सत्याग्रह -प्रेमचंद

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

hij ekseleansi vaisaray banaras a rahe the. sarakari karmachari, chhote se b de tak, unake svagat ki taiyariyaan kar rahe the. idhar kaangres ne shahar mean h datal manane ki soochana de di thi. isase karmachariyoan mean b di halachal thi. ek or s dakoan par jhandiyaan lagayi ja rahi thian, saphaee ho rahi thi; pandal ban raha tha; doosari or fauj aur pulis ke sipahi sanginean chadhaye shahar ki galiyoan mean aur s dakoan par kavayad karate phirate the. karmachariyoan ki sirato d koshish thi ki h datal n hone paye, magar kaangresiyoan ki dhun thi ki h datal ho aur zaroor ho. agar karmachariyoan ko pashubal ka zor hai to hamean naitik bal ka bharosa, is bar donoan ki pariksha ho jay ki maidan kisake hath rahata hai.

gho de par savar maijistret subah se sham tak dookanadaroan ko dhamakiyaan deta phirata ki ek-ek ko jel bhijava dooanga, bazar lutava dooanga, yah karooanga aur vah karooanga ! dookanadar hath baandhakar kahate- huzoor badashah haian, vidhata haian; jo chahean kar sakate haian. par ham kya karean? kaangresavale hamean jita n chho deange. hamari dookanoan par dharane deange, hamare oopar bal badhayeange, kuean mean gireange, upavas kareange. kaun jane, do-char pran hi de dean to hamare muanh par sadaiv ke lie kalikh put jayagi. huzoor, unhian kaangresavaloan ko samajhayean, to hamare oopar b da ehasan karean. h datal n karane se hamari kuchh hani tho de hi hogi. desh ke b de-b de adami aveange, hamari dookanean khuli raheangi, to ek ke do leange, mahange saude becheange, par karean kya, in shaitanoan se koee bas nahian chalata.

ray haranandan sahab, raja lalachand aur khaanbahadur maulavi mahamoodali to karmachariyoan se bhi zyada bechain the. maijistret ke sath-sath aur akele bhi b di koshish karate the. apane makan par bulakar dookanadaroan ko samajhate, anunay-vinay karate, aankhean dikhate, ikke-baggivaloan ko dhamakate, mazadooroan ki khushamad karate; par kaangres ke mutthi-bhar adamiyoan ka kuchh aisa atank chhaya hua tha ki koee inaki sunata hi n tha. yahaan tak ki p dos ki kuanj din ne bhi nirbhay hokar kah diya- huzoor, chahe mar dalo par dookan n khulegi. nak n katavaooangi. sabase b di chianta yah thi ki kahian pandal banane vale mazadoor, badhee, lohar vagairah kam n chho d dean; nahian to anarth hi ho jayaga. rayasahab ne kaha- huzoor, doosare shaharoan se dookanadar bulavayean aur ek bazar alag kholean.

khaansahab ne pharamaya- vakt itana kam rah gaya hai ki doosara bazar taiyar nahian ho sakata. huzoor kaangresavaloan ko giraphtar kar lean, ya unaki jayadad jabt kar lean, phir dekhie kaise kaboo mean nahian ate !

rajasahab bole- pak d-dhak d se to log aur jhallayeange. kaangres se huzoor kahean ki tum h datal band kar do, to sabako sarakari naukari de di jayagi. usamean adhikaansh bekar log p de haian, yah pralobhan pate hi phool utheange.

magar maijistret ko koee ray n janchi. yahaan tak ki vaisaray ke ane mean tin din aur rah gaye.

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akhir rajasahab ko ek yukti soojhi. kyoan n ham log bhi naitik bal ka prayog karean? akhir kaangresavale dharm aur niti ke nam par hi to yah toomar baandhate haian. ham log bhi unhian ka anukaran karean, sher ko unake maand mean pachha dean. koee aisa adami paida karana chahie, jo vrat kare ki dookanean n khulian, to maian pran de dooanga. yah zaroori hai ki vah brahman ho aur aisa jisako shahar ke log manate hoan, adar karate hoan. any sahayogiyoan ke man mean bhi yah bat baith gayi. uchhal p de. rayasahab ne kaha- bas, ab p dav mar liya. achchha, aisa kaun pandit hai, pandit gadadhar sharma?

raja- ji nahian, use kaun manata hai? khali samachar-patroan mean likha karata hai. shahar ke log use kya janean?

