स्वर्ग के खंडहर में -जयशंकर प्रसाद

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

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vany kusumoan ki jhalarean sukh shital pavan se vikampit hokar charoan or jhool rahi thian. chhote-chhote jharanoan ki kulyaean katarati huee bah rahi thian. lata-vitanoan se dhanki huee prakritik guphaean shilp-rachana-poorn sundar prakoshth banatian, jinamean pagal kar denevali sugandh ki laharean nrity karati thian. sthan-sthan par kunjoan aur pushp-shayyaoan ka samaroh, chhote-chhote vishram-grih, pan-patroan mean sugandhit madira, bhaanti-bhaanti ke susvadu phal-phoolavale vrikshoan ke jhuramut, doodh aur madhu ki naharoan ke kinare gulabi badaloan ka kshanik vishram. chaandani ka nibhrit rangamanch, pulakit vriksh-phooloan par madhu-makkhiyoan ki bhannahat, rah-rahakar pakshiyoan ki hriday mean chubhane vali tan, manidipoan par latakati huee mukulit malayean. tis par saundary ke chhante hue jo doan-roopavan balak aur balikaoan ka hridayahari has-vilas! sangit ki abadh gati mean chhoti-chhoti navoan par unaka jal-vilas! kisaki aankhean yah dekhakar bhi nashe mean n ho jayangi-hriday pagal, iandriyaan vikal n ho raheangi. yahi to svarg hai.

jharane ke tat par baithe hue ek balak ne balika se kaha-‘‘maian bhool-bhool jata hooan mina, haan mina, maian tumhean mina nam se kab tak pukarooan?’’

‘‘aur maian tumako gul kahakar kyoan bulaooan?’’

‘‘kyoan mina, yahaan bhi to ham logoan ko sukh hi hai. hai n? aha, kya hi sundar sthan hai! ham log jaise ek svapn dekh rahe haian! kahian doosari jagah n bheje jayan, to kya hi achchha ho!’’

‘‘nahian gul, mujhe poorv-smriti vikal kar deti hai. kee baras bit gaye-vah mata ke saman dular, us upasika ki snehamayi karuna-bhari drishti aankhoan mean kabhi-kabhi chutaki kat leti hai. mujhe to achchha nahian lagata; bandi hokar rahana to svarg mean bhi.....achchha, tumhean yahaan rahana nahian khalata?’’

‘‘nahian mina, sabake bad jab maian tumhean apane pas hi pata hooan, tab aur kisi akaanksha ka smaran hi nahian rah jata. maian samajhata hooan ki.....’’

‘‘tum galat samajhate ho......’’

mina abhi poora kahane n paee thi ki titaliyoan ke jhund ke pichhe, unhian ke rang ke kaushey vasan pahane hue, balak aur balikaoan ki dau dati huee toli ne akar mina aur gul ko gher liya.

‘‘jal-vihar ke lie rangili machhaliyoan ka khel khela jay.’’

ek sath hi taliyaan baj uthian. mina aur gul ko dhakelate hue sab usi kalanadi srot mean kood p de. pulin ki hari jha diyoan mean se vanshi bajane lagi. mina aur gul ki jo di age-age aur pichhe-pichhe sab balak-balikaoan ki toli tairane lagi. tir par ki jhuki daloan ke antaral mean luk-chhipakar nikalana, un komal pani-pallavoan se kshudr vichiyoan ka katana, sachamuch usi svarg mean prapt tha.

tairate-tairate mina ne kaha-‘‘gul, yadi maian bah jaooan aur doobane lagooan?’’

‘‘maian nav ban jaooanga, mina!’’

‘‘aur jo maian yahaan se sachamuch chali jaooan?’’

‘‘aisa n kaho; phir maian kya karooanga?

‘‘kyoan, kya tum mere sath n chaloge?’’

itane mean ek doosari sundari, jo kuchh pas thi, boli-‘‘kahaan chaloge gul? maian bhi chalooangi, usi kunj mean. are dekho, vah kaisa hara-bhara andhakar hai!’’ gul usi or lakshy karake santaran karane laga. bahar usake sath tairane lagi. ve donoan tvarit gati se tair rahe the, mina unaka sath n de saki, vah hatash hokar aur bhi pichh dane ke lie dhire-dhire tairane lagi.

bahar aur gul jal se takarati huee daloan ko pak dakar vishram karane lage. kisi ko samip mean n dekhakar bahar ne gul se kaha-‘‘chalo, ham log isi kunj mean chhip jayan.’’

