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________________ gaNeza lalavAnI abhizapta nAlandA pUrva dina sandhyA hote hI havA jaise eka bAragI hI banda ho gaI thI evaM eka asahya uttApa ne pRthvI ko mAno veSTana kara rakha diyA thA / dUsare dina prabhAta huA / kintu, prakRti kI usa zabdahIna, ruddha zvAMsa pratIkSA kA avasAna nahIM huaa| sUrya udita huA, para vaha sUrya pratii kA sUrya nahIM thA / usakA raMga thA jaise tAmra / sthavira muditabhadra vihAra ke eka prakoSTha meM baiThakara dhammapada kA pATha kara rahe the| bhikSu zramaNa utpala ne unake caraNoM ke samIpa Akara praNAma kiyaa| vinIta svara maiM bolA- 'bande / ' sthavira mukha uThAkara AzIrvAda kI bhaMgimA meM hasta uttolita karate hue bole- 'Arogya' utpala tAmravarNa sUrya kI ora unakI dRSTi AkRSTa karatA huA bolA- 'thera ! lagatA hai brAhmaNoM kA abhicAra Aja saphala hogA / ' sthavira uThakara kucha kSaNa taka sUrya kI ora apalaka dekhate rahe / phira yathA sthAna upavezita hokara utpala kI ora dekhate bolehue 'bhagavAna tathAgata kI jaisI abhiruci / ' utpala dvAdaza varSa pUrva kI eka ghaTanA kI ora iMgita kara rahA thA / ghaTanA isa prakAra thI : Aja se ThIka bAraha varSa pUrva isI bhAMti kI prabhAta belA meM sthavira jisa samaya dharmopadeza de rahe the, do tArkika brAhmaNoM ne sahasA upasthita hokara sthavira ko tarka ke lie AhvAna kiyaa| sthavira bhI unakI abhilASAnusAra tarka meM pravRtta ho ge| kintu ve brAhmaNa yathArthataH tarka hIraka jayantI smArikA - kA uddezya lekara nahIM Ae the| ve Ae the, sthavira kA apamAna krne| ataH tarka meM pravRtta hote hI sthavira para kaTUkti karane lge| sthavira to kSamAzIla the para vaha kaTUkti pIr3A kA kAraNa bana gaI zramaNoM evaM vidyArthiyoM ke lie| taruNa vidyArthiyoM ke lie to vaha itanI asahya ho gaI ki krodhAveza meM ve vastra prakSAlita jala donoM brAhmaNoM ke mastaka para nikSepa kara baitthe| phalataH donoM brAhmaNoM ne kupita hokara vihAra kA parityAga to kara diyA para parityAga ke pUrva bihAravAsiyoM ko balapUrvaka kahA-- 'Aja se hamaloga sUryopAsanA karate hue dvAdazavarSIya ani yajJa anuSThAna kareMge aura usa yajJa meM Ahuti rUpa meM pradAna kareMge nAlandA vihAra ko / pariNAmata: bhasmIbhUta hokara dharApRSTha hotA huA nizcihna ho jAegA yaha nAlandA / ' muditabhadra bhagavAna tathAgata kI abhiruci kahakara punaH dhammada pATha pravRtta ho ge| koI anya hotA to dIrgha niHzvAsa pheMkatA huA Atma-rakSA ke lie udyata ho jaataa| kintu muktibhadra ne aisA kucha nahIM kiyaa| kyoMki, ve dIrgha sAdhanA meM apanI icchA ko sampUrNatayA visarjita kara buddha kI abhiruci kI hI zeSa niyAmaka ke rUpa meM grahaNa karane ke abhyasta ho cuke the / ataH koI kisI bhI prakAra se unake citta kI sthiratA ko naSTa karane meM sakSama nahIM ho paataa| yadi brAhmaNa kA abhicAra Aja saphala hI ho jAe to kyA ? muditabhadra kA dhairya usase aNumAtra bhI vicalita nahIM ho sakatA / muditabhadra kA dhairya to vicalita nahIM huA kintu vicalita ho gayA anyAnya bhikSu evaM vidyArthiyoM kA dhairya / ve tatkSaNa sva-sva prakoSTha parityAga kara bAhara prAMgaNa meM A khar3e hue| unake mukha para bhaya aura udvega kI aisI kAlimA chAyI huI thI jaise ve mRtyu ke mukha meM hI praveza kara gae haiN| bhikSuoM meM eka assI varSa