rayasahab- dam di ojha to hai is dhang ka.

raja- ji nahian, kalej ke vidyarthiyoan ke siva use aur kaun janata hai?

rayasahab- pandit moteram shastri?

raja- bas, bas. apane khoob socha. beshak vah hai is dhang ka. usi ko bulana chahie. vidvanh hai, dharm-karm se rahata hai. chatur bhi hai. vah agar hath mean a jay to phir bazi hamari hai.

rayasahab ne turant pandit moteram ke ghar sandesh bheja. us samay shastriji pooja par the. yah paigam sunate hi jaldi se pooja samapt ki aur chale. rajasahab ne bulaya hai, dhany bhag ! dharmapatni se bole- aj chandrama kuchh bali maloom hote haian. kap de lao, dekhooan, kyoan bulaya hai?

stri ne kaha- bhojan taiyar hai karate jao; najane kab lautane ka avasar mile.

kiantu shastriji ne adami ko itani der kh da rakhana uchit n samajha. ja de ke din the. hari banat ki achakan pahani, jis par lal shanjaph lagi huee thi. gale mean ek jari ka dupatta dala. phir sir par banarasi safa baandha. lal chau de kinare ki reshami dhoti pahani, aur kh daooan par chale. unake mukh se brahmatej tapakata tha. door hi se maloom hota tha ki koee mahatma a rahe haian. raste mean jo milata, sir jhukata; kitane hi dookanadaroan ne kh de hokar pailagi ki. aj kashi ka nam inhian ki badaulat chal raha hai, nahian to aur kaun rah gaya hai. kitana namr svabhav hai. balakoan se hansakar batean karate haian. is that se panditaji rajasahab ke makan par pahuanche. tinoan mitroan ne kh de hokar unaka samman kiya. khaanbahadur bole- kahie panditaji, mizaj to achchhe haian? vallah, ap numaish mean rakhane ke kabil adami haian. apaka vajan to das man se kam n hoga.

rayasahab- ek man ilm ke lie das man akl chahie. usi kayade se ek man akl ke lie das man ka jism zaroori hai, nahian to usaka bojh kaun uthaye?

rajasahab- ap log isaka matalab nahian samajh sakate. buddhi ek prakar ka najala hai, jab dimag mean nahian samati, jism mean a jati hai.

khaansahab- maianne to bujurgoan ki jabani suna hai ki mote adami akl ke dushman hote haian.

rayasahab- apaka hisab kamazor tha, varana apaki samajh mean itani bat zaroor a jati ki jab akl aur jism mean 1 aur 10 ki nisbat hai, to jitana hi mota adami hoga, utana hi usaki akl ka vajan bhi zyada hoga.

rajasahab- isase yah sabit hua ki jitana mota adami, utani hi moti usaki akl.

moteram- jab moti akl ki badaulat raj-darabar mean poochh hoti hai to mujhe patali akl lekar kya karana hai !

has-parihas ke bad rajasahab ne vartaman samasya panditaji ke samane upasthit ki aur usake nivaran ka jo upay socha tha, vah bhi prakat kiya ! bole- bas, yah samajh lijie ki is sal apaka bhavishy poornataya apane hathoan mean hai. shayad kisi adami ko apane bhagy-nirnay ka aisa mahattvapoorn avasar n mila hoga. h datal n huee, to aur to kuchh nahian kah sakate, apako jivan-bhar kisi ke daravaze jane ki zaroorat n hogi. bas, aisa koee vrat thanie ki shaharavale tharra uthean. kaangresavaloan ne dharm ki a d lekar itani shakti badhayi hai. bas, aisi koee yukti nikalie ki janata ke dharmik bhavoan ko chot pahuanche.

moteram ne gambhir bhav se uttar diya- yah to koee aisa kathin kam nahian hai. maian to aise-aise anushthan kar sakata hooan ki akash se jal ki varsha kar dooan; mari ke prakop ko bhi shaant kar dooan; ann ka bhav ghata-badha dooan. kaangresavaloan ko parast kar dena to koee b di bat nahian. aangreji padhe-likhe mahanubhav samajhate haian ki jo kam ham kar sakate haian, vah koee nahian kar sakata. par gupt vidyaoan ka unhean jnan hi nahian.