ve donoan usi jhuramut mean vilin ho gaye.

mina se ek doosari sundari ne poochha-‘‘gul kidhar gaya, tumane dekha?’’

mina janakar bhi anajan ban gee. vah doosare kinare ki or lautati huee boli-‘‘maian nahian janati.’’

itane mean ek vishesh sanket se bajati huee siti sunaee p di. sab tairana chho d kar bahar nikale. hara vastr pahane hue, ek gambhir manushy ke sath, ek yuvak dikhaee p da. yuvak ki aankhean nashe mean rangili ho rahi thian; pair ladakh da rahe the. sabane us praudh ko dekhate hi sir jhuka liya. ve bol uthe-‘‘mahapurush, kya koee hamara atithi aya hai?’’

‘‘haan, yah yuvak svarg dekhane ki ichchha rakhata hai’’-hare vastr vale praudh ne kaha.

sabane sir jhuka liya. phir ek bar nirnimesh drishti se mina ki or dekha. vah paha di durg ka bhayanak shekh tha. sachamuch use ek atm-vismriti ho chali. usane dekha, usaki kalpana saty mean parinat ho rahi hai.

‘‘mina-ah! kitana saral aur nirdosh saundary hai. mere svarg ki sari madhuri usaki bhigi huee ek lat ke bal khane mean bandhi huee chhatapata rahi hai.’’-usane pukara-‘‘mina!’’

mina pas akar kh di ho gee, aur sab us yuvak ko gherakar ek or chal p de. keval mina shekh ke pas rah gee.

shekh ne kaha-‘‘mina, tum mere svarg ki ratn ho.’’

mina kaanp rahi thi. shekh ne usaka lalat choom liya, aur kaha-‘‘dekho, tum kisi bhi atithi ki seva karane n jana. tum keval us draksha-mandap mean baithakar kabhi-kabhi ga liya karo. baitho, mujhe bhi vah apana git suna do.’’

mina gane lagi. us git ka tatpary tha-‘‘maian ek bhataki huee bulabul hooan. he mere aparichit kunj! kshan-bhar mujhe vishram karane doge? yah mera krandan hai-maian sach kahati hooan, yah mera rona hai, gana nahian. mujhe dam to lene do. ane do basant ka vah prabhat-jab sansar gulabi rang mean nahakar apane yauvan mean thirakane lagega aur tab maian tumhean apani ek tan sunakar keval ek tan is rajani vishram ka mooly chukakar chali jaooangi. tab tak apani kisi sookhi huee tooti dal par hi andhakar bita lene do. maian ek path bhooli huee bulabul hooan.’’

shekh bhool gaya ki maian eeshvariy sandeh-vahak hooan, achary hooan, aur mahapurush hooan. vah ek kshan ke lie apane ko bhi bhool gaya. use vishvas ho gaya ki bulabul to nahian hooan, par koee bhooli huee vastu hooan. kya hooan, yah sochate-sochate pagal hokar ek or chala gaya.

hariyali se lada hua dhaluvaan tat tha, bich mean bahata hua vahi kalanadi srot yahaan kuchh gambhir ho gaya tha. us ramaniy pradesh ke chhote-se akash mean madira se bhari huee ghata chha rahi thi. ladakh date, hath-se-hath milaye, bahar aur gul oopar chadh rahe the. gul apane ape mean nahian hai, bahar phir bhi savadhan hai; vah sahara dekar use oopar le a rahi hai.

ek shila-khand par baithe hue gul ne kaha-pyas lagi hai.

bahar pas ke vishram-grih mean gee, pan-patr bhar laee. gul pikar mast ho raha tha. bola-‘‘bahar, tum b de veg se mujhe khianch rahi ho; sambhal sakogi? dekho, maian gira?’’

gul bahar ki god mean sir rakhakar aankhean band kiye p da raha. usane bahar ke yauvan ki sugandh se ghabarakar aankhean khol dian. usake gale mean hath dalakar bola-‘‘le chalo, mujhe kahaan le chalati ho?’’

bahar us svarg ki apsara thi. vilasini bahar ek tivr madira pyali thi, makarand-bhari vayu ka jhakor akar usamean lahar utha deta hai. vah roop ka urmil sarovar gul unmatt tha. bahar ne hansakar poochha-‘‘yah svarg chho dakar kahaan chaloge?’’