ke vRddha zIrNa hAtha se caitya ke bhittigAtra kA avalambana kara khar3e-khar3e cItkAra karate hue kaha rahe the-- 'Aja brAhmaNoM kI krodhAgni meM bhasma hone kA dina A gayA hai|' yaha bAta utpala se kAnoM meM bhI phuNcii| ataH sthavira se bolA'bhadanta, vartamAna meM isa vihAra kA parityAga karanA hI kyA zreyakara nahIM hai?" sthavira ke mukha kI prazAnti usI bhAMti avyAhata thii| ve dhIre se bole- 'jaisI tumhArI abhiruci ! tuma loga vihAra parityAga kara sakate ho... para maiM nahIM kruuNgaa|' dIrgha niHzvA~sa pheMkate hue utpala bolA- 'bhadanta ! Apako upadeza dene kI kSamatA mujha meM nahIM hai kintu kyA abhizapta vihAra meM avasthAna karanA ucita hogA ? ' sthavira muskurAe / bole- 'utpala, vihAra abhizapta huA hai aisA maiM nahIM maantaa| phira bhI yadi brAhmaNoM ke abhicAra se hI vihAra ko dhvaMsa honA hai to vihAra ke sAtha-sAtha hamalogoM kA dhvaMsa honA bhI anivArya hai| mAtra ye stUpa, ye caitya, ye bhikSu AvAsa hI vihAra nahIM hai, bhikSugaNa bhI vihAra ke hI pramukha aMga haiN| ataH pRthvI ke kisI prAnta meM jAne para bhI hamArI rakSA nahIM ho sktii| phira kyoM hama vihAra vidvat khaNDa / 107
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________________ kA parityAga kareM!' utpala natamastaka hokara namra svaroM meM bolA- 'bhadanta ! ApakA kathana hI satya hai|' taduparAnta vahAM se uThakara calA gayA / sthavira punaH dhammapada pATha meM nimagna ho ge| prakoSTha ke bAhara Akara utpala phira eka bAra AkAza kI ora dekhane lgaa| dekhA - tAmravarNa sUrya para dhUmravarNa megha kA eka sUkSma AvaraNa AyA huA hai| sUrya spaSTata: nahIM dikha rahA thA / kintu prakRti kA niruddha bhAva thA usI prakAra avyAhata / sopAna zreNI avarohaNa kara utpala bhikSu evaM vidyArthiyoM ke madhya upasthita huaa| sUrya ke tAmravarNa ko dekhakara jo kolAhala una logoM madhya utthita huA vaha aba bhI stabdha nahIM huA thA / caitya bhitti kA Azraya lie kucha dUrI para khar3e eka vRddha bola rahe the-- 'kyA buddha hamArI rakSA kareMge? trizaraNa maMtra rakSA karegA ?' mRtyu bhaya meM unakA mukha udagra ho uThA thA / utpala ko lagA ina vRddha ko hI sabase adhika mRtyu bhaya hai| vidyArthiyoM ke madhya se utpala vRddha kI ora agrasara huaa| phira unake hAthoM ko dhAraNa karatA huA bolA-'Arya, dhairya kA avalambana leN| yadi Apa hI dhairya kho baiTheMge to inheM sAntvanA kauna pradAna karegA ?' vismita dRSTi se vRddha utpala ke mukha kI ora dekhane lge| kucha kahane jA hI rahe the ki bolane kA sAmarthya na pAkara dharatI para baiTha ge| skaMdha para par3I saMghaTikA skhalita hokara dhUla meM loTane lagI / para vRddha kA dhyAna udhara nahIM thaa| ekadama vihvala ho gae the ve / vRddha ko dhairya baMdhAnA vyartha samajha utpala vahAM apekSA na kara sakA / choTe-choTe stUpoM se hokara pradhAna caitya kI ora agrasara hone lagA / kucha dUra bhI nahIM jA pAyA ki utpala kI dRSTi muMha ke bala dharatI para gire hue subhadra para par3I use isa sthiti meM dekhakara bhI kisI ne bhI vahAM dRSTipAta nahIM kiyaa| balki pAMvoM se sparza karate hue idhara-udhara daur3a rahe the| muhUrta mAtra kA bhI vilamba na kara utpala ne use uThAkara baitthaayaa| phira jhakajhora kara pukArate hue bolA- 'subhadra !' kintu subhadra prakRtistha na ho skaa| usane apane visphArita netroM kI dRSTi utpala ke mukha para nibaddha kara dii| utpala usakI pITha para hAtha pherate hue kahane lagA'kyA huA subhadra ? sUrya dekhakara Dara gae ho ?' 