khaansahab- tab to janab, yah kahana chahie ki ap doosare khuda haian. hamean kya maloom tha ki ap mean kudarat hai; nahian to itane dinoan tak kyoan pareshan hote?

moteram- sahab, maian gupt-dhan ka pata laga sakata hooan. pitaroan ko bula sakata hooan, keval gun-grahak chahie. sansar mean guniyoan ka abhav nahian, gunajnoan ka hi abhav hai- gun na hirano gun-gahak hirano hai.

raja- bhala is anushthan ke lie apako kya bheant karana hoga?

moteram- jo kuchh apaki shraddha ho.

raja- kuchh batala sakate haian ki yah kaun-sa anushthan hoga?

moteram- anashan-vrat ke sath mantroan ka jap hoga. sare shahar mean halachal n macha dooan to moteram nam nahian !

raja- to phir kab se.

moteram- aj hi ho sakata hai. haan, pahale devataoan ke avahan ke nimitt tho de se rupaye dila dijie.

rupaye ki kami hi kya thi. panditaji ko rupaye mil gaye aur vah khush-khush ghar aye. dharm patni se sara samachar kaha. usane chiantit hokar kaha- tumane nahak yah rog apane sir liya ! bhookh n baradasht huee, to? sare shahar mean bhadd ho jayagi, log hansi u daveange. rupaye lauta do.

moteram ne ashvasan dete hue kaha- bhookh kaise n baradasht hogi? maian aisa moorkh tho de hi hooan ki yoan hi ja baithooanga. pahale mere bhojan ka prabandh karo, amritiyaan, laddoo, rasagulle mangao. pet-bhar bhojan kar looan. phir adh ser malaee khaooanga, usake oopar adh ser badam ki tah jamaooanga. bachi-khuchi kasar malaeevale dahi se poori kar dooanga. phir dekhooanga, bhookh kyoankar pas phatakati hai. tin din tak to saans hi n li jayagi, bhookh ki kaun chalave. itane mean to sare shahar mean khalabali mach jayagi. bhagy-soory uday hua hai, is samay aga-pichha karane se pachhatana p dega. bazar n band hua, to samajh lo malamal ho jaooanga, nahian to yahaan gaanth se kya jata hai ! sau rupaye to hath lag hi gaye.

idhar to bhojan ka prabandh hua udhar pandit moteram ne dauandi pitava di ki sandhy-samay taunahal maidan mean pandit moteram desh ki rajanitik samasya par vyakhyan deange, log avashy ayean. panditaji sadaiv rajanitik vishayoan se alag rahate the. aj vah is vishay par kuchh boleange, sunana chahie. logoan ko utsukata huee, panditaji ka shahar mean b da man tha. niyat samay par kee hazar adamiyoan ki bhi d lag gayi. panditaji ghar se achchhi tarah taiyar hokar pahuanche. pet itana bhara hua tha ki chalana kathin tha. jyoan hi yah vahaan pahuanche, darshakoan ne kh de hokar inhean sashtaang dandavath-pranam kiya.

moteram bole- nagaravasiyo, vyapariyo, setho aur mahajano ! maianne suna hai tum logoan ne kaangresavaloan ke kahane mean akar b de lat sahab ke shubhagaman ke avasar par h datal karane ka nishchay kiya hai. yah kitani b di kritaghnata hai? vah chahean, to aj tum logoan ko top ke muanh par u dava dean, sare shahar ko khudava dalean. raja haian, hansi-thattha nahian. vah tarah dete jate haian, tumhari dinata par daya karate haian aur tum guoan ki tarah hatya ke bal khet charane ko taiyar ho ! lat sahab chahean to aj rel band kar dean, dak band kar dean, mal ka ana-jana band kar dean. tab batao, kya karoge? tum unase bhagakar kahaan ja sakate ho? hai kahian thikana ! isalie jab is desh mean aur unhian ke adhin rahana hai, to itana upadrav kyoan machate ho? yad rakho, tumhari jan unaki mutthi mean hai ! taoon ke ki de phaila dean to sare nagar mean hahakar mach jay. tum jhadoo se aandhi ko rokane chale ho? khabaradar jo kisi ne bazar band kiya; nahian to kahe deta hooan, yahian ann-jal bina pran de dooanga.

ek adami ne shanka ki- maharaj, apake pran nikalate-nikalate mahine-bhar se kam n lagega. tin dinoan mean kya hoga?

moteram ne garajakar kaha- pran sharir mean nahian rahata, brahmaand mean rahata hai. maian chahooan to yogabal se abhi pran tyag kar sakata hooan. maianne tumhean chetavani de di, ab tum jano, tumhara kam jane. mera kahana manoge, to tumhara kalyan hoga. n manoge, hatya lagegi, sansar mean kahian muanh n dikhala sakoge. bas, yah lo, maian yahian asan jamata hooan.