‘‘kahian doosari jagah, jahaan ham hoan aur tum.’’

‘‘kyoan, yahaan koee badha hai?’’

saral gul ne kaha-‘‘badha! yadi koee ho? kaun jane!’’

‘‘kaun? mina?’’

‘‘jise samajh lo.’’

‘‘to tum sabaki upeksha karake mujhe-keval mujhe hi-nahian....’’

‘‘aisa n kaho’’-bahar ke muanh par hath rakhate hue gul ne kaha.

thik isi samay navagat yuvak ne vahaan akar unhean sachet kar diya. bahar ne uthakar usaka svagat kiya. gul ne apani lal-lal aankhoan se usako dekha. vah uth n saka, keval mad-bhari aang daee le raha tha. bahar ne yuvak se ajna lekar prasthan kiya. yuvak gul ke samip akar baith gaya, aur use gambhir drishti se dekhane laga.

gul ne abhyas ke anusar kaha-‘‘svagat, atithi!’’

‘‘tum devakumar! ah! tumako kitana khoja maianne!’’

‘‘devakumar? kaun devakumar? haan, haan, smaran hota hai, par vah vishaili prithvi ki bat kyoan smaran dilate ho? tum matryalok ke prani! bhool jao us nirasha aur abhavoan ki srishti ko; dekho anand-niketan svarg ka saundary!’’

‘‘devakumar! tumako bhool gaya, tum bhimapal ke vanshadhar ho? tum yahaan bandi ho! moorkh ho tum; jise tumane svarg samajh rakkha hai, vah tumhare atmavistar ki sima hai. maian keval tumhare hi lie aya hooan.’’

‘‘to tumane bhool ki. maian yahaan b de sukh se hooan. bahar ko bulaooan, kuchh khao-pio....kangal! svarg mean bhi akar vyarth samay nasht karana! sangit sunoge?’’

yuvak hatash ho gaya.

gul ne man mean kaha-‘‘maian kya karooan? sab mujhase rooth jate haian. kahian sahridayata nahian, mujhase sab apane man ki karana chahate haian, jaise mere man nahian hai, hriday nahian hai! prem-akarshan! yah svargiy prem mean bhi jalan! bahar tinakakar chali gee; mina? yah pahale hi hat rahi thi; to phir kya jalan hi svarg hai?’’

gul ko us yuvak ke hatash hone par daya a gee. yah bhi smaran hua ki vah atithi hai. usane kaha-‘‘kahiye, apaki kya seva karooan? mina ka gan suniyega? vah svarg ki rani hai!’’

yuvak ne kaha-‘‘chalo.’’

draksha-mandap mean donoan pahuanche. mina vahaan baithi huee thi. gul ne kaha-‘‘atithi ko apana gan sunao.’’

ek ni:shvas lekar vahi bulabul ka sangit sunane lagi. yuvak ki aankhean sajal ho geean, usane kaha-‘‘sachamuch tum svarg ki devi ho!’’

‘‘nahian atithi, maian us prithvi ki prani hooan-jahaan kashtoan ki pathashala hai, jahaan ka du:kh is svarg-sukh se bhi manoram tha, jisaka ab koee samachar nahian milata’’-mina ne kaha.

‘‘tum usaki ek karun-katha sunana chaho, to maian tumhean sunaooan!’’-yuvak ne kaha.

‘‘sunaiye’’-mina ne kaha.

bhag 2

yuvak kahane laga-

‘‘vahlik, gandhar, kapisha aur udyan, musalamanoan ke bhayanak atank mean kaanp rahe the. gandhar ke antim ary-narapati bhimapal ke sath hi, shahivansh ka saubhagy ast ho gaya. phir bhi unake bache hue vanshadhar udyan ke mangali durg mean, suvastu ki ghatiyoan mean, parvat-mala, him aur jangaloan ke avaran mean apane din kat rahe the. ve svatantr the.

