko dridh karake dhara ke sath tairane lagi. jyoan-jyoan maian age badhati thi vah manushy mujhase door hota jata tha. yahaan tak mere sare aang thand se shoony ho gaye.

maianne kee bar chattanoan ko pak d kar dam liya kee bar pattharoan se takarayi. mere hath hi n uthate the. sara sharir barf ka dhaancha-sa bana hua tha. mere aang gatihin ho gaye ki maian dhara ke sath bahane lagi aur mujhe vishvas ho gaya ki gangamata ke udar hi mean meri jal-samadhi hogi. akasmath maianne us purush ki lash ko ek chattan par rukate dekha. mera hausala bandh gaya. sharir mean ek vichitr sphoorti ka anubhav hua. maian zor laga kar pranapan se us chattan par ja pahuanchi aur usaka hath pak d kar khiancha. mera kaleja dhak se ho gaya. yah shridhar pandit the.

ai musaphir maianne yah kam pranoan ko hatheli par rakh kar poora kiya. jis samay maian pandit shridhar ki ardhamrit deh liye tat par ayi to saharshoan manushyoan ki jayadhvani se akash gooanj utha. kitane hi manushyoan ne charanoan par sir jhukaye. abhi log shridhar ko hosh mean lane ke upay kar hi rahe the ki vidyadhari mere samane a kar kh di ho gayi. usaka mukh prabhat ke chandr ki bhaanti kaantihin ho raha tha hoanth sookhe hue bal bikhare hue. aankhoan se aansuoan ki jh di lagi huee thi. vah zor se haanph rahi thi dau d kar mere pairoan se chimat gayi kintu dil khol kar nahian nirmal bhav se nahian. ek ki aankhean garv se bhari huee thian aur doosare ki glani se jhuki huee. vidyadhari ke muanh se bat n nikalati thi. keval itana boli- bahin eeshvar tumako is satkary ka phal dean.

ai musaphir yah shubhakamana vidyadhari ke aantahsthal se nikali thi. maian usake muanh se yah ashirvad sun kar phooli n samayi. mujhe vishvas ho gaya ki abaki bar jab maian apane makan par pahuanchooangi to patidev muskarate hue mujhase gale milane ke lie dvar par ayeange. is vichar se mere hriday mean gudagudi-si hone lagi. maian shighr hi svadesh ko chal p di. utkantha mere qadam badhaye jati thi. maian din mean bhi chalati aur rat ko bhi chalati magar pair thakana hi n janate the. yah asha ki vah mohini moorti dvar par mera svagat karane ke lie kh di hogi mere pairoan mean par-se lagaye hue thi. ek mahine ki manzil maianne ek saptah mean tay ki. par shok ! jab makan ke pas pahuanchi to us ghar ko dekh kar dil baith gaya aur himmat n p di ki aandar qadam rakhooan. maian chaukhat par baith kar der tak vilap karati rahi. n kisi naukar ka pata n kahian pale hue pashu hi dikhayi dete the. dvar par dhool u d rahi thi. jan p data tha ki pakshi ghoansale se u d gaya hai kaleje par patthar ki sil rakh kar bhitar gayi to kya dekhati hooan ki mera pyara sianh aangan mean moti-moti janjiroan se bandha hua hai. itana durbal ho gaya hai ki usake koolhoan ki haddiyaan dikhayi de rahi haian. oopar-niche jidhar dekhati thi uja d-sa maloom hota tha. mujhe dekhate hi sherasianh ne pooanchh hilayi aur sahasa unaki aankhean dipak ki bhaanti chamak uthian. maian dau dakar unake gale se lipat gayi samajh gayi ki naukaroan ne daga ki. ghar ki samagriyoan ka kahian pata n tha. sone-chaandi ke bahumooly patr pharsh adi sab gayab the. hay ! hatyare mere abhooshanoan ka sandook bhi utha le gaye. is apaharan ne musibat ka pyala bhar diya. shayad pahale unhoanne sherasianh ko jak d kar baandh diya hoga phir khoob dil khol kar noch-khasot ki hogi. kaisi vidambana thi ki dharm lootane gayi thi aur dhan luta baithi. daridrata ne pahali bar apana bhayankar roop dikhaya.

ai musaphir is prakar lut jane ke bad vah sthan aankhoan mean kaante ki tarah khatakane laga. yahi vah sthan tha jahaan hamane anand ke din kate the. inhian kyariyoan mean hamane mrigoan ki bhaanti kilol kiye the. pratyek vastu se koee n koee smriti sambandhit thi. un dinoan ki yad karake aankhoan se rakt ke aansoo bahane lagate the. basant ki rritu thi baur ki mahak se vayu sugandhit ho rahi thi. mahue ke vrikshoan ke niche pariyoan ke shayan karane ke lie motiyoan ki shayya bichhi huee thi karauande aur nianboo ke phaloan ki sugandh se chitt prasann ho jata tha. maianne apani janm-bhoomi ko sadaiv ke lie tyag diya. meri aankhoan se aansuoan ki ek booand bhi n giri. jis janm-bhoomi ki yad yavajjivan hriday ko vyathit karati rahati hai usase maianne yoan muanh mo d liya mano koee bandi karagar se mukt ho jay. ek saptah tak maian charoan or bhraman karake apane bhavi nivasasthan ka nishchay karati rahi. aant mean siandhu nadi ke kinare ek nirjan sthan mujhe pasand aya. yahaan ek prachin mandir tha. shayad kisi samay vahaan devataoan ka vas tha par is samay vah bilakul uja d tha. devataoan ne kal ko vijay kiya ho par samay chakr ko nahian. shanaiah-shanaiah mujhe is sthan se prem ho gaya aur vah sthan pathikoan ke lie dharmashala ban gaya.

mujhe yahaan rahate tin varsh vyatit ho chuke the. varsha rritu mean ek din sandhya ke samay mujhe mandir ke samane se ek purush gho de par savar jata dikhayi diya. mandir se prayah do sau gaj ki doori par ek ramanik sagar tha usake kinare kachanar vrikshoan ke jhuramut the. vah savar us jhuramut mean ja kar adrishy ho gaya. aandhakar badhata jata tha. ek kshan ke bad mujhe us or kisi manushy ka chitkar sunayi diya phir bandookoan ke shabd sunayi diye aur unaki dhvani se paha d gooanj utha.

ai musaphir yah drishy dekh kar mujhe kisi bhishan ghatana ka sandeh hua. maian turant uth kh di huee. ek katar hath mean li aur us sagar ki or chal di.

ab moosaladhar varsha hone lagi thi mano aj ke bad phir kabhi n barasega. rah-rah kar garjan ki aisi bhayankar dhvani uthati thi mano sare paha d apas mean takara gaye hoan. bijali ki chamak aisi tivr thi mano sansaravyapi prakash simat kar ek ho gaya ho. aandhakar ka yah hal tha mano saharshoan amavasya ki ratean gale mil rahi hoan. maian kamar tak pani mean chalati dil ko samhale hue age badhati jati thi. aant mean sagar ke samip a pahuanchi. bijali ki chamak ne dipak ka kam kiya. sagar ke kinare ek b di-si gupha thi. is samay us gupha mean se prakash-jyoti bahar ati huee dikhayi deti thi. maianne bhitar ki or jhaanka to kya dekhati hooan ki ek b da alav jal raha hai. usake charoan or bahut-se adami kh de hue haian aur ek stri agney netroan se ghoor-ghoor kar kah rahi hai maian apane pati ke sath use bhi jala kar bhasm kar dooangi. mere kutoohal ki koee sima n rahi. maianne saans band kar li aur hatabuddhi ki bhaanti yah kautuk dekhane lagi. us stri ke samane ek rakt se lipati huee lash p di thi aur lash ke samip hi ek manushy rassiyoan se bandha hua sir jhukaye baitha tha. maianne anuman kiya ki yah vahi ashvarohi pathik hai jis par in dakuoan ne aghat kiya tha. yah shav dakoo saradar ka hai aur yah stri dakoo ki patni hai. usake sir ke bal bikhare hue the aur aankhoan se aangare nikal rahe the. hamare chitrakaroan ne krodh ko purush kalpit kiya hai. mere vichar mean stri ka krodh isase kahian ghatak kahian vidhvansakari hota hai. krodhonmatt ho kar vah komalaangi sundari jvalashikhar ban jati hai.