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shahar mean yah samachar phaila, to logoan ke hosh u d gaye. adhikariyoan ki is nayi chal ne unhean hatabuddhi-sa kar diya. kaangres ke karmachari to ab bhi kahate the ki yah sab pakhand hai. rajabhaktoan ne pandit ko kuchh de-dila-kar yah svaang kh da kiya hai. jab aur koee bas n chala, fauj, pulis, qanoon sabhi yuktiyoan se har gaye, to yah nayi maya rachi hai. yah aur kuchh nahian, rajaniti ka divala hai. nahian panditaji aise kahaan desh-sevak the jo desh ki dasha se duahkhi hokar vrat thanate. inhean bhookha marane do, do din mean bol jayeange. is nayi chal ki j d abhi se kat deni chahie ! kahian yah chal saphal ho gayi, to samajh lo, adhikariyoan ke hath mean ek naya astr a jayaga aur vah sadaiv isaka prayog kareange. janata itani samajhadar to hai nahian ki in rahasyoan ko samajhe. gid d-bhabhaki mean a jayagi.

lekin nagar ke baniye-mahajan, jo prayah dharmabhiru hote haian, aise ghabara gaye ki un par in batoan ka kuchh asar hi n hota tha. ve kahate the- sahab, ap logoan ke kahane se sarakar se bure bane, nukasan uthane ko taiyar hue, rozagar chho da, kitanoan ke divale ho gaye, aphasaroan ko muanh dikhane layaq nahian rahe. pahale jate the, adhikari log ‘aie, aie sethaji’ kahakar samman karate the; ab relaga diyoan mean dhakke khate haian, par koee nahian sunata; amadani chahe kuchh ho n ho, bahiyoan ki taul dekhakar kar (taiks) badha diya jata hai. yah sab saha, aur saheange, lekin dharm ke mamale mean ham ap logoan ka netritv nahian svikar kar sakate. jab ek vidvanh, kulin, dharmanishth brahman hamare oopar ann-jal tyag kar raha hai, tab ham kyoankar bhojan karake taangean phailakar soyean? kahian mar gaya, to bhagavanh ke samane kya javab deange?

saraansh yah hai ki kaangresavaloan ki ek n chali. vyapariyoan ka ek deputeshan 9 baje rat panditaji ki seva mean upasthit hua. panditaji ne aj bhojan to khoob datakar kiya tha, lekin datakar bhojan karana unake lie koee asadharan bat n thi. mahine mean prayah 20 din vah avashy hi nyota pate the aur nimantran mean datakar bhojan karana ek svabhavik bat hai. apane sahabhojiyoan ki dekha-dekhi, lag-daant ki dhun mean, ya grih-svami ke savinay agrah se aur sabase badhakar padarthoan ki utkrishtata ke karan, bhojan matra se adhik ho hi jata hai. panditaji ki jatharagni aisi parikshaoan mean uttirn hoti rahati thi. atev is samay bhojan ka samay a jane se unaki niyat kuchh davaandol ho rahi thi. yah bat nahian ki vah bhookh se vyakul the. lekin bhojan ka samay a jane par agar pet aphara hua n ho, ajirn n ho gaya ho to man mean ek prakar ki bhojan ki chah hone lagati hai. shastriji ki is samay yahi dasha ho rahi thi. chahata tha, kisi khoanchevale ko pukarakar kuchh le lete, kiantu adhikariyoan ne unaki sharir-raksha ke lie vahaan kee sipahiyoan ko tainat kar diya tha. ve sab hatane ka nam n lete the. panditaji ki vishal buddhi is samay yahi samasya hal kar rahi thi ki in yamadootoan ko kaise talooan? khamakhvah in pajiyoan ko yahaan kh da kar diya ! maian koee kaidi to hooan nahian ki bhag jaooanga.