‘‘devapal ek sahasi rajakumar tha. vah kabhi-kabhi poorv gaurav ka svapn dekhata hua, sindhu tat tak ghooma karata. ek din abhisar pradesh ka sindhu tat vasana ke phoolavale prabhat mean saurabh ki laharoan mean jhoanke kha raha tha. kumari lajja snan kar rahi thi. usaka kalasa tir par p da tha. devapal bhi kee bar pahale ki tarah aj phir sahas bhare netroan se use dekh raha tha. usaki chanchalata itane se hi n ruki, vah bol utha-

‘‘oosha ke is shant alok mean kisi madhur kamana se yah bhikhari hriday hans raha tha. aur manas-nandini! tum ithalati huee bah chali ho. vah re tumhara itarana! isilie to jab koee snan karake tumhari lahar ki tarah taral aur adrr vastr odhaqar, tumhare patharile pulin mean phisalata hua oopar chadhऩe lagata hai, tab tumhari laharoan mean aansuoan ki jhalarean latakane lagati haian. parantu mujh par daya nahian; yah bhi koee bat hai!

‘‘to phir maian kya karooan? us kshan ki, us kan ki, sindhu se, badaloan se, antariksh aur himalay se tahalakar laut ane ki pratijna karooan? aur itana bhi n kahogi ki kab tak? balihari!

‘‘kumari lajja bhiru thi. vah hriday ke spandanoan se abhibhoot ho rahi thi. kshudr bichiyoan ke sadrish kaanpane lagi. vah apana kalasa bhi n bhar saki aur chal p di. hriday mean gudagudi ke dhakke lag rahe the. usake bhi yauvan-kal ke svargiy divas the-phisal p di. dhrisht yuvak ne use sambhal kar aank mean le liya.

‘‘kuchh din svargiy svapn chala. jalate hue prabhat ke saman tara devi ne vah svapn bhang kar diya. tara adhik roop-shalini, kashmir ki roop-madhuri thi. devapal ko kashmir se sahayata ki bhi asha thi. hatabhagini lajja ne kumar sudan ki tapobhoomi mean ashok-nirmit vihar mean sharan li. vah upasika, bhikshuni, jo kaho, ban gee.

‘‘gautam ki gambhir pratima ke charan-tal mean baithakar usane nishchay kiya, sab du:kh hai, sab kshanik hai, sab anity hai.’’

‘‘suvastu ka puny-salil us vyathit hriday ki malinata ko dhone laga. vah ek prakar se rog-mukt ho rahi thi.’’

‘‘ek sunasan ratri thi, sthavir dharm-bhikshu the nahian. sahasa kapat par aghat hone laga. aur ‘kholo! kholo!’ ka shabd sunaee p da. vihar mean akeli lajja hi thi. sahas karake boli-

‘‘kaun hai?’’

‘‘pathik hooan, ashray chahiye’’-uttar mila.

‘‘tusharavrit aandhera path tha. him gir raha tha. taroan ka pata nahian, bhayanak shit aur nirjan nishith. bhala aise samay mean kaun path par chalega? vatayan ka parada hatane par bhi upasika lajja jhaankakar n dekh saki ki kaun hai. usane apani kubhavanaoan se darakar poochha-‘‘ap log kaun haian?’’

‘‘aha, tum upasika ho! tumhare hriday mean to adhik daya honi chahiye. bhagavanh ki pratima ki chhaya mean do anathoan ko ashray milane ka puny dean.’’

lajja ne argala khol di. usane ashchary se dekha, ek purush apane b de labade mean ath-nau baras ke balak aur balika ko liye bhitar akar gir p da. tinoan mumoorsh ho rahe the. bhookh aur shit se tinoan vikal the. lajja ne kapat band karate hue agni dhadhakakar usamean kuchh gandh-dravy dal diya. ek bar dvar khulane par jo shital pavan ka jhoanka ghus aya tha, vah nirbal ho chala.

‘‘atithi-satkar ho jane par lajja ne usaka parichay poochha. agantuk ne kaha-‘mangali-durg ke adhipati devapal ka maian bhrity hooan. jagaddahak changej khaan ne samast gandhar pradesh ko jalakar, loot-patakar uja d diya aur kal hi is udyan ke mangali durg par bhi un logoan ka adhikar ho gaya. devapal bandi hue, unaki patni taradevi ne atmahatya ki. durgapati ne pahale hi mujhase kaha tha ki is balak ko ashok-vihar mean le jana, vahaan ki ek upasika lajja isake pran bacha le to koee ashchary nahian.