us stri ne daant pis kar kaha maian apane pati ke sath ise bhi jala kar bhasm kar dooangi. yah kah kar usane us rassiyoan se bandhe hue purush ko ghasita aur dahakati huee chita mean dal diya. ah ! kitana bhayankar kitana romaanchakari drishy tha. stri hi apani dvesh ki agni shaant karane mean itani pishachini ho sakati hai. mera rakt khaulane laga. ab ek kshan bhi vilamb karane ka avasar n tha. maianne katar khianch li dakoo chauank kar titar-bitar ho gaye samajhe mere sath aur log bhi hoange. maian bedh dak chita mean ghus gayi aur kshanamatr mean us abhage purush ko agni ke mukh se nikal layi. abhi keval usake vastr hi jale the. jaise sarp apana shikar chhin jane se phuphakarata hua lapakata hai usi prakar garajati huee lapatean mere pichhe dau dian. aisa pratit hota tha ki agni bhi usake rakt ki pyasi ho rahi thi.

itane mean dakoo samhal gaye aur ahat saradar ki patni pishachini ki bhaanti muanh khole mujh par jhapati. samip tha ki ye hatyare meri botiyaan kar dean ki itane mean gupha ke dvar par meghagarjan ki-si dhvani sunayi di aur sherasianh raudr roop dharan kiye hue bhitar pahuanche. unaka bhayankar roop dekhate hi dakoo apani-apani jan le kar bhage. keval dakoo saradar ki patni stambhit-si apane sthan par kh di rahi. ekaek usane pati ka shav uthaya aur use le kar chita mean baith gayi. dekhate-dekhate usaka bhayankar roop agni-jvala mean vilin ho gaya. ab maianne us bandhe hue manushy ki or dekha to mera hriday uchhal p da. yah pandit shridhar the. mujhe dekhate hi sir jhuka liya aur rone lage. maian unake samachar poochh hi rahi thi ki usi gupha ke ek kone se kisi ke karahane ka shabd sunayi diya. ja kar dekha to ek sundar yuvak rakt se lathapath p da tha. maianne use dekhate hi pahachan liya. usaka purushavesh use chhipa n saka. yah vidyadhari thi. mardoan ke vastr us par khoob sajate the. vah lajja aur glani ki moorti bani huee thi. vah pairoan par gir p di par muanh se kuchh n boli.

us gupha mean pal bhar bhi thaharana atyant shankaprad tha. n jane kab dakoo phir sashastr ho kar a jayan. udhar chitagni bhi shaant hone lagi aur us sati ki bhi bhishan kaya atyant tej roop dharan karake hamare netroan ke samane taandav kri da karane lagi. maian b di chianta mean p di ki in donoan praniyoan ko kaise vahaan se nikalooan. donoan hi rakt se choor the. sherasianh ne mera asamanjas ta d liya. roopaantar ho jane ke bad unaki buddhi b di tivr ho gayi thi. unhoanne mujhe sanket kiya ki donoan ko hamari pith par bitha do. pahale to maian unaka ashay n samajhi par jab unhoanne sanket ko bar-bar duharaya to maian samajh gayi. gooangoan ke gharavale hi gooangoan ki batean khoob samajhate haian. maianne pandit shridhar ko god mean utha kar sherasianh ki pith par bitha diya. usake pichhe vidyadhari ko bhi bithaya. nanha balak bhaloo ki pith par baith kar jitana darata hai usase kahian zyada yah donoan prani bhayabhit ho rahe the. chitagni ke kshin prakash mean unake bhayavikrit mukh dekh kar karun vinod hota tha. astu maian in donoan praniyoan ko sath le kar gupha se nikali aur phir usi timir-sagar ko par karake mandir a pahuanchi.

maianne ek saptah tak unaka yahaan yathashakti seva-satkar kiya. jab ve bhali-bhaanti svasth ho gaye to maianne unhean vida kiya. ye stri-purush kee adamiyoan ke sath tedhi ja rahe the yahaan ke raja pandit shridhar ke shishy haian. pandit shridhar ka gho da age tha. vidyadhari ka abhyas n hone ke karan pichhe thi unake donoan rakshak bhi unake sath the. jab dakuoan ne pandit shridhar ko ghera aur pandit ne pistaul se dakoo saradar ko giraya to kolahal sun kar vidyadhari ne gho da badhaya. donoan rakshak to jan le kar bhage vidyadhari ko dakuoan ne purush samajh kar ghayal kar diya aur tab donoan praniyoan ko baandh kar gupha mean dal diya. shesh batean maianne apani aankhoan dekhian. yadyapi yahaan se bida hote samay vidyadhari ka rom-rom mujhe ashirvad de raha tha. par haan ! abhi prayashchitt poora n hua tha. itana atm-samarpan karake bhi maian saphal manorath n huee thi.

ai musaphir us prant mean ab mera rahana kathin ho gaya. dakoo bandookean lie hue sherasianh ki talash mean ghoomane lage. vivash ho kar ek din maian vahaan se chal kh di huee aur durgam parvatoan ko par karati huee yahaan a nikali. yah sthan mujhe aisa pasand aya ki maianne is gupha ko apana ghar bana liya hai. aj poore tin varsh gujare jab maianne pahale-pahal jnanasarovar ke darshan kiye. us samay bhi yahi rritu thi. maian jnanasarovar mean pani bharane gayi huee thi sahasa kya dekhati hooan ki ek yuvak mushki gho de par savar ratnajatit abhooshan pahane hath mean chamakata hua bhala liye chala ata hai. sherasianh ko dekh kar vah thithaka aur bhala samhal kar un par var kar baitha. sherasianh ko bhi krodh aya. unake garajan ki aisi gaganabhedi dhvani uthi ki jnanasarovar ka jal aandolit ho gaya aur turant gho de se khianch kar usaki chhati par panje rakh diye. maian gh da chho d kar dau di. yuvak ka pranaant hone vala hi tha ki maianne sherasianh ke gale mean hath dal diye aur unaka sir sahala kar krodh shaant kiya. maianne unaka aisa bhayankar roop kabhi nahian dekha tha. mujhe svayan unake pas jate hue dar lagata tha par mere mridu vachanoan ne aant mean unhean vashibhool kar liya vah alag kh de ho gaye. yuvak ki chhati mean gahara ghav laga tha. use maianne isi gupha mean la kar rakha aur usaki maraham-patti karane lagi. ek din maian kuchh avashyak vastuean lene ke lie us kasbe mean gayi jisake mandir ke kalash yahaan se dikhayi de rahe haian magar vahaan sab dukanean band thian. bazaroan mean khak u d rahi thi. charoan or siyapa chhaya hua tha. maian bahut der tak idhar-udhar ghoomati rahi kisi manushy ki soorat bhi n dikhayi deti thi ki usase vahaan ka sab samachar poochhooan. aisa vidit hota tha mano yah adrishy jivoan ki basti hai. soch hi rahi thi ki vapas chalooan ki gho doan ke tapoan ki dhvani kanoan mean ayi aur ek kshan mean ek stri sir se pair tak kale vastr dharan kiye ek kale gho de par savar ati huee dikhayi di. usake pichhe kee savar aur pyade kali vardiyaan pahane a rahe the. akasmath us savar stri ki drishti mujh par p di. usane gho de ko e d lagayi aur mere nikat akar karkash svar mean boli too kaun hai maianne nirbhik bhav se uttar diya maian jnanasarovar ke tat par rahati hooan. yahaan bazar mean kuchh samagriyaan lene ayi thi kiantu shahar mean kisi ka pata nahian. us stri ne pichhe ki or dekh kar kuchh sanket kiya aur do savaroan ne age badh kar mujhe pak d liya aur meri baanhoan mean rassiyaan dal dian. meri samajh mean n ata tha ki mujhe kis aparadh ka dand diya ja raha hai. bahut poochhane par bhi kisi ne mere prashnoan ka uttar n diya. haan anuman se yah prakat hua ki yah stri yahaan ki rani hai. mujhe apane vishay mean to koee chianta n thi par chianta thi sherasianh ki vah akele ghabara rahe hoange. bhojan ka samay a pahuancha kaun khilavega. kis vipatti mean phansi. nahian maloom vidhata ab meri kya durgati kareange. mujh abhagin ko is dasha mean bhi shaanti nahian. inhian malin vicharoan mean magn maian savaroan ke sath adh ghante tak chalati rahi ki samane ek ooanchi paha di par ek vishal bhavan dikhayi diya. oopar chadhane ke lie patthar kat kar chau de jine banaye gaye the. ham log oopar chadhe. vahaan saik doan hi adami dikhayi diye kiantu sab-ke-sab kale vastr dharan kie hue the. maian jis kamare mean la kar rakhi gayi vahaan ek kushasan ke atirikt sajavat ka aur saman n tha. maian zamin par baith kar apane nasib ko rone lagi. jo koee yahaan ata tha mujh par karun drishtipat karake chupachap chala jata tha. tho di der mean rani sahab a kar usi kushasan par baith gayian. yadyapi unaki avastha pachas varsh se adhik thi parantu mukh par adbhut kaanti thi. maianne apane sthan se uth kar unaka samman kiya aur hath baandh kar apani kismat ka phaisala sunane ke lie kh di ho gayi.