adhikariyoan ne shayad vah vyavastha isalie kar rakhi thi kaangresavale jabaradasti panditaji ko vahaan se bhagane ki cheshta n kar sakean. kaun jane, ve kya chal chalean. aise anuchit aur apamanajanak vyavaharoan se panditaji ki raksha karana adhikariyoan ka kartavy tha.

vah abhi is chianta mean the ki vyapariyoan ka deputeshan a pahuancha. panditaji kuhaniyoan ke bal lete hue the, sanbhal baithe. netaoan ne unake charan chhoo kar kaha- maharaj, hamare oopar apane kyoan yah kop kiya hai? apaki jo ajna ho, vah ham shirodhary karean. ap uthie, ann-jal grahan kijie. hamean nahian maloom tha ki ap sachamuch yah vrat thananevale haian, nahian to ham pahale hi apase vinati karate. ap kripa kijie, das bajane ka samay hai. ham apaka vachan kabhi n taleange.

moteram- ye kaangresavale tumhean matiyamet karake chho deange ! ap to doobate hi haian; tumhean bhi apane sath le doobeange ! bazar band rahega, to isase tumhara hi tota hoga; sarakar ko kya? tum naukari chho d doge, ap bhookhoan maroge; sarakar ko kya? tum jel jaoge, ap chakki pisoge, sarakar ko kya? n jane in sabako kya sanak savar ho gayi hai ki apani nak katakar doosaroan ka asagun manate haian. tum in kupanthiyoan ke kahane mean n ao. kyoan, dookanean khuli rakhoge?

seth- maharaj, jab tak shahar-bhar ke adamiyoan ki panchayat n ho jay, tab tak ham isaka bima kaise le sakate haian. kaangresavaloan ne kahian loot machava di, to kaun hamari madad karega? ap uthie, bhojan paie, ham kal panchayat karake apaki seva mean jaisa kuchh hoga, hal deange.

moteram- to phir panchayat karake ana.

deputeshan jab nirash hokar lautane laga, to panditaji ne kaha- kisi ke pas suanghani to nahian hai?

ek mahashay ne dibiya nikalakar de di.

logoan ke jane ke bad moteram ne pulisavaloan se poochha- tum yahaan kyoan kh de ho?

sipahiyoan ne kaha- sahab ka hukm hai, kya karean?

moteram- yahaan se chale jao.

sipahi- apake kahane se chale jayan? kal naukari chhoot jaegi, to ap khane ko deange?

moteram- ham kahate haian, chale jao; nahian to ham hi yahaan se chale jayange. ham koee kaidi haian, jo tum ghere kh de ho?

sipahi- chale kya jaiega, majal hai.

moteram- majal kyoan nahian hai be ! koee jurm kiya hai?

sipahi- achchha, jao to dekhean?

panditaji- brahm-tej mean akar uthe aur ek sipahi ko itani zor se dhakka diya ki vah kee qadam par ja gira. doosare sipahiyoan ki himmat chhoot gayi. panditaji ko un sabane thal-thal samajh liya tha, parakram dekha, to chupake se satak gaye.

moteram ab lage idhar-udhar najarean dau dane ki koee khoanchevala najar a jay, usase kuchh lean. kintu dhyan a gaya, kahian usane kisi se kah diya, to log taliyaan bajane lageange. nahian, aisi chaturaee se kam karana chahie ki kisi ko kanoankan khabar n ho. aise hi sankatoan mean to buddhibal ka parichay milata hai. ek kshan mean unhoanne is kathin prashn ko hal kar liya.

daivayog se usi samay ek khoanchevala jata dikhayi diya. 11 baj chuke the, charoan taraph sannata chha gaya tha. panditaji ne bulaya- khoanchevale, o khoanchevale !

khoanchevala- kahie kya dooan? bhookh lag ayi n? ann-jal chho dana sadhuoan ka kam hai, hamara-apaka nahian.

moteram- abe kya kahata hai? yahaan kya kisi sadhu se kam haian? chahean to mahinoan p de rahean aur bhookh-pyas n lage. tujhe to keval isalie bulaya hai ki jara apani kuppi mujhe de. dekhooan to vahaan kya reang raha hai. mujhe bhay hota hai ki saanp n ho.

khoanchevale ne kuppi utar kar de di. panditaji use lekar idhar-udhar zamin par kuchh khojane lage. itane mean kuppi unake hath se chhootakar gir p di, aur bujh gayi. sara tel bah gaya. panditaji ne usamean ek thokar aur lagayi ki bacha khucha tel bhi bah jay.