‘‘yah sunate hi lajja ki dhamaniyoan mean rakt ka tivr sanchar hone laga. shitadhiky mean bhi use sved ane laga. usane bat badalane ke lie balika ki or dekha. agantuk ne kaha-‘yah meri balika hai, isaki mata nahian hai, lajja ne dekha, balika ka shubhr sharir malin vastr mean damak raha tha. nasika mool se kanoan ke samip tak bhroo, yugal ki prabhav-shalini rekha aur usaki chhaya mean do uniande kamal sansar se apane ko chhipa lena chahate the. usaka viragi saundary, sharad ke shubhr ghan ke avaran mean poornima ke chandr-sa ap hi lajjit tha. cheshta karake bhi lajja apani manasik sthiti ko chanchal hone se n sambhal saki. vah-‘achchha, ap log so rahiye, thake hoange’-kahati huee doosare prakoshth mean chali gee.

‘‘lajja ne vatayan kholakar dekha, akash svachchh ho raha tha, parvaty pradesh ke nistabdh gagan mean taroan ki jhilamilahat thi. un prakash ki laharoan mean ashok nirmit stoop ki choo da par laga hua svarn ka dharmachakr jaise hil raha tha.

‘‘doosare din jab dharm-bhikshu aye, to unhoanne in agantukoan ko ashchary se dekha, aur jab poore samachar sune, to aur bhi ubal p de. unhoanne kaha-‘raj-kutumb ko yahaan rakhakar kya is vihar aur stoop ko bhi tum dhvast karana chahati ho? lajja, tumane yah kis pralobhan se kiya? changez khaan bauddh hai, sangh usaka virodh kyoan kare?’

‘‘sthavir! kisi ko ashray dena kya gautam ke dharm ke viruddh hai? maian spasht kah dena chahati hanoo ki devapal ne mere sath b da anyay kiya, phir bhi mujh par usaka vishvas tha, kyoan tha, maian svayan nahian jan saki. ise chahe meri durbalata hi samajh lean, parantu maian apane prati vishvas ka kisi ko bhi durupayog nahian karane dena chahati. devapal ko maian adhik-se-adhik pyar karati thi, aur bhi ab bilkul nishshesh samajh kar us pranay ka tiraskar kar sakooangi, isamean sandeh hai.’’-lajja ne kaha.

‘‘to tum sangh ke siddhant se chyut ho rahi ho, isaliye tumhean bhi vihar ka tyag karana p dega.’’-dharm-bhikshu ne kaha.

lajja vyathit ho uthi thi. balak ke mukh par devapal ki spasht chhaya use bar-bar uttejit karati, aur vah balika to use chhodऩa hi n chahati thi.

‘‘usane sahas karake kaha-‘tab yahi achchha hoga ki maian bhikshuni hone ka dhoang chho dakar anathoan ke sukh-du:kh mean sammilit hoooan.’

‘‘usi rat ko vah donoan balak-balika aur vikramabhrity ko lekar, nissahay avastha mean chal p di. chhadmavesh mean yah dal yatra kar raha tha. ise bhiksha ka avalamb tha. vahlik ke girivraj nagar ke bhagn paanth-nivas ke toote kone mean in logoan ko ashray lena p da. us din ahar nahian jut saka, donoan balakoan ke santosh ke lie kuchh bacha tha, usi ko khilakar ve sula diye gaye. lajja aur vikram, anahar se mriyaman, achet ho gaye.

‘‘doosare din aankhe khulate hi unhoanne dekha, to vah rajakumar aur balika, donoan hi nahian! un donoan ki khoj mean ye log bhi bhinn-bhinn disha ko chal p de. ek din pata chala ki kekay ke paha di durg ke samip kahian svarg hai, vahaan roopavan balakoan aur balikaoan ki atyant avashyakata rahati hai....

‘‘aur bhi sunogi prithvi ki du:kh-gatha? kya karogi sunakar, tum yah janakar kya karogi ki us upasika ya vikram ka phir kya hua?’’

ab mina se n raha gaya. usane yuvak ke gale se lipatakar kaha-‘‘to....tumhian vah upasika ho? aha, sach kah do.’’

gul ki aankhoan mean abhi nashe ka utar tha. usane aang daee lekar ek janbhaee li, aur kaha-‘‘b de ashchary ki bat hai. kyoan mina, ab kya kiya jay?’’

akasmath svarg ke bhayanak rakshiyoan ne akar us yuvak ko bandi kar liya. mina rone lagi, gul chupachap kh da tha, bahar kh di hans rahi thi.

sahasa pichhe se ate hue prahariyoan ke pradhan ne lalakara-‘‘mina aur gul ko bhi.’’

ab us yuvak ne ghoomakar dekha; ghani dadhi-moochhoan vale pradhan ki aankhoan se aankhean milian.

yuvak chilla utha-‘‘devapal.’’