ai musaphir rani mahodaya ke tevar dekh kar pahale to mere pran sookh gaye kiantu jis prakar chandan jaisi kathor vastu mean manohar sugandhi chhipi hoti hai usi prakar unaki karkashata aur kathorata ke niche mom ke sadrish hriday chhipa hua tha. unaka pyara putr tho de hi din pahale yuvavastha hi mean daga de gaya tha. usi ke shok mean sara shahar matam mana raha tha. mere pak de jane ka karan yah tha ki maianne kale vastr kyoan n dharan kiye the. yah vrittaant sun kar maian samajh gayi ki jis rajakumar ka shok manaya ja raha hai vah vahi yuvak hai jo meri gupha mean p da hua hai. maianne unase poochha rajakumar mushki gho de par to savar nahian the

rani-haan-haan mushki gho da tha. use maianne unake lie arab desh se mangava diya tha. kya toone unhean dekha hai

maian-haan dekha hai.

rani ne poochha-kab

maian-jis din vah sher ka shikar khelane gaye the.

rani-kya tere samane hi sher ne un par chot ki thi

maian-haan meri aankhoan ke samane.

rani utsuk ho kar kh di ho gayi aur b de din bhav se boli-too unaki lash ka pata laga sakati hai

maian-aisa n kahie vah amar hoan. vah do saptahoan se mere yahaan mehaman haian.

rani harshamay ashchary se boli-mera ranadhir jivit hai

maian-haan ab unamean chalane-phirane ki shakti a gayi hai.

rani mere pairoan par gir p di.

tisare din arjun nagar ki kuchh aur hi shobha thi. vayu anand ke madhur svar mean gooanjati thi dookanoan ne phooloan ka har pahana tha bazaroan mean anand ke utsav manaye ja rahe the. shok ke kale vastroan ki jagah kesar ka suhavana rang badhaee de raha tha. idhar soory ne usha-sagar se sir nikala. udhar salamiyaan dagana arambh hueean. age-age maian ek sabja gho de par savar a rahi thi aur pichhe rajakumar ka hathi sunahare jhooloan se saza chala ata tha. striyaan atariyoan par mangal ke git gati thian aur pushpoan ki vrishti karati thian. rajabhavan ke dvar par rani motiyoan se aanchal-bhare kh di thi jyoan hi rajakumar hathi se utare vah unhean god mean lene ke lie dau di aur chhati se laga liya.

ai musaphir anandotsav samapt hone par jab maian vida hone lagi to rani mahoday ne sajal nayan ho kar kaha:

beti toone mere sath jo upakar kiya hai usaka phal tujhe bhagavanh deange. toone mere rajavansh ka uddhar kar diya nahian to koee pitaroan ko jal denevala bhi n rahata. maian tujhe kuchh bidaee dena chahati hooan vah tujhe svikar karani p degi. agar ranadhir mera putr hai to too meri putri hai. toone hi ranadhir ko pranadan diya hai toone hi is rajy ka punaruddhar kiya hai. isalie is maya-bandhan se tera gala nahian chhootega. maian arjun nagar ka praant upaharasvaroop teri bheant karati hooan.

rani ki yah asim udarata dekh kar maian dang rah gayi. kaliyug mean bhi koee aisa dani ho sakata hai isaki mujhe asha n thi. yadyapi mujhe dhan-bhog ki lalasa n thi par keval is vichar se ki kadachith yah sampatti mujhe apane bhaiyoan ki seva karane ki samarthy de maianne ek jagiradar ki zimmedariyaan apane sir lian. tab se do varsh vyatit ho chuke haian par bhog-vilas ne mere man ko ek kshan ke lie bhi chanchal nahian kiya. maian kabhi palang par nahian soyi. rookhi-sookhi vastuoan ke atirikt aur kuchh nahian khaya. pati-viyog ki dasha mean stri tapasvini ho jati hai usaki vasanaoan ka aant ho jata hai mere pas kee vishal bhavan haian kee ramanik vatikaean haian vishay-vasana ki aisi koee samagri nahian hai jo prachur matr mean upasthit n ho par mere lie vah sab tyajy haian. bhavan soone p de haian aur vatikaoan mean khojane se bhi hariyali n milegi. maianne unaki or kabhi aankh utha kar bhi nahian dekha. apane pranadhar ke charanoan se lage hue mujhe any kisi vastu ki ichchha nahian hai. maian nityaprati arjun nagar jati hooan aur riyasat ke avashyak kam-kaj karake laut ati hooan. naukar-chakaroan ko k di ajna de di gayi hai ki meri shaanti mean badhak n hoan. riyasat ki sampoorn ay paropakar mean vyay hoti hai. maian usaki kau di bhi apane kharch mean nahian lati. apako avakash ho to ap meri riyasat ka prabandh dekh kar bahut prasann hoange. maianne in do varshoan mean bis b de-b de talab banava diye haian aur chalis goshalaean banava di haian. mera vichar hai ki apani riyasat mean naharoan ka aisa jal bichha dooan jaise sharir mean na diyoan ka. maianne ek sau kushal vaidy niyukt kar diye haian jo gramoan mean vicharan karean aur rog ki nivritti karean. mera koee aisa gram nahian hai jahaan meri or se saphaee ka prabandh n ho. chhote-chhote gaanvoan mean apako lalatenean jalati huee mileangi. din ka prakash eeshvar deta hai rat ke prakash ki vyavastha karana raja ka karttavy hai. maianne sara prabandh pandit shridhar ke hathoan mean de diya hai. sabase pratham kary jo maiann kiya vah yah tha ki unhean dhooandh nikalooan aur yah bhar unake sir rakh dooan. is vichar se nahian ki unaka samman karana mera abhisht tha balki meri drishti mean koee any purush aisa karttavyaparayan aisa niahsprih aisa sachcharitr n tha. mujhe poorn vishvas hai ki vah yavajjivan riyasat ki bagador apane hath mean rakheange. vidyadhari bhi unake sath hai. vahi shaanti aur santosh ki moorti vahi dharm aur vrat ki devi. usaka pativrat ab bhi jnanasarovar ki bhaanti apar aur athah hai. yadyapi usaka sauandary-soory ab madhyahn par nahian hai par ab bhi vah ranivas ki rani jan p dati hai. chiantaoan ne usake mukh par shikan dal diye haian. ham donoan kabhi-kabhi mil jati haian. kiantu batachit ki naubat nahian ati. usaki aankhean jhuk jati haian. mujhe dekhate hi usake oopar gh doan pani p d jata hai aur usake mathe ke jalabiandu dikhaee dene lagate haian. maian apase saty kahati hooan ki mujhe vidyadhari se koee shikayat nahian hai. usake prati mere man mean dinoandin shraddha aur bhakti badhati jati hai. maian use dekhati hooan to mujhe prabal utkantha hoti hai ki usake pairoan par padooan. pativrata stri ke darshan b de saubhagy se milate haian. par keval is bhay se ki kadachith vah ise meri khushamad samajhe ruk jati hooan. ab meri eeshvar se yahi prarthana hai ki apane svami ke charanoan mean p di rahooan aur jab is sansar se prasthan karane ka samay aye to mera mastak unake charanoan par ho. aur antim jo shabd mere muanh se nikalean vah yahi ki eeshvar doosare janm mean bhi inaki cheri banana.