khoanchevala- (kuppi ko hilakar) maharaj, isamean to jara bhi tel nahian bacha. ab tak char paise ka sauda bechata, apane yah khatarag badha diya.

moteram- bhaiya, hath hi to hai, chhoot giri, to ab kya hath kat dalooan? yah lo paise, jakar kahian se tel bhara lo.

khoanchevala- (paise lekar) to ab tel bharavakar maian yahaan tho de hi aooanga.

moteram- khoancha rakhe jao, lapakakar tho da tel le lo; nahian mujhe koee saanp kat lega to tumhian par hatya p degi. koee janavar hai zaroor. dekho, vah reangata hai. gayab ho gaya. dau d jao patthe, tel lete ao, maian tumhara khoancha dekhata rahooanga. darate ho to apane rupaye-paise lete jao.

khoanchevala b de dharm-sankat mean p da. khoanche se paise nikalata hai to bhay hai, ki panditaji apane dil mean bura n manean. sochean mujhe beeeman samajh raha hai. chho dakar jata hai to kaun jane, inaki niyat kya ho. kisi ki niyat sada thik nahian rahati. aant ko usane yahi nishchay kiya ki khoancha yahian chho d dooan, jo kuchh takadir mean hoga, vah hoga. vah udhar bazar ki taraph chala, idhar panditaji ne khoanche par nigah dau dayi, to bahut hatash hue. mithaee bahut kam bach rahi thi. paanch-chhah chizean thian, magar kisi mean do adad se zyada nikalane ki guanjaish n thi. bhanda phoot jane ka khataka tha. panditaji ne socha- itane se kya hoga? keval kshudha aur prabal ho jayagi, sher ke muanh khoon lag jayaga. gunah belajjat hai. apani jagah par ja baithe. lekin dam-bhar ke bad pyas ne phir zor kiya. soche- kuchh to dhadhas ho hi jayaga. ahar kitana hi sookshm ho, phir bhi ahar hi hai. uthe, mithaee nikali; par pahala hi laddoo muanh mean rakha tha ki dekha, khoanchevala tel ki kuppi jalaye qadam badhata chala a raha hai, usake pahuanchane ke pahale mithaee ka samapt ho jana anivary tha. ek sath do chiz muanh mean rakhian. abhi chubala hi rahe the ki vah nishachar das qadam aur age badh aya. ek sath char chizean muanh mean dalian aur adhakuchali hi nigal gaye. abhi 6 adad aur thian, aur khoanchevala phatak tak a chuka tha. sari ki sari mithaee muanh mean dal li ab n chabate banata hai, n ugalate. vah shaitan motarakar ki tarah kuppi chamakata hua chala hi ata tha. jab vah bilakul samane a gaya, to panditaji ne jaldi se sari mithaee nigal li. akhir adami hi the, koee magar to the nahian. aankhoan mean pani bhar aya, gala phans gaya, sharir mean romaanch ho aya, zor se khaansane lage. khoanchevale ne tel ki kuppi badhate hue kaha yah lijie, dekh lijie, chale to haian ap upavas karane par pranoan ka itana dar hai. apako kya chianta, pran bhi nikal jayange, to sarakar bal-bachchoan ki paravasti karegi.

panditaji ko krodh to aisa aya ki is paji ko khoti-khari sunaooan, lekin gale se avaz n nikali. kuppi chupake se le li aur jhooth-mooth idhar-udhar dekhakar lauta di.

khoanchevala- apako kya p di jo chale sarakar ka pachchh karane? kahian kal din-bhar panchayat hogi, to rat tak kuchh tay hoga. tab tak to apaki aankhoan mean titaliyaan u dane lageangi.

yah kahakar vah chala gaya aur panditaji bhi tho di der tak khaansane ke bad so rahe.