‘‘kaun! lajja? are!’’

‘‘haan, to devapal, is apane putr gul ko bhi bandi karo, vidharmi ka kartavy yahi ajna deta hai.’’-lajja ne kaha.

‘‘oh!’’-kahata hua pradhan devapal sir pak dakar baith gaya. kshan bhar mean vah unmatt ho utha aur dau dakar gul ke gale se lipat gaya.

savadhan hone par devapal ne lajja ko bandi karane vale prahari se kaha-‘‘use chho d do.’’

prahari ne bahar ki or dekha. usaka goodh sanket samajhakar vah bol utha-‘‘mukt karane ka adhikar keval shekh ko hai.’’

devapal ka krodh sima ka atikram kar chuka tha, usane khadg chala diya. prahari gira. udhar bahar ‘hatya! hatya! chillati huee bhagi.

bhag 3

sansar ki vibhooti jis samay charanoan mean lotane lagati hai, vahi samay paha di durg ke sianhasan ka tha. shekh kshamata ki aishvary-mandit moorti tha. lajja, mina, gul aur devapal bandi-vesh mean kh de the. bhayanak prahari door-door kh de, pavan ki bhi gati jaanch rahe the. jitana bhishan prabhav sambhav hai, vah shekh ke us sabhagrih mean tha. shekh ne poochha-‘‘devapal tujhe is dharm par vishvas hai ki nahian?’’

‘‘nahian!’’- devapal ne uttar diya.

‘‘tab tumane hamako dhokha diya?’’

‘‘nahian, changez ke bandi-grih se chhu dane mean jab samar-khand mean tumhare anucharoan ne meri sahayata ki aur maian tumhare utkoch ya mooly se krit hua, tab mujhe tumhari ajna poori karane ki svabhavat: ichchha huee. apane shatru changez ka eeshvariy kop, changez ka nash karane ki ek vikat lalasa man mean khelane lagi, aur maianne usaki hatya ki bhi. maian dharm manakar kuchh karane gaya tha, vah samajhana bhram hai.’’

‘‘yahaan tak to meri ajna ke anusar hi hua, parantu us alauddin ki hatya kyoan ki?’’-daant pisakar shekh ne kaha.

‘‘yah mera usase pratishodh tha!’’ avichal bhav se devapal ne kaha.

‘‘tum janate ho ki is paha d ke shekh keval svarg ke hi adhipati nahian, pratyut hatya ke doot bhi haian!’’ krodh se shekh ne kaha.

‘‘isake janane ki mujhe utkantha nahian hai, shekh. prani-dharm mean mera akhand vishvas hai. apani raksha karane ke lie, apane pratishodh ke lie, jo svabhavik jivan-tatv ke siddhant ki avahelana karake chup baithata hai, use mritak, kayar, sajivata vihin, haddi-maans ke tuk de ke atirikt maian kuchh nahian samajhata. manushy paristhitiyoan ka andh-bhakt hai, isalie mujhe jo karana tha, vah maianne kiya, ab tum apana kartavy kar sakate ho.’’-devapal ka svar dridh tha.

bhayanak shekh apani poorn uttejana se chilla utha. usane kaha-‘‘aur, too kaun hai stri? tera itana sahas! mujhe thagana!’’

lajja apana bahy avaran pheankati huee boli-‘‘haan shekh, ab avashyakata nahian ki maian chhipaooan, maian devapal ki pranayini hooan?’’

‘‘to tum in sabako le jane ya bahakane aee thi, kyoan?’’

‘‘avashyakata se prerit hokar jaise atyant kutsit manushy dharmachary banane ka dhoang kar raha hai, thik usi prakar maian stri hokar bhi purush bani. yah doosari bat hai ki sansar ki sabase pavitr vastu dharm ki a d mean akaanksha khelati hai. tumhare pas sadhan haian, mere pas nahian, anyatha meri avashyakata kisi se kam n thi.’’-lajja haanph rahi thi.

shekh ne dekha, vah dript saundary! yauvan ke dhalane mean bhi ek tivr pravah tha-jaise chaandani rat mean paha d se jharana gir raha ho! ek kshan ke lie usaki samast uttejana palatoo pashu ke saman saumy ho gee. usane kaha-‘‘tum thik mere svarg ki rani hone ke yogy ho. yadi mere mat mean tumhara vishvas ho, to maian tumhean mukt kar sakata hooan. bolo!’’