'itanI dera taka subhadra soca rahA thA vaha mara gayA hai kintu, aba, jaba dekhA vaha marA nahIM hai usakA sAhasa dhIre-dhIre lauTa aayaa| vaha utpala kI ora dekhakara bolA- 'hAM Arya, maiM bhayabhIta ho gayA huuN|' utpala sasneha usakI pITha para punaH hAtha pherate hue bolA- 'bhava ? marane kA kyA bhaya subhadra ? tumane upasampradAya grahaNa nahIM kI hai ? ' subhadra isakA koI pratyuttara nahIM de skaa| kevala utpala ke ora dekhakara bolA- 'hAM Arya!' mukha ThIka isI samaya eka dUrAgata kolAhala sunAI par3A / utpala jhaTapaTa uThakara khar3A ho gyaa| dekhA, vidyArthIgaNa kisI ko lie usI ora hI A rahe the| hIraka jayantI smArikA kI bhIr3a nikaTa Ane para utpala ne dekhA ve loga do bhikSuoM ko rajjubaddha kara ghasITate hue vahiprakAra kI ora lie jA rahe the evaM unhIM ko kendra banAkara sabake saba cItkAra kara rahe the| utpala usI bhIr3a ko cIratA huA bhikSuoM kI ora bar3hane lgaa| jisa vidyArthI ne rajjubandhana pakar3a rakhA thA vaha unase kaha rahA thA'tuma logoM ke pApa se hI Aja vihAra kA antima dina upasthita huA hai / mRtyu Asanna ho gae haiM hama sbhii| kintu eka sAtha marane kA saubhAgya tumheM nahIM deNge| zAyada isI se tumhAre pApa kA kathaMcita prAyazcita ho sake / vihAra kI uttara sImA para jo vizAla gahvara hai usI meM hama tumheM pheMka deMge prAkAra se tumhArI una vicUrNa asthiyoM meM se zakuni evaM zRgAla mAMsa noca-nocakara bhakSaNa kreNge|' ThIka usI samaya utpala bhikSuoM ke nikaTa pahuMca gayA thA use gatirodha karate dekha sabhI vidyArthI sthira ho ge| bole- 'saMghAgArika Apa ?' jo vidyArthI yaha saba kaha rahA thA usakA bhI vAkya srota sahasA niruddha ho gyaa| utpala kI dRSTi usI kSaNa Alinda para jA par3I dekhA Alinda para khar3e sthavira kucha kaha rahe the| kintu unakA kathana kisI ke bhI kAnoM meM nahIM pahuMca rahA thA, utpala ke bhI nahIM / ... para ve kyA kaha sakate haiM yaha anumAna karanA usake lie kaThina nahIM thA ataH vidyArthiyoM ko stabdha hote dekha utpala bolA- 'uttama ! maiM saMghAgArika aura tuma logoM kA zikSaka huuN| maiMne tuma logoM ko jo zikSA dI kyA yaha usI kI pariNati hai ? udgata krodha cala mAna ratha kI bhAMti hotA hai jo use saMhata kara sakatA hai usI ko maiM sArathI kahatA huuN| anya to mAtra rajju hI dhAraNa kie hote haiN|' 'Arya! ApakI bAta satya hai, parantu inakA aparAdha bhI to gurutara hai / ' utpala bolA- 'yaha maiM jAnatA hUM, kintu saumila, tumhArA aparAdha bhI kama nahIM hai| aparAdha ke lie daNDa de sakatA hai kevala saMgha aura koI nahIM / ' saumila evaM anyAnya sabhI vidyArthI paraspara eka dUsare kA mukha dekhane lge| utpala kaha rahA thA-- 'bAla sulabha caMcalatAvaza usa dina inhoMne saMgha niyama ke viruddha avinIta kArya kiyA thA / ... para kyA saMgha ne pAti mokSa ke anusAra inheM daNDa nahIM diyA ? yadi diyA to phira Aja navIna daNDa kI vArtA kyoM cala par3I ?' yaha kahate kahate utpala kA kaNTha- svara kucha kaThora ho gyaa| utpala kucha rukakara punaH kahane lagA'saumila ! maiM saMghAgArika huuN| saMgha ne jisa prakAra hameM daNDa dene kI kSamatA sthavira ko pradAna kI hai usI prakAra vidyArthiyoM ko daNDa dene kI kSamatA mujhe pradAna kI hai| inhoMne saMgha niyama ke viruddha avinaya prakaTa kiyA... para tumane to saMgha ko hI asvIkAra kara diyaa| aura saMgha ko asvIkAra karane kA eka mAtra daNDa hai-- bhisskaar| ataH tuma buddha kI pavitra bhUmi se nirvAsita hue| Aja sandhyA ke pUrva hI tuma vihAra kA parityAga kro|' vidvat khaNDa / 108