pathak us sundari ka jivan-vrittaant sun kar mujhe jitana kutoohal hua vah akathaniy hai. khed hai ki jis jati mean aisi pratibhashalini deviyaan utpann hoan us par pashchaty ke kalpanahin vishvasahin purush uangaliyaan uthayean samast yoorop mean ek aisi sundari n hogi jisase isaki tulana ki ja sake. hamane stri-purush ke sambandh ko saansarik sambandh samajh rakha hai. usaka adhyatmik roop hamare vichar se kosoan door hai. yahi karan hai ki hamare desh mean shatabdiyoan ki unnati ke pashchath bhi pativrat ka aisa ujjval aur alaukik udaharan nahian mil sakata. aur durbhagy se hamari sabhyata ne aisa marg grahan kiya hai ki kadachith door bhavishy mean aisi deviyoan ke janm lene ki sambhavana nahian hai. jarmani ko yadi apani sena par phraans ko apani vilasita par aur iangalaiand ko apane vanijy par garv hai to bharatavarsh ko apane pativrat ka ghamand hai. kya yooropanivasiyoan ke lie yah lajja ki bat nahian hai ki homar aur varjil daiante aur gete sheksapiyar aur hyoogo jaise uchchakoti ke kavi ek bhi sita ya savitri ki rachana n kar sake. vastav mean yooropiy samaj aise adarshoan se vanchit hai !

maianne doosare din jnanasarovar se b di anichchha ke sath vida maangi aur yoorop ko chala. mere lautane ka samachar poorv hi prakashit ho chuka tha. jab mera jahaz haimpabarg ke bandaragah mean pahuancha to saharshoan nar-nari saik doan vidvanh aur rajakarmachari mera abhivadan karane ke lie kh de the. mujhe dekhate hi taliyaan bajane lagian roomal aur top hava mean uchhalane lage aur vahaan se mere ghar tak jis samaroh se juloos nikala us par kisi rashtrapati ko bhi garv ho sakata hai. sandhya samay mujhe kaisar ki mej par bhojan karane ka saubhagy prapt hua. kee dinoan tak abhinandan-patroan ka taanta laga raha aur mahinoan klab aur yoonivarsiti ki pharamaishoan se dam marane ka avakash n mila. yatravrittaant desh ke prayah sabhi patroan mean chhapa. any deshoan se bhi badhaee ke tar aur patr mile. phraans aur roos adi deshoan ki kitani hi sabhaoan ne mujhe vyakhyan dene ke lie nimantrit kiya. ek-ek vaktrita ke lie mujhe kee-kee hazar pauand diye jate the. kee vidyalayoan ne mujhe upadhiyaan dian. jar ne apana atograph bhej kar sammanit kiya kintu in adar-samman ki aandhiyoan se mere chitt ko shaanti n milati thi aur jnanasarovar ka suramy tat aur vah gahari gupha aur vah mridubhashini ramani sadaiv aankhoan ke samane phirati rahati. usake madhur shabd kanoan mean gooanja karate. maian thiyetaroan mean jata aur spen aur jarjiya ki sundariyoan ko dekhata kiantu himalay ki apsara mere dhyan se n utarati. kabhi-kabhi kalpana mean mujhe vah devi akash se utarati huee maloom hoti tab chitt chanchal ho jata aur vikal utkantha hoti ki kisi tarah par laga kar jnanasarovar ke tat pahuanch jaooan. akhir ek roj maianne saphar ka saman durust kiya aur usi miti ke thik ek hazar dinoan ke bad jab ki maianne pahali bar jnanasarovar ke tat par qadam rakha tha maian phir vahaan ja pahuancha.

prabhat ka samay tha. giriraj sunahara mukut pahane kh de the. mand samir ke anandamay jhoankoan se jnanasarovar ka nirmal prakash se pratibimbit jal is prakar lahara raha tha mano aganit apsaraean abhooshanoan se jagamagati huee nrity kar rahi hoan. laharoan ke sath shatadal yoan jhakore lete the jaise koee balak hiandole mean jhool raha ho. phooloan ke bich mean shvet hans tairate hue aise maloom hote the mano lalima se chhaye hue akash par taragan chamak rahe hoan. maianne utsuk netroan se is gupha ki or dekha to vahaan ek vishal rajaprasad asaman se kandha milaye kh da tha. ek or ramanik upavan tha doosari or ek gaganachumbi mandir. mujhe yah kayapalat dekh kar ashchary hua. mukhy dvar par ja kar dekha to do chobadar oode makhamal ki vardiyaan pahane jari ke patte baandhe kh de the. maianne unase poochha kyoan bhaee yah kisaka mahal hai

chobadar-arjun nagar ki maharani ka.

maian-kya abhi hal hi mean bana hai

chobadar-haan ! tum kaun ho

maian-ek paradesi yatri hooan. kya tum maharani ko meri soochana de doge

chobadar-tumhara kya nam hai aur kahaan se ate ho

maian-unase keval itana kah dena ki yoorop se ek yatri aya hai aur apake darshan karana chahata hai.

chobadar bhitar chala gaya aur ek kshan ke bad a kar bola mere sath ao

maian usake sath ho liya. pahale ek lambi dalan mili jisamean bhaanti-bhaanti ke pakshi pianjaroan mean baithe chahak rahe the. isake bad ek vistrit barahadari mean pahuancha jo sampoornatah pashan ki bani huee thi. maianne aisi sundar gulakari tajamahal ke atirikt aur kahian nahian dekhi. pharsh ki pachchikari ko dekh kar us par paanv dharate sankoch hota tha. divaroan par nipun chitrakaroan ki rachanaean shobhayaman thian. barahadari ke doosare sire par ek chabootara tha jis par moti kalinean bichhi huee thian. maian pharsh par baith gaya. itane mean ek lambe qad ka roopavanh purush aandar ata hua dikhayi diya. usake mukh par pratibha ki jyoti jhalak rahi thi aur aankhoan se garv tapaka p data tha. usaki kali aur bhale ki nok ke sadrish tani huee mooanchhean usake bhauanre ki tarah kale ghuangharale bal usaki akriti ki kathorata ko namr kar dete the. vinayapoorn virata ka isase sundar chitr nahian khianch sakata tha. usane meri or dekh kar muskarate hue kaha ap mujhe pahachanate haian maian adab se kh da ho kar bola mujhe apase parichay ka saubhagy nahian prapt hua. vah kalin par baith gaya aur bola maian sherasianh hooan. maian avakh rah gaya. sherasianh ne phir kaha kya ap prasann nahian haian ki apane mujhe pistaul ka lakshy nahian banaya maian tab pashu tha ab manushy hooan. maianne kaha apako hriday se dhanyavad deta hooan. yadi ajna ho to maian apase ek prashn karana chahata hooan.