‘‘svarg! is prithvi ko svarg ki avashyakata kya hai, shekh? na, na, is prithvi ko svarg ke thekedaroan se bachana hoga. prithvi ka gaurav svarg ban jane se nasht ho jayega. isaki svabhavikata sadharan sthiti mean hi rah sakati hai. prithvi ko keval vasundhara hokar manav jati ke lie jine do, apani akaanksha ke kalpit svarg ke lie, kshudr svarth ke lie is mahati ko, is dharani ko narak n banao, jisamean devata banane ke pralobhan mean p dakar manushy rakshas n ban jay, shekh.’’-lajja ne kaha.

shekh patthar-bhare badaloan ke saman k dak da utha. usane kaha-‘‘le jao, in donoan ko bandi karo. maian phir vichar karooanga, aur gul, tum logoan ka yah pahala aparadh hai, kshama karata hooan, sunati ho mina, jao apane kunj mean bhago. in donoan ko bhool jao.’’

bahar ne ek din gul se kaha-‘‘chalo, draksha-mandap mean sangit ka anand liya jay.’’ donoan svargiy madira mean jhoom rahe the. mina vahaan akeli baithi udasi mean ga rahi thi-

‘‘vahi svarg to narak hai, jahaan priyajan se vichchhed hai. vahi rat pralay ki hai, jisaki kalima mean virah ka sanyog hai. vah yauvan nishphal hai, jisaka hridayavanh upasak nahian. vah madira halahal hai, pap hai, jo un madhur adharoan ko uchchhisht nahian. vah pranay vishakt chhuri hai, jisamean kapat hai. isaliye he jivan, too svapn n dekh, vismriti ki nidra mean so ja! sushupti yadi anand nahian, to du:khoan ka abhav to hai. is jagaran se-is akaanksha aur abhav ke jagaran se-vah nidrvandv sona kahian achchha hai mere jivan!’’

bahar ka sahas n hua ki vah mandap mean pair dhare, par gul, vah to jaise mook tha! ek bhool, aparadh aur manovedana ke nirjan kanan mean bhatak raha tha, yadyapi usake charan nishchal the. itane mean halachal mach gee. charoan or dau d-dhoop hone lagi. maloom hua, svarg par tatar ke khan ki chadhaee hai.

barasoan ghire rahane se svarg ki vibhooti nishshesh ho gee thi. svargiy jiv anahar se t dap rahe the. tab bhi mina ko ahar milata. aj shekh samane baitha tha. usaki pyali mean madira ki kuchh antim booandean thian. jalan ki tivr pi da se vyakul aur ahat bahar udhar t dap rahi thi. aj bandi bhi mukt kar diye gaye the. svarg ke vistrit praangan mean bandiyoan ke dam to dane ki katar dhvani gooanj rahi thi. shekh ne ek bar unhean hansakar dekha, phir mina ki or dekhakar usane kaha-‘‘mina! aj aantim din hai! is pyali mean antim ghooantean hai, mujhe apane hath se pila dogi?’’

‘‘bandi hooan shekh! chahe jo kaho.’’

shekh ek dirgh nishvas lekar uth kh da hua. usane apani talavar sanbhali. itane mean dvar toot p da, tatari ghusate hue dikhalaee p de, shekh ke pap-durbal hathoan se talavar gir p di.

draksha ke rookhe kunj mean devapal, lajja aur gul ke shav ke pas mina chupachap baithi thi. usaki aankhoan mean n aansoo the, n othoan par krandan. vah sajiv anukampa, nishthur ho rahi thi.

tataroan ke senapati ne akar dekha, us davagni ke andh d mean trin-kusum surakshit hai. vah apani pratihiansa se andha ho raha tha. k dakakar usane poochha-‘‘too shekh ki beti hai?’’

mina ne jaise moochrchha se aankhean kholian. usane vishvas-bhari vani se kaha-‘‘pita, maian tumhari lila hooan!’’

senapati vikram ko us prant ka shasan mila; par mina unhian svarg ke khandaharoan mean unmukt ghooma karati. jab senapati bahut smaran dilata, to vah kah deti-maian ek bhataki huee bulabul hooan. mujhe kisi tooti dal par andhakar bita lene do! is rajani-vishram ka mooly antim tan sunakar jaooangi.’’

maloom nahian, usaki antim tan kisi ne suni ya nahian.

sanbandhit lekh

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