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________________ ni:zabda the sabhI vidyaarthii| sabhI vismayAhata evaM nirvAk dRSTi se utpala ke mukha kI ora dekha rahe the| utpala ne svahasta se aparAdhiyoM ko rajjumukta kara ddaalaa| bandhanamukta hote hI ve utpala ke caraNoM meM loTa pdd'e| bole- 'Arya, Aja Apane hameM prANadAna diyaa|' utpala ke netroM se azru pravAhita hone lge| una azruoM ko poMchakara unheM Upara uThAte hue kahA- 'koI bhaya nahIM hai tuma logoM ko| zAkya siMha ne sabhI jIvoM para karuNA karane ko kahA hai| unheM lekara utpala sthavira ke sammukha upasthita huaa| bhikSuoM kI vikSata deha ko dekhakara sthavira ke kapoloM para azrudhArA baha clii| unake zarIra para hAtha pherate hue bole- 'tuma logoM kA aparAdha zAnta ho gayA hai, buddha ne tuma para karuNA kI hai|' bhikSugaNa sthavira ke caraNoM meM natamastaka ho ge| bole- 'bhadanta ! kintu saMzaya nahIM miTa pA rahA hai, Aloka to dikhAI hI nahIM de rahA hai|' sthavira unake mastaka para svahAtha rakha kahane lage- 'saMzaya kyA miTegA? anutapta hRdaya se yadi prakAza nahIM dikha par3A to phira kyA dikhegA?' __madhyAhna ho calA thaa| sUrya mastaka para A cukA thaa| kintu prathama prabhAta kA jo sUrya ekabAra dikhAI par3A vaha puna: nahIM dekhA gyaa| prakRti kA vaha nistabdha bhAva jaise samApta hI nahIM ho rahA thA, usI bhAMti sUrya mukha para kA AvaraNa bhI nahIM uTha rahA thaa| phira bhI madhyAhna hone para bhikSu evaM vidyArthiyoM kA bhaya kama ho calA thaa| ve socane lagenizcita mRtyu jaise una saba para eka vyaMgya kasakara calI gii| ata: aba taka jisa dainandina kArya ko ve bhUla gae the usI ke anuSThAna meM pravRtta ho ge| koI caitya saMskAra meM laga gayA, koI jala lene gayA, koI anna prastuta karane pAkazAlA meM praviSTa huaa| utpala ko to aba kucha karane ko thA hI nahIM, Aja kA dina adhyayana virati kA thaa| apane kakSa meM Akara pAtimokSa ke pRSTha kholakara baiTha gyaa| kholakara to baiTha gayA, kintu kisI bhI prakAra usameM manaHsaMyoga na kara skaa| Aja prabhAta se hI jo kucha ghaTita huA usakI chAyAkRti usakI AMkhoM meM taira rahI thii| utpala soca to vahI saba rahA thA kintu usa bhAvanA kA koI nirdiSTa krama nahIM thaa| parvata se utarate samaya nirjhariNI kA jala jisa prakAra upalakhaNDa ke AghAta se bikhara kara idhara-udhara vikSipta-sA chiTaka par3atA hai ThIka aisI hI sthiti meM thIM usakI bhAvanAeM nahIM huA hai| tabhI acAnaka subhadra kI bAta use smaraNa ho aaii| ThIka hI to hai deha parityAga ke pUrva bhI to manuSya isI prakAra aharaha mara rahA hai| yahI to yathArtha mRtyu hai| jise mRtyu kahate haiM vaha to hai uttrnn| taba? mRtyu bhaya hI hai mRtyu| jise mRtyu bhaya nahIM vahI amara hai| amara hokara bhI manuSya na jAne kyoM apane amRta-tatva ko bhUla gayA hai| bhUla gayA hai tabhI to mAnava sAmAnya bhaya se sAmAnya kSati se hiMsra ho