sherasianh ne muskara kar kaha-maian samajh gaya poochhie.

maian-jab ap samajh hi gaye to maian poochhooan kyoan

sherasianh-sambhav hai mera anuman thik n ho.

maian-mujhe bhay hai ki us prashn se apako duahkh n ho.

sherasianh-kam se kam apako mujhase aisi shanka n karani chahie.

maian-vidyadhari ke bhram mean kuchh sar tha

sherasianh ne sir jhuka kar der mean uttar diya-ji haan tha. jis vakt maianne usaki kalaee pak di thi us samay avesh se mera ek-ek aang kaanp raha tha. maian vidyadhari ke us anugrah ko maranaparyant n bhoolooanga. magar itana prayashchitt karane par bhi mujhe apani glani se nivritti n huee. sansar ki koee vastu sthir nahian kiantu pap ki kalima amar aur amit hai. yash aur kirti kalaantar mean mit jati hai kiantu pap ka dhabba nahian mitata. mera vichar hai ki eeshvar bhi dag ko nahian mita sakata. koee tapasya koee dand koee prayashchitt is kalima ko nahian dho sakata. patitoddhar ki kathaean aur tauba ya kanpheshan karake pap se mukt ho jane ki batean yah sab sansar-lipsi pakhandi dharmavalambiyoan ki kalpanaean haian.

ham donoan yahi batean kar rahe the ki rani priyanvada samane a kar kh di ho gayian. mujhe aj anubhav hua jo bahut dinoan se pustakoan mean padha karata tha ki sauandary mean prakash hota hai. aj isaki satyata maianne apani aankhoan se dekhi. maianne jab unhean pahale dekha tha to nishchay kiya tha ki yah eeshvariy kalanaipuny ki parakashtha hai parantu ab jab maianne unhean dobara dekha to jnat hua ki vah is asal ki nakal thi. priyanvada ne muskara kar kaha- musaphir tujhe svadesh mean bhi kabhi ham logoan ki yad ayi thi agar maian chitrakar hota to usake madhu hasy ko chitrit karake prachin guniyoan ko chakit kar deta. usake muanh se yah prashn sunane ke lie taiyar n tha. yadi isi bhaanti maian usaka uttar deta to shayad vah meri dhrishtata hoti aur sherasianh ke tevar badal jate. maian yah bhi n sah saka ki mere jivan ka sabase sukhad bhag vahi tha jo jnanasarovar ke tat par vyatit hua tha kiantu mujhe itana sahas bhi n hua. maianne dabi jaban se kaha kya maian manushy nahian hooan.

tin din bit gaye. in tin dinoan mean khoob maloom ho gaya ki poorv ko atithyasevi kyoan kahate haian. yoorop ka koee doosara manushy jo yahaan ki sabhyata se parichit n ho in satkaroan se oob jata. kiantu mujhe in deshoan ke rahan-sahan ka bahut anubhav ho chuka hai aur maian isaka adar karata hooan.

chauthe din meri vinay par rani priyanvada ne apani shesh katha sunani shuroo ki-

ai musaphir maianne tujhase kaha tha ki apani riyasat ka shasan-bhar maianne shridhar par rakh diya tha aur jitani yogyata aur dooradarshita se unhoanne is kam ko samhala hai usaki prashansa nahian ho sakati. aisa bahut kam hua hai ki ek vidvanh pandit jisaka sara jivan pathan-pathan mean vyatit hua ho ek riyasat ka bojh samhale kiantu raja virabal ki bhaanti pan. shridhar bhi sab kuchh kar sakate haian. maianne pariksharth unhean yah kam sauanpa tha. anubhav ne siddh kar diya ki vah is kary ke sarvatha yogy haian. aisa jan p data hai ki kul-parampara ne unhean is kam ke lie abhyast kar diya. jis samay unhoanne isaka kam apane hath mean liya yah riyasat ek ooj d gram ke sadrish thi. ab vah dhanadhanyapoorn ek nagar hai. shasan ka koee aisa vibhag nahian jis par unaki sookshm drishti n pahuanchi ho.

tho de hi dinoan mean log unake shil-svabhav par mugdh ho gaye aur raja ranadhirasianh bhi un par kripa-drishti rakhane lage. pandit ji pahale shahar se bahar ek thakuradvare mean rahate the. kiantu jab raja sahab se mel-jol badha to unake agrah se vivash ho kar rajamahal mean chale aye. yahaan tak paraspar maitri aur ghanishthata badhi ki man-pratishtha ka vichar jata raha. raja sahab pandit ji se sanskrit bhi padhate the aur unake samay ka adhikaansh bhag pandit ji ke makan par hi katata tha kintu shok ! yah vidyaprem ya shuddh mitrabhav ka akarshan n tha. yah sauandary ka akarshan tha. yadi us samay mujhe leshamatr bhi sandeh hota ki ranadhirasianh ki yah ghanishthata kuchh aur hi pahaloo liye hue hai to usaka aant itana khedajanak n hota jitana ki hua. unaki drishti vidyadhari par us samay p di jab vah thakuradvare mean rahati thi aur yah sari kuyojanaean usi ki karamat thian. raja sahab svabhavatah b de hi sachcharitr aur sanyami purush haian kiantu jis roop ne mere pati jaise devapurush ka eeman diga diya vah sab kuchh kar sakata hai.

bholi-bhali vidyadhari manovikaroan ki is kutil niti se bekhabar thi. jis prakar chhalaangean marata hua hiran vyadh ki phailayi huee hari-hari ghas se prasann ho kar us or badhata hai aur yah nahian samajhata ki pratyek pag mujhe sarvanash ki or liye jata hai usi bhaanti vidyadhari ko usaka chanchal man aandhakar ki or khianche lie jata tha. vah raja sahab ke lie apane hathoan se bi de laga kar bhejati pooja ke lie chandan rag dati. rani ji se bhi usaka bahanapa ho gaya. vah ek kshan ke lie bhi use apane pas se n jane detian. donoan sath-sath bag ki sair karatian sath-sath jhoola jhoolatian sath-sath chaup d khelatian. yah unaka shrriangar karati aur vah unaki maang-choti sanvarati mano vidyadhari ne rani ke hriday mean vah sthan prapt kar liya jo kisi samay mujhe prapt tha. lekin vah garib kya janati thi ki jab maian bag ki ravishoan mean vicharati hooan to kuvasana mere talave ke niche aankhean bichhati hai jab maian jhoola jhoolati hooan to vah a d mean baithi huee anand se jhoomati hai. is ek saral hriday abala stri ke lie charoan or se chakravyooh racha ja raha tha.

is prakar ek varsh vyatit ho gaya raja sahab ka rabt-jabt dinoandin badhata jata tha. pandit ji ko unase vah sneh ho gaya jo guru ji ko apane ek honahar shishy se hota hai. maianne jab dekha ki athoan pahar ka yah sahavas pandit ji ke kam mean vighn dalata hai to ek din maianne unase kaha-yadi apako koee apatti n ho to doorasth dehatoan ka daura arambh kar dean aur is bat ka anusandhan karean ki dehatoan mean krishakoan ke lie baiank kholane mean hamean praja se kitani sahanubhooti aur kitani sahayata ki asha karani chahie. pandit ji ke man ki bat nahian janati par pratyaksh mean unhoanne koee apatti nahian ki. doosare hi din pratahkal chale gaye. kiantu ashchary hai ki vidyadhari unake sath n gayi. ab tak pandit ji jahaan kahian jate the vidyadhari parachhaeean ki bhaanti unake sath rahati thi. asuvidha ya kasht ka vichar bhi usake man mean n ata tha. pandit ji kitana hi samajhayean kitana hi darayean par vah unaka sath n chho dati thi par abaki bar kasht ke vichar ne use kartavy ke marg se vimukh kar diya. pahale usaka pativrat ek vriksh tha jo usake prem ki kyari mean akela kh da tha kintu ab usi kyari mean maitri ka ghas-pat nikal aya tha jinaka poshan bhi usi bhojan par avalambit tha.