4

doosare din sabere hi se vyapariyoan ne misakaut karani shuroo ki. udhar kaangresavaloan mean bhi halachal machi. aman-sabha ke adhikariyoan ne bhi kan kh de kiye. yah to in bhole-bhale baniyoan ko dhamakane ki achchhi tarakib hath ayi. pandit-samaj ne alag ek sabha ki aur usamean yah nishchay kiya ki pandit moteram ko rajanitik mamaloan mean p dane ka koee adhikar nahian. hamara rajaniti se kya sanbandh? garaj sara din isi vad-vivad mean kat gaya aur kisi ne panditaji ki khabar n li. log khullamakhulla kahate the ki panditaji ne ek hazar rupaye sarakar se lekar yah anushthan kiya hai. bechare panditaji ne rat to lot-potakar kati, par uthe to sharir murada-sa jan p data tha. kh de hote the, aankhean tilamilane lagati thian, sir mean chakkar a jata tha. pet mean jaise koee baitha hua kured raha ho. s dak ki taraph aankhean lagi huee thian ki log manane to nahian a rahe haian. sandhyopasana ka samay isi pratiksha mean gaya. is samay poojan ke pashchath nity nashta kiya karate the. aj abhi muanh mean pani bhi n gaya. n-jane vah shubh gh di kab ayegi. phir panditain par b da krodh ane laga. ap to rat ko bhar-pet khakar soyi hoangi, is vakt bhi jalapan kar hi chuki hoangi, par idhar bhoolakar bhi n jhaanka ki mare ya jite haian. kuchh bat karane ke bahane se kya tho da-sa mohanabhog banakar n la sakati thian? par kise itani chianta hai? rupaye lekar rakh liye, phir jo kuchh milega, vah bhi rakh leangi. mujhe ulloo banaya.

qissa -kotah panditaji ne din-bhar iantazar kiya, par koee mananevala najar n aya. logoan ke dil mean jo yah sandeh paida hua tha ki panditaji ne kuchh le-dekar vah svaang racha hai, svarth ke vashibhoot hokar yah pakhand kh da kiya hai, vahi unako manane mean badhak hota tha.

5

rat ko nau baj gaye the. seth bhoandoomal ne, jo vyapari-samaj ke neta the, nishchayatmak bhav se kaha- man liya, panditaji ne svarthavash hi yah anushthan kiya hai; par isase vah kasht to kam nahian ho sakata, jo ann-jal ke bina prani-matr ko hota hai. yah dharm-viruddh hai ki ek brahman hamare oopar dana-pani tyag de aur ham pet bhar-bharakar chain ki niand soyean. agar unhoanne dharm ke viruddh acharan kiya hai, to usaka dand unhean bhogana p dega. ham kyoan apane karttavy se muanh pherean?

kaangres ke mantri ne dabi huee avaz se kaha- mujhe to jo kahana tha, vah maian kah chuka. ap log samaj ke agua haian, jo phaisala kijie, hamean manjoor hai. chalie maian abhi apake sath chalooanga. dharm ka kuchh aansh mujhe bhi mil jayaga; par ek vinati sun lijie- ap log pahale mujhe vahaan jane dijie. maian ekaant mean unase das minat batean karana chahata hooan. ap log phatak par kh de rahiega. jab maian vahaan se laut aooan to phir jaiega. isamean kisi ko kya apatti ho sakati thi? prarthana svikrit ho gayi.

mantriji pulis-vibhag mean bahut dinoan tak rah chuke the, manav-charitr ki kamazoriyoan ko janate the. vah sidhe bazar gaye aur 5 ru. ki mithaee li. usamean matra se adhik sugandh dalane ka prayatn kiya, chaandi ke varak lagavaye aur ek done mean liye roothe hue brahmadev ki poojakarane chale. ek jhajhjhar mean thanda pani liya aur usamean kev de ka jal milaya. donoan hi chijoan se khushaboo ki lapatean u d rahi thian. sugandh mean itani uttejit shakti hai, kaun nahian janata. isase bina bhookh ki bhookh lag jati hai, bhookhe adami ki to bat hi kya?

panditaji is samay bhoomi par achet p de hue the. rat ko kuchh nahian mila. das-paanch chhoti-chhoti mithaiyoan ka kya zikr ! dopahar ko kuchh nahian mila. aur is vakt bhi bhojan ki bela tal gayi thi. bhookh mean ab asha ki vyakulata nahian; nirasha ki shithilata thi. sare aang dhile p d gaye the. yahaan tak ki aankhean bhi n khulati thian. unhean kholane ki bar-bar cheshtakarate; par ve ap-hi-ap band ho jatian. oanth sookh gaye the. ziandagi ka koee chihn tha, to bas, unaka dhire-dhire karahana. aisa sankat unake oopar kabhi n p da tha. ajirn ki shikayat to unhean mahine mean do-char bar ho jati thi, jise vah h d adi ki phankiyoan se shaant kar liya karate the; par ajirnavastha mean aisa kabhi n hua tha ki unhoanne bhojan chho d diya ho. nagar-nivasiyoan ko, aman-sabha ko, sarakar ko, eeshvar ko, kaangres ko aur dharm-patni ko ji-bhar kar kos chuke the. kisi se koee asha n thi. ab itani shakti bhi n rahi thi ki svayan kh de hokar bazar ja sakean. nishchay ho gaya tha ki aj rat ko avashy pran-pakheroo u d jayange. jivan-sootr koee rassi to hai nahian ki chahe jitane jhatake do, tootane ka nam n le !