uThatA hai| AghAta karatA hai, pIr3ita kara ullasita hotA hai| phira saumila kI bAta yAda ho aaii| kyA saumila aba ghara lauTegA? nahIM lauTegA to phira kyA karegA? usI ne to use saMgha se nirvAsita kiyA hai| taba kyA vaha janma-mRtyu ke srota meM phira eka bAra pravAhita hogA? kahAM hai usakA Azraya ? nirAzraya ke lie hI to hai aashry| bhAgya-viDambitA ke lie hI to hai trizaraNa mNtr| isIlie to buddha haiM krunnaadhn| ve zAntA haiN| taba kyA usane nirvAsana daNDa dekara bhUla kI hai ? nahIM, nahIM saumila saMgha ko asvIkAra kiyA hai| satya hI to hai jo zAntA hotA hai vahI to hotA hai shaastaa| buddha zAstA bhI haiM aura unhIM kA nidarzana hai yaha paatimokss| utpala phira eka bAra pAtimokSa par3hane kI ceSTA karane lgaa...| para kahAM kara pAyA mn:sNyog| sahasA usake mana meM AyA dayA aura karuNA eka nahIM hai| dayA meM mamatva hai, karuNA nirmama hai| dayA ke udreka kA kAraNa dUsare kI paristhiti meM svayaM ko bhAMpanA hai| kintu karuNA aisI nahIM hai| karuNA anya kI vedanA ko apanI hI vedanA samajhatI hai| usa samaya satva-satva meM pArthakya nahIM rhtaa| tumhArA duHkha hai, merA dukha hai tumhArA sukha merA sukh| vaha sukha jarA-sA nahIM bahuta vizAla hai| tabhI yadi tumhAre kalyANa ke lie tumheM duHkha denA par3e to de sakate haiN| usa samaya vaha duHkha tumheM nahIM svayaM ko hI diyA jAtA hai| tabhI to zAntA usa samaya zAstA hai jabaki daNDa hI kalyANa hai| utpala ne jaba socA daNDa hI saumila ke lie kalyANakArI hai taba usake hRdaya se eka gurutara bhAra jaise utara gyaa| usakA samasta anta:karaNa bola uThA-- 'saumila, mujhe tumase prema hai, maiM tumhAre kalyANa kI kAmanA karatA huuN| tabhI tumheM daNDa dene kA adhikAra rakhatA huuN| tumheM daNDa diyA hai|' utpala kI bhAvanA ne phira eka navIna patha pkdd'aa| aba vaha vihAra ke viSaya meM socane lagA ki yaha vihAra Aja jisa avasthA meM hai yaha avasthA usakI pahale nahIM thii| eka samaya yaha atyaMta samRddha thaa| una dinoM deza-videzoM se artha AtA thaa| kevala artha hI nahIM taba dUra-dUrAntaroM se jJAnAnveSiyoM kA dala bhI AtA thaa| unake adhyayana-adhyApana ne vihAra ko eka vizeSa maryAdA dI thii| ...para Aja kahAM hai vaha jJAnAnveSiyoM kA dala ? kahAM hai nAgArjuna, Aryadeva, asaMga, vasubandhu, diganAga, dharmapAla, zIlabhadra, dharma kIrti, zAntarakSita ? kevala unakI dhArA ko vahana karane ke lie hai sthavira muditbhdr| to kyA aba koI AzA nahIM hai? kyA nAlandA apanA hatagaurava punaH prApta nahIM karegA? tathAgata kA dharma gaurava kyA sacamuca hI astamita ho rahA hai ? kauna jAne kyA hai? utpala isakA kAraNa anusandhAna karane lgaa| socane lagA-rAjAoM kI vItazraddhA hI kyA isakA kAraNa hai yA vidharmI turkoM kA AkramaNa ? __ vaha soca rahA thA vRddha bhikSuka ke viSaya meM ki unheM hI mRtyu kA samadhika bhaya kyoM? abhI bhI unakI dRSTi meM pRthvI utanI hI taruNa evaM AkAza utanA hI nIlA hai? yadi aisA nahIM hai to pRthvI kA parityAga karane meM unakA hRdaya vyathA se, drAvaka rasa se kyoM bhara uThA? zAstra kahate haiM jIrNa vastroM kI bhAMti hI eka dina isa zarIra ko chor3a denA hogaa| oha, isake lie itanA mamatva! mamatva ? mamatva hI kyA parigraha nahIM? kyA bhagavAna tathAgata ne mamatva kA parityAga karane ko nahIM kahA hai ?vyartha hI ye bhikSu hue haiM? abhI taka to unakA deha-mamatva bhI dUra hIraka jayantI smArikA vidvat khaNDa / 109