ai musaphir chhah mahine gujar gaye aur pandit shridhar vapas n aye. paha doan ki chotiyoan par chhaya hua him ghul-ghul kar nadiyoan mean bahane laga unaki god mean phir rang-birang ke phool lahalahane lage. chandrama ki kiranean phir phooloan ki mahak sooanghane lagian. sabhi parvatoan ke pakshi apani varshik yatr samapt kar phir svadesh a pahuanche kiantu pandit ji riyasat ke kamoan mean aise ulajhe ki mere nirantar agrah karane par bhi arjun nagar n aye. vidyadhari ki or se vah itane udasin kyoan hue samajh mean nahian ata tha. unhean to usaka viyog ek kshan ke lie bhi asahy tha. kiantu isase adhik ashchary ki bat yah thi ki vidyadhari ne bhi agrahapoorn patroan ke likhane ke atirikt unake pas jane ka kasht n uthaya. vah apane patroan mean likhati- svami ji maian bahut vyakul hooan yahaan mera ji jara bhi nahian lagata. ek din ek-ek varsh ke saman vyatit hota hai. n din ko chain n rat ko niand. kya ap mujhe bhool gaye mujhase kaun-sa aparadh hua kya apako mujh par daya bhi nahian ati maian apake viyog mean ro-ro kar mari jati hooan. nity svapn dekhati hooan ki ap a rahe haian par yah svapn sachcha nahian hota. usake patr aise hi premamay shabdoan se bhare hote the aur isamean bhi koee sandeh nahian ki jo kuchh vah likhati thi vah bhi aksharashah saty tha magar itani vyakulata itani chianta aur itani udvignata par bhi usake man mean kabhi yah prashn n utha ki kyoan n maian hi unake pas chali chalooan.

bahut hi suhavani rritu thi. jnanasarovar mean yauvan-kal ki abhilashaoan ki bhaanti kamal ke phool khile hue the. raja ranajitasianh ki pachisavian jayanti ka shubh-muhoort aya. sare nagar mean anandotsav ki taiyariyaan hone lagian. grihaniyaan kore-kore dipak pani mean bhigone lagian ki vah adhik tel n sokh jayan. chaitr ki poornima thi kintu dipak ki jagamagahat ne jyotsana ko mat kar diya tha. maianne raja sahab ke lie isphahan se ek ratn-jatit talavar manga rakhi thi. darabar ke any jagiradaroan aur adhikariyoan ne bhi bhaanti-bhaanti ke upahar manga rakhe the. maianne vidyadhari ke ghar ja kar dekha to vah ek pushpahar gooanth rahi thi. maian adh ghante tak usake sammukh kh di rahi kiantu vah apane kam mean itani vyast thi ki use meri ahat bhi n mili. tab maianne dhire se pukara bahan vidyadhari ne chauank kar sir uthaya aur b di shighrata se vah har phool ki dali mean chhipa diya aur lajjit ho kar boli-kya tum der se kh di ho maianne uttar diya-adh ghante se adhik hua.

vidyadhari ke chehare ka rang u d gaya aankhean jhuk gayian kuchh hichakichayi kuchh ghabarayi apane aparadhi hriday ko in shabdoan se shaant kiya- yah har maianne thakur ji ke lie gooantha hai. is samay vidyadhari ki ghabarahat ka bhed maian kuchh n samajhi. thakur ji ke lie har gooanthana kya koee lajja ki bat hai phir jab vah har meri najaroan se chhipa diya gaya to usaka zikr hi kya ham donoan ne kitani hi bar sath baith kar har gooanthe the. koee nipun malin bhi hamase achchhe har n gooanth sakati thi magar isamean sharm kya doosare din yah rahasy meri samajh mean a gaya. vah har raja ranadhirasianh ko upahar mean dene ke lie banaya gaya tha.

yah bahut suandar vastu thi. vidyadhari ne apana sara chatury usake banane mean kharch kiya tha. kadachith yah sabase uttam vastu thi jo raja sahab ko bheant kar sakati thi. vah brahmani thi. raja sahab ki gurumata thi. usake hathoan se yah upahar bahut hi shobha deta tha kiantu yah bat usane mujhase chhipayi kyoan

mujhe us din rat bhar niand n ayi. usake is rahasy-bhav ne use meri najaroan se gira diya. ek bar aankh jhapaki to maianne use svapn mean dekha mano vah ek suandar pushp hai kintu usaki bas mit gayi ho. vah mujhase gale milane ke lie badhi kiantu maian hat gayi aur boli ki toone mujhase yah bat chhipayi kyoan

ai musaphir raja ranadhirasianh ki udarata ne praja ko malamal kar diya. reesoan aur amiroan ne khilatean payian. kisi ko gho da mila kisi ko jagir mili. mujhe unhoanne shribhagavadgita ki ek prati ek makhamali baste mean rakh di. vidyadhari ko ek bahumooly j daoo kangan mila. us kangan mean anamol hire j de hue the. dehali ke nipun svarnakaroan ne isake banane mean apani kala ka chamatkar dikhaya tha. vidyadhari ko ab tak abhooshanoan se itana prem n tha ab tak sadagi hi usaka abhooshan aur pavitrata hi usaka shrriangar thi par is kangan par vah lot-pot ho gayi.

ashadh ka mahina aya. ghataean gaganamandal mean mandarane lagian. pandit shridhar ko ghar ki sudh ayi. patr likha ki maian a raha hooan. vidyadhari ne makan khoob saf karaya aur svayan apana banav-shrriangar kiya. usake vastroan se chandan ki mahak u d rahi thi. usane kangan ko sandookache se nikala aur sochane lagi ki ise pahanooan ya n pahanooan usake man ne nishchay kiya ki n pahanooangi. sandook band karake rakh diya.

sahasa lauandi ne a kar soochana di ki pandit ji a gaye. yah sunate hi vidyadhari lapak kar uthi kiantu pati ke darshanoan ki utsukata use dvar ki or nahian le gayi. usane b di phurti se sandookacha khola kangan nikal kar pahana aur apani soorat aine mean dekhane lagi.

idhar pandit ji prem ki utkantha se qadam badhate dalan se aangan aur aangan se vidyadhari ke kamare mean a pahuanche. vidyadhari ne a kar unake charanoan ko apane sir se sparsh kiya. pandit ji usaka yah shrriangar dekh kar dang rah gaye. ekaek unaki drishti us kangan par p di. raja ranadhirasianh ki sangat ne unhean ratnoan ka parakhi bana diya tha. dhyan se dekha to ek-ek nagina ek-ek hazar ka tha. chakit ho kar bole yah kangan kahaan mila

vidyadhari ne javab pahale hi soch rakha tha. rani priyanvada ne diya hai. yah jivan mean pahala avasar tha ki vidyadhari ne apane patidev se kapat kiya. jab hriday shuddh n ho to mukh se saty kyoankar nikale ! yah kangan nahian varanh ek vishaila nag tha.

ek saptah gujar gaya. vidyadhari ke chitt ki shaanti aur prasannata lupt ho gayi thi. yah shabd ki rani priyanvada ne diya hai pratikshan usake kanoan mean gooanja karate. vah apane ko dhikkarati ki maianne apane pranadhar se kyoan kapat kiya. bahudha roya karati. ek din usane socha ki kyoan n chal kar pati se sara vrittaant suna dooan. kya vah mujhe kshama n kareange yah soch kar uthi kiantu pati ke sammukh jate hi usaki jaban band ho gayi. vah apane kamare mean ayi aur phoot-phoot kar rone lagi. kangan pahan kar use bahut anand hua tha. isi kangan ne use hansaya tha ab vahi rula raha hai.

vidyadhari ne rani ke sath bagoan mean sair karana chho d diya chaup d aur shataranj usake nam ko roya karate. yah sare din apane kamare mean p di roya karati aur sochati ki kya karooan. kale vastr par kala dag chhip jata hai kiantu ujjval vastr par kalima ki ek booand bhi jhalakane lagati hai. vah sochati isi kangan ne mera sukh har liya hai yahi kangan mujhe rakt ke aansoo rula raha hai. sarp jitana suandar hota hai utana hi vishakt bhi hota hai. yah suandar kangan vishadhar nag hai maian usaka sir kuchal dalooangi. yah nishchay karake usane ek din apane kamare mean koyale ka alav jalaya charoan taraph ke kiva d band kar diye aur us kangan ko jisane usake jivan ko sankatamay bana rakha tha sandookache se nikal kar ag mean dal diya. ek din vah tha ki kangan use pranoan se bhi pyara tha use makhamali sandookache mean rakhati thi aj use itani nirdayata se ag mean jala rahi hai.

vidyadhari alav ke samane baithi huee thi itane mean pandit shridhar ne dvar khatakhataya. vidyadhari ko kato to lohoo nahian. usane uth kar dvar khol diya aur sir jhuka kar kh di ho gayi. pandit ji ne b de ashchary se kamare mean nigah dau dayi par rahasy kuchh samajh mean n aya. bole ki kiva d band karake kya ho raha hai vidyadhari ne uttar n diya. tab pandit ji ne chh di utha li aur alav kureda to kangan nikal aya. usaka sanpoornatah roopaantar ho gaya tha. n vah chamak thi n vah rang n vah akar. ghabara kar bole vidyadhari tumhari buddhi kahaan hai

vidya.-bhrasht ho gayi hai.

pandit-is kangan ne tumhara kya biga da tha

vidya.-isane mere hriday mean ag laga rakhi hai.

pandit-aisi amooly vastu mitti mean mil gayi.

vidya.-isane usase bhi amooly vastu ka apaharan kiya hai.

pandit-tumhara sir to nahian phir gaya hai

vidya.-shayad apaka anuman saty hai.

pandit ji ne vidyadhari ki or chubhanevali nigahoan se dekha. vidyadhari ki aankhean niche ko jhuk gayian. vah unase aankhean n mila saki. bhay hua ki kahian yah tivr drishti mere hriday mean n chubh jay. pandit ji kathor svar mean bole-vidyadhari tumhean spasht kahana hoga. vidyadhari se ab n ruka gaya vah rone lagi aur pandit ji ke sammukh dharati par gir p di.

vidyadhari ko jab sudh ayi to pandit ji ka vahaan pata n tha. ghabarayi huee bahar ke divanakhane mean ayi magar yahaan bhi unhean n paya. naukaroan se poochha to maloom hua ki gho de par savar ho kar jnanasarovar ki or gaye haian. yah sun kar vidyadhari ko kuchh dhadhas hua. vah dvar par kh di ho kar unaki rah dekhati rahi. dopahar hua soory sir par aya sandhya huee chi diyaan basera lene lagian phir rat ayi gagan mean taragan jagamagane lage kiantu vidyadhari divar ki bhaanti kh di pati ka iantazar karati rahi. rat bhig gayi vanajantuoan ke bhayanak shabd kanoan mean ane lage sannata chha gaya. sahasa use gho de ke tapoan ki dhvani sunayi di. usaka hriday ph dakane laga. anandonmatt ho kar dvar ke bahar nikal ayi kiantu gho de par savar n tha. vidyadhari ko ab vishvas ho gaya ki ab patidev ke darshan n hoange. ya to unhoanne sannyas le liya ya atmaghat kar liya. usake kanth se vairagy aur vishad mean doobi huee thandi saans nikali. vahian bhoomi par baith gayi aur sari rat khoon ke aansoo bahati rahi. jab usha ki nidra bhang huee aur pakshi anandagan karane lage tab vah dukhiya uthi aur aandar jakar let rahi.

jis prakar soory ka tav jal ko sokh leta hai usi bhaanti shok ke tav ne vidyadhari ka rakt jala diya. mukh se thandi saans nikalati thi aankhoan se garm aansoo bahate the. bhojan se aruchi ho gayi aur jivan se ghrina. isi avastha mean ek din raja ranadhirasianh samavedana-bhav se usake pas aye. unhean dekhate hi vidyadhari ki aankhean raktavarn ho gayian krodh se oanth kaanpane lage jhallayi huee nagin ki bhaanti phuphakar kar uthi aur raja ke sammukh a kar karkash svar mean boli papi yah ag teri hi lagayi huee hai. yadi mujhamean ab bhi kuchh saty hai to tujhe is dushtata ke kaduve phal mileange. ye tir ke-se shabd raja ke hriday mean chubh gaye. muanh se ek shabd bhi n nikala. kal se n daranevala rajapoot ek stri ki agney drishti se kaanp utha.

ek varsh bit gaya himalay par manohar hariyali chhayi phooloan ne parvat ki god mean kri da karani shuroo ki. yah rritu biti jal-thal ne barf ki suphed chadar odhi jalapakshiyoan ki malaean maidanoan ki or u dati huee dikhaee dene lagian. yah mausam bhi gujara. nadi-naloan mean doodh ki dharean bahane lagian chandrama ki svachchh nirmal jyoti jnanasarovar mean thirakane lagi parantu pandit shridhar ki kuchh toh n lagi. vidyadhari ne rajabhavan tyag diya aur ek purane nirjan mandir mean tapasviniyoan ki bhaanti kalakshep karane lagi. us dukhiya ki dasha kitani karunajanak thi. use dekh kar meri aankhean bhar ati thian. vah meri pyari sakhi thi. usaki sangat mean mere jivan ke kee varsh anand se vyatit hue the. usaka yah apar duahkh dekh kar maian apana duahkh bhool gayi. ek din vah tha ki usane apane pativrat ke bal par manushy ko pashu ke roop mean parinat kar diya tha aur aj yah din hai ki usaka pati bhi use tyag raha hai. kisi stri ke hriday par isase adhik lajjajanak isase adhik pranaghatak aghat nahian lag sakata. usaki tapasya ne mere hriday mean use phir usi samman ke pad par bitha diya. usake satitv par phir meri shraddha ho gayi kintu usase kuchh poochhate saantvana dete mujhe sankoch hota tha. maian darati thi ki kahian vidyadhari yah n samajhe ki maian usase badala le rahi hooan. kee mahinoan ke bad jab vidyadhari ne apane hriday ka bojha halaka karane ke lie svayan mujhase yah vrittaant kaha to mujhe jnan hua ki yah sab kaante raja ranadhirasianh ke boye hue the. unhian ki prerana se rani ji ne pandit ji ke sath jane se roka. usake svabhav ne jo kuchh rang badala vah rani ji hi ki kusangati ka phal tha. unhian ki dekha-dekhi use banav-shrriangar ki chat p di unhian ke mana karane se usane kangan ka bhed pandit ji se chhipaya. aisi ghatanaean striyoan ke jivan mean nity hoti rahati haian aur unhean jara bhi shanka nahian hoti. vidyadhari ka pativrat adarsh tha. isalie yah vichalata usake hriday mean chubhane lagi. maian yah nahian kahati ki vidyadhari karttavyapath se vichalit nahian huee chahe kisi ke bahakane se chahe apane bholepan se usane karttavy ka sidha rasta chho d diya parantu pap-kalpana usake dil se kosoan door thi.

ai musaphir maianne pandit shridhar ka pata lagana shuroo kiya. maian unaki manovritti se parichit thi. vah shriramachandr ke bhakt the. kaushalapuri ki pavitr bhoomi aur sarayoo nadi ke ramanik tat unake jivan ke sukhasvapn the. mujhe khayal aya ki sambhav hai unhoanne ayodhya ki rah li ho. kahian mere prayatn se unaki khoj mil jati aur maian unhean la kar vidyadhari ke gale se mila deti to mera jivan saphal ho jata. is virahini ne bahut duahkh jhele haian. kya ab bhi devataoan ko us par daya n ayegi ek din maianne sherasianh se kaha aur paanch vishvast manushy ke sath ayodhya ko chali. paha doan se niche utarate hi rel mil gayi. usane hamari yatr sulabh kar di. bisavean din maian ayodhya pahuanch gayi aur dharmashale mean thahari. phir sarayoo mean snan karake shriramachandr ke darshan ko chali. mandir ke aangan mean pahuanchi hi thi ki pandit shridhar ki saumy moorti dikhayi di. vah ek kushasan par baithe hue ramayan ka path kar rahe the aur sahò nar-nari baithe hue unaki amritavani ka anand utha rahe the.

pandit ji ki drishti mujh par jyoan hi p di vah asan se uthakar mere pas aye aur b de prem se mera svagat kiya. do-dhaee ghante tak unhoanne mujhe us mandir ki sair karayi. mandir ki chhat par se sara nagar shataranj ki bisat ki bhaanti mere pairoan ke niche phaila hua dikhayi deta tha. mandagamini vayu sarayoo ki tarangoan ko dhire-dhire thapakiyaan de rahi thi. aisa jan p data tha mano snehamayi mata ne is nagar ko apani god mean liya ho. yahaan se jab apane dere ko chali tab pandit ji bhi mere sath aye. jab vah itaminan se baithe to maianne kaha-apane to ham logoan se nata hi to d liya.

pandit ji ne dukhit hokar kaha-vidhata ki yahi ichchha thi. mera kya vash tha. ab to shriramachandr ki sharan a gaya hooan aur shesh jivan unhian ki seva mean bheant hoga.

maian-ap to shriramachandr ki sharan mean a gaye haian us abala vidyadhari ko kisaki sharan mean chho d diya hai

pandit-apake mukh se ye shabd shobha nahian dete.

maianne uttar diya-vidyadhari ko meri sipharish ki avashyakata nahian hai. agar apane usake pativrat par sandeh kiya hai to apase aisa bhishan pap hua hai jisaka prayashchitt ap bar-bar janm le kar bhi nahian kar sakate. apaki yah bhakti is adharm ka nivaran nahian kar sakati. ap kya janate haian ki apake viyog mean us dukhiya ka jivan kaise kat raha hai.

kintu pandit ji ne aisa muanh bana liya mano is vishay mean vah aantim shabd kah chuke. kiantu maian itani asani se unaka pichha kyoan chho dane lagi. maianne sari katha adyopaant sunayi. aur ranadhirasianh ki kapataniti ka rahasy khol diya tab pandit ji ki aankhean khulian. maian vani mean kushal nahian hooan kiantu us samay saty aur nyay ke paksh ne mere shabdoan ko bahut hi prabhavashali bana diya tha. aisa jan p data tha mano meri jihva par sarasvati virajaman hoan. ab vah batean yad ati haian to mujhe svayan ashchary hota hai. akhir vijay mere hi sath rahi. pandit ji mere sath chalane par udyat ho gaye.

yahaan akar maianne sherasianh ko yahian chho da aur pandit ji ke sath arjunanagar ko chali. ham donoan apane vicharoan mean magn the. pandit ji ki gardan sharm se jhuki huee thi kyoanki ab unaki haisiyat roothanevaloan ki bhaanti nahian balki mananevaloan ki tarah thi.

aj pranay ke sookhe hue dhan mean phir pani p dega prem ki sookhi huee nadi phir um degi !

jab ham vidyadhari ke dvar par pahuanche to din chadh aya tha. pandit ji bahar hi ruk gaye the. maianne bhitar jakar dekha to vidyadhari pooja par thi. kiantu yah kisi devata ki pooja n thi. devata ke sthan par pandit ji ki kh daooan rakhi huee thi. pativrat ka yah alaukik drishy dekh kar mera hriday pulakit ho gaya. maianne dau d kar vidyadhari ke charanoan par sir jhuka diya. usaka sharir sookh kar kaanta ho gaya tha aur shok ne kamar jhuka di thi.

vidyadhari ne mujhe utha kar chhati se laga liya aur boli-bahan mujhe lajjit n karo. khoob ayian bahut dinoan se ji tumhean dekhane ko taras raha tha.

maianne uttar diya-jara ayodhya chali gayi thi. jab ham donoan apane desh mean thian to tab maian kahian jati to vidyadhari ke lie koee n koee upahar avashy lati. use vah bat yad a gayi. sajal-nayan ho kar boli-mere lie bhi kuchh layian

maian-ek bahut achchhi vastu layi hooan.

vidya.-kya hai dekhooan

maian-pahale boojh jao.

vidya.-suhag ki pitari hogi

maian-nahian usase achchhi.

vidya.-thakur ji ki moorti

maian-nahian usase bhi achchhi.

vidya.-mere pranadhar ka koee samachar

maian-usase bhi achchhi.

vidyadhari prabal avesh se vyakul ho kar uthi ki dvar par jakar pati ka svagat kare kiantu nirbalata ne man ki abhilasha n nikalane di. tin bar sanbhali aur tin bar giri tab maianne usaka sir apani god mean rakh liya aur aanchal se hava karane lagi. usaka hriday b de veg se dh dak raha tha aur patidarshan ka anand aankhoan se aansoo ban kar nikalata tha.

jab jara chit savadhan hua to usane kaha-unhean bula lo unaka darshan mujhe ramaban ho jayaga. aisa hi hua. jyoan hi pandit ji aandar aye vidyadhari uth kar unake pairoan se lipat gayi. devi ne bahut dinoan ke bad pati ke darshan paye haian. ashrudhara se unake pair pakhar rahi hai.

maianne vahaan thaharana uchit n samajha. in donoan praniyoan ke hriday mean kitani hi batean a rahi hoangi donoan kya-kya kahana aur kya-kya sunana chahate hoange is vichar se maian uth kh di huee aur boli-bahan ab maian jati hooan sham ko phir aooangi. vidyadhari ne meri or aankhean uthayian. putaliyoan ke sthan par hriday rakha hua tha. donoan aankhean akash ki or utha kar boli-eeshvar tumhean is yash ka phal dean.

ai musaphir maianne do bar pandit shridhar ko maut ke muanh se bachaya tha kintu aj ka-sa anand kabhi n prapt hua tha.

jab maian jnanasarovar par pahuanchi to dopahar ho ayi thi. vidyadhari ki shubhakamana mujhase pahale hi pahuanch chuki thi. maianne dekha ki koee purush gupha se nikal kar jnanasarovar ki or chala jata hai. mujhe ashchary hua ki is samay yahaan kaun aya. lekin jab samip a gaya to mere hriday mean aisi tarangean uthane lagian mano chhati se bahar nikal p dega. yah mere praneshvar mere patidev the. maian charanoan par girana hi chahati thi ki unaka kar-pash mere gale mean p d gaya.

poore das varshoan ke bad aj mujhe yah shubh din dekhana nasib hua. mujhe us samay aisa jan p data tha ki jnanasarovar ke kamal mere hi lie khile haian giriraj ne mere hi lie phool ki shayya di hai hava mere hi lie jhoomati huee a rahi hai.

das varshoan ke bad mera uj da hua ghar basa gaye hue din laute. mere anand ka anuman kaun kar sakata hai.

mere pati ne premakaruna bhari aankhoan se dekh kar kaha priyanvada !