mantriji ne pukara- shastriji !

moteram ne p de-p de aankhean khol dian. unamean aisi karun vedana bhari huee thi, jaise kisi balak ke hath se kaua mithaee chhin le gaya ho.

mantriji ne done ki mithaee samane rakh di aur jhajhjhar par kulh d auandha diya. is kam se suchit hokar bole- yahaan kab tak p de rahiega?

sugandh ne panditaji ki iandriyoan par sanjivani ka kam kiya. panditaji uth baithe aur bole- dekho, kab tak nishchay hota hai.

mantri- yahaan kuchh nishchay-vishchay n hoga. aj din-bhar panchayat huee thi, kuchh tay n hua. kal kahian sham ko lat sahab ayeange. tab tak to apaki n-jane kya dasha hogi? apaka chehara bilakul pila p d gaya hai !

moteram- yahian marana bada hoga, to kaun tal sakata hai? is done mean kalakand hai kya?

mantri- haan, tarah-tarah ki mithaiyaan haian. ek natedar ke yahaan baina bhejane ke lie vishesh riti se banavayi haian.

moteram- jabhi inamean itani sugandh hai. jara dona kholie to?

mantriji ne muskarakar dona khol diya aur panditaji netroan se mithaiyaan khane lage. aandha aankhean pakar bhi sansar ko aise trishnapoorn netroan se n dekhega. muanh mean pani bhar aya. mantriji ne kaha- apaka vrat n hota, to do-char mithaiyaan apako chakhata. 5 ru. ser ke dam diye haian.

moteram- tab to bahut hi shreshth hoangi. maianne bahut din hue kalakand nahian khaya.

mantri- apane bhi to baithe-baithaye jhanjhat mol le liya. pran hi n raheange, to dhan kis kam ayega?

moteram- kya karooan, phans gaya, maian itani mithaiyoan ka jalapan kar jata tha. (hath se mithaiyoan ko tatolakar) bhola ki dookan ki hoangi?

mantri- chakhiega do-char?

moteram- kya chakhooan? dharm-sankat mean p da hooan.

mantri- aji chakhie bhi ! is samay jo anand prapt hoga, vah lakh rupaye se bhi nahian mil sakata. koee kisi se kahane jata hai kya?

moteram- mujhe bhay kisaka hai. maian yahaan dana-pani bina mar raha hooan, aur kisi ko parava hi nahian. to phir mujhe kya dar? lao, idhar dona badhao. jao, sabase kah dena shastriji ne vrat to d diya. bha d mean jay bazar aur vyapar ! yahaan kisi ki chianta nahian. jab dharm nahian raha, to maianne hi dharm ka bi da tho de hi uthaya hai !

yah kahakar panditaji ne dona apani taraph khianch liya aur lage badh-badhakar hath marane. yahaan tak ki pal-bhar mean adha dona samapt ho gaya. seth log akar phatak par kh de the, mantri ne jakar kaha- jara chalakar tamasha dekhie. ap logoan ko n bazar kholana p dega; n khushamad karani p degi. maianne sari samasyaean hal kar dian. yah kaangres ka pratap hai.

chaandani chhitaki huee thi. logoan ne akar dekha, panditaji mithaee thikane lagane mean vaise hi tanmay ho rahe haian, jaise koee mahatma samadhi mean magn ho.

bhoandoomal ne kaha- panditaji ke charan chhoota hooan. ham log to a hi rahe the, apane kyoan jaldi ki? aisi jugut batate ki apaki pratijna bhi n tootati aur kary bhi siddh ho jata.

moteram- mera kam siddh ho gaya. yah alaukik anand hai, jo dhan ke dheroan se nahian prapt ho sakata. agar kuchh shraddha ho, to isi dookan ki itani hi mithaee aur mangava do.