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________________ rAsasa turkoM ne isa vihAra paryanta ko dagdha kara DAlA thaa| bhikSuoM kI nRzaMsa hatyA kI thii| taba yahI kAraNa ho sakatA hai| phira bhI yahI eka kAraNa nahIM hai| taba kyA hai?' utpala puna: muditabhadra kI bAta socane lgaa| vihAra dhvaMsa kara jaba turka cale gae the taba unhoMne vihAra evaM caitya kA saMskAra karanA prArambha kiyA thaa| usa dina muTThI bhara bhikSuoM ko lekara hI ve kArya-pravRtta hue the| artha bhI milA magadha-maMtrI kukkuTa siddha se| kintu, saba kucha artha se hI nahIM hotaa| navIna rUpa se vihAra nirmANa meM unheM aparimeya parizrama karanA pdd'aa| unake parizrama kA hI to pratirUpa hai yaha vihaar| phira to vibhinna sthAnoM ke bhikSuoM evaM vidyArthiyoM kA samAgama bhI hone lagA thaa| para... utpala socane lagA- 'lagatA hai isa kSetra meM daiva hI pratikUla haiN| mana hI mana vaha yaha kahe binA nahIM raha skaa| 'amitAbha! dekhanA, sthaviroM kA prANaprAta parizrama kahIM vyartha na ho jAe! bhagavAna tathAgata kI abhiruci|' utpala ne pIche ghUmakara dekhaa| kintu koI dikhAI nahIM pdd'aa| zAyada yaha bhrAnti thii| lekina usane spaSTa hI to sunA thA jaise koI usake pIche se bola rahA thA, 'bhagavAna tathAgata kI abhiruci|' __ utpala bhitti gAtra para bhUmi sparza mudrA meM utkIrNa bodhisatva kI mUrti kI ora dekhatA huA karabaddha hokara bola uThA-'bhagavAna tathAgata kI abhiruci hI pUrNa ho|' 'dekha rahe ho, dekha rahe ho...' bAhara puna: kolAhala hone lgaa| usI kolAhala ko lakSya karatA huA utpala bAhara A khar3A huaa| dekhA kucha megha aMza haTa jAne se sUrya prakAzita ho uThA hai| sUrya kyA thA sAkSAt agnipinndd| usI samaya ve vRddha yaSTi para bhAra die utpala ke samIpa A gae the| utpala kA hAtha sparza karate hue bole, 'dekha rahe ho, kyA dekhA? unakA kaNTha-svara vikRta thaa| utpala bolA- 'suury'| 'sUrya ? nahIM, maiM to dekha rahA hUM brAhmaNagaNa yajJAgni meM Ahuti pradAna kara rahe haiN| Aja dvAdaza varSa pUrNa ho gayA hai|' utpala binA kucha uttara die hI sUrya kI ora dekhatA huA sthira khar3A rhaa| kintu sUrya adhika dera taka nahIM rahA, puna: megha ne grAsa kara liyaa| jo stabdhatA samasta dina avyAhata thI vahI stabdhatA muhUrta bhara ke lie aura kaThora ho gii| phira na jAne kyA huA ki samasta dharatI kA~pa utthii| bhU-garbha se eka avaruddha garjana maraNAhata daitya kI bhA~ti ArtanAda karatA huA bAhara aayaa| vRddha girane hI jA rahe the ki mAnatA kRta stUpa kA Azraya lekara kisI prakAra khar3e rhe| sUrya dekhane ke lie bhikSugaNa apanA-apanA kArya chor3akara bAhara A gae the| isa bAra unake cItkAra se AkAza-bAtAsa paripUrita ho utthe| eka kSaNa ke lie utpala bhI hataprabha ho utthaa| use lagA-jaise padatala sthita mRttikA nimnAbhimukha hokara sI jA rahI hai| stUpa kA bhittigAtra kA~pa rahA hai| ...dUra bahiAkAra kA eka virATa aMza bhaMga ho rahA hai| usake girane kI AvAja ne kAnoM ko vadhira kara ddaalaa| usI sthAna se pracura dhUla utkSipta hokara cakkara kATatI huI usI kI ora agrasara ho rahI thii| bhUmikampa kA vega sthira hote hI utpala sthaviroM ke prakoSTha kI ora cala pdd'aa| dekhA- sabhI apane-apane prANoM kI rakSA meM vyasta paraspara eka dUsare ko Dhakelate hue, gire hue ko kucalate hue daur3e jA rahe haiN| koI ArtanAda kara rahA hai to koI trizaraNa maMtra uccAraNa kara rahA hai| 'ther|' sthavira ne mukha uThAkara dekhaa| bole 'utpala, tumane bihAra kA parityAga nahIM kiyA?' utpala bolA, 'thera! maiM Apako lene AyA huuN|' sthavira haMsa par3e, bole, 'kahAM le jAoge utpala?' aura dviguNa vega se bhUmikampa prArambha ho gyaa| utpala socane lagA'ThIka hI to hai jaba pRthvI hI Aja kSipta hai taba Azraya kahAM?' ___ sthavira utpala ke mukha kI ora dekhakara bole, 'tuma jAo utpala, maiM sthAna tyAga nahIM kara sktaa|' utpala hAtha jor3akara kahane lagA'thera! aisI anumati mata diijie|' ___ sthavira puna: ekabAra utpala ke mukha kI ora dekhane lge| phira dhIre se bole- 'utpala, maiM tumhArA AcArya huuN| merA Adeza hai, tuma prakoSTha parityAga kara isa sthAna kI apekSA nirApada sthAna para cale jaao|' utpala ne sthavira ke Adeza kI upekSA jIvana meM kabhI nahIM kI thI para Aja unakI AjJA ko bhI avahelita sA kara rahA thaa| kintu, sahasA jo kucha use dRSTigata huA usase vaha sthira na raha skaa| usane jo kucha dekhA vaha eka bhayaMkara duHsvapna kI bhAMti thaa| usakI samasta deha jaise jamakara hima ho gii| dekhA-vihAra kA vizAla pustakAlaya 'ratnodadhi' jisa ora thA vahAM se pracura dhUmapUMja para lapakatI huI agni-zikhA muMha bAeM dhAMya-dhAMya kara rahI thii| dIrgha saMcita jJAnarAzi kI jo kucha rakSA ho sakI thI vaha bhI Aja samApta hone jA rahI thii| kyA usakI rakSA kA koI upAya nahIM ? utpala andhavega se usI ora daur3a pdd'aa| yadyapi bAra-bAra usake caraNa skhalita ho rahe the phira bhI bhAgA jA rahA thaa| dekhA- bhikSugaNa usa samaya bhI vibhrAnta kI bhAMti patha bhraSTa hokara idhara-udhara daur3a rahe the| 'subhdr|' subhadra usa samaya bhittigAtra kI buddha mUrti ke sammukha ghuTane Teka kara ___ baiThA prArthanA kara rahA thaa| kaha rahA thA 'rakSA karo vajrapANi, rakSA kro|' pracaNDa vega se utpala ne use apanI ora AkRSTa kiyaa| bolA'nahIM dekha rahe ho bhittigAtra kAMpa rahA hai| kisI bhI kSaNa vaha gira sakatA hai| barhidvAra kI ora jaao|' phira subhadra ne kyA kiyA yaha dekhane ko vaha ruka na skaa| basa usI agni ko lakSya karatA huA daur3ane lgaa| eka muhUrta ke lie utpala puna: ekabAra khar3A huaa| sunA, jaise koI kaha rahA thA- 'maiM jAnatA hUM venu, vihAra kA aizvarya kahAM rakSita hai? kauna dekha rahA hai? cala na, apane usI aizvarya ko bAMTa leN| hIraka jayantI smArikA vidvat khaNDa / 110
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________________ yaha sunakara utpala khar3A na raha sakA, na hI vihAra ke aizvarya kI rakSA karane ko udyata huA, na hI venu evaM usake sAthI ko naitika patana se bacAne kI soca skaa| para yaha smaraNa avazya ho AyA yaha venu rAjagRha se kisI kAryopalakSa meM AyA thaa| eka vedanA tIkSNa sUci kI bhAMti use viddha karane lgii| puna: ekabAra doharA uThA- 'bhagavAn tathAgata, ApakI abhiruci hI pUrNa ho|' kintu utpala jisa kArya ke lie AyA thA vaha asambhava thaa| granthAgAra ke bhikSuoM ne prathama to usakI rakSA ke lie ceSTA kii| kintu jaba avasthA unake sAmarthya ke bAhara ho gaI ve nirasta ho ge| utpala unake pAsa Akara khar3A ho gyaa| dekhA, bahudina sayatna saMgrahita pustakeM jala-jalakara bhasma ho rahI thiiN| utkSipta dhUmra Urdhvagamana kara rahA thaa| usa para pravAhita vAyu bhI usa tANDava ko sahayoga de rahA thaa| jvalanta aMgAra evaM bhasma ur3a-ur3akara caturdika gira rahI thii| bhUmikampa to banda ho gayA thA kintu vaha kisI bhI kSaNa puna: prArambha ho jaaegaa| yaha sambhAvanA banI huI thii| utpala socane lagA- bhUmikampa honA to svAbhAvika hai, para yaha agnikAMDa ? granthAgAra meM agni lagI to kaise? yajJAgni ? kintu isa para vizvAsa karane kI icchA nahIM hotii| taba kauna sA kAraNa ho sakatA hai ? kisI ne agni-saMyoga to nahIM kara diyaa| utpala granthAgAra ke saMrakSakoM ke niSedha kI avahelanA karatA huA usa agni vRSTi ke madhya agrasara hone lgaa| dekhA-agni kI lapalapAtI huI lapaTeM aura projjvala hotI jA rahI thiiN| kabhI vaha zikhA ghananIla, kabhI pANhura, kabhI raktavarNa ho rahI thI ayuta nAgina ke phaNoM kI bhAMti sira uThAe ve nRtya kara rahI thiiN| kabhI-kabhI manda ho jAtI, para mAtra dviguNa vega se jala uThane ke lie hii| aneka bhikSu evaM vidyArthI vahira ke bAhara cale ge| jaise ve mRtyu ke hI bAhara ho gae hoN| ata: unmukta se kalarava kara rahe the| isIlie yaha koI soca nahIM sakA ki vihAra ke anyAnya aMza kI agnidAha se rakSA kI jA sakatI thii| unhoMne to basa soca hI liyA thA ki vaha vihAra kA antima dina thaa| utpala agrasara hotA gyaa| kintu aba aura adhika agrasara honA asambhava thaa| dhUmra aura vASpa ne usake cakSuoM ko avaruddha kara diyaa| prajjvalita aMgAra ur3a-ur3akara caturdika jo kucha bhI dAhya padArtha thA saba jalA rahe the| utpala ne jyoMhi sammukha kadama rakhA usake pada AghAta se koI ArtanAda kara utthaa| vaha camaka kara eka ora ho gyaa| bolA- 'kauna ?' uttara na pAkara vaha nIce jhukakara dekhane lgaa| 'are! manuSya-deha hI to hai!' pUchA- 'kauna ho tuma?' vaha deha kucha hila utthii| bolI- 'brAhmaNa!' usakA arddhadagdha mukha vikRta ho rahA thaa| ata: pahacAna to nahIM sakA, para usa zabda ne saba kucha subodha kara diyaa| bolA- 'kyA tumhIM ne granthAgAra meM agni saMyoga kiyA thA? tumhAre pApa kI sImA nahIM hai| kintu, buddha tumheM kSamA kreNge|' phira kucha rukakara bolA, 'lagatA hai tumhAre prANa baca sakate haiN| tuma merA avalambana lekara uTha sakate ho?' brAhmaNa se pratyuttara pAne ke pUrva hI pRthvI puna: eka bAra kAMpa utthii| vaha kampana itanA pracaNDa thA ki dharApRSTha sthAna-sthAna para phaTa gyaa| bauddha vihAra kA saba kucha rasAtala meM dhaMsane lgaa| utpala brAhmaNa ko nirApada sthAna meM le jAne kI ceSTA kara rahA thA para lar3akhar3Akara gira par3A aura kabhI na uTha skaa| samasta dharatI aura AkAza bhikSuoM evaM vidyArthiyoM ke Arta cItkAra se puna: ekabAra bhara pRthvI taba bhI kAMpa rahI thI, maraNonmatta vega se kAMpa rahI thI kahIM kucha nIce dhaMsa rahA thA, kahIM jala aura kardama Upara kI ora uchala rahA thaa| bhikSugaNa vikSipta se daur3A bhAgI kara rahe the| ...para kahAM thA aashry| koI dhaMsAna ke sAtha nIce jA rahA thaa| koI kIcar3a ke sAtha Upara jAkara puna: khaDDa meM gira rahA thaa| cAroM ora agni-vyApta ho rahI thii| dUsare dina jaba phira sUrya udita huA usa vihAra kA koI cihna hI avazeSa nahIM thaa| pRthvI ne pUrNata: grAsa kara liyA thA usa virAT vihAra ko| kintu hAM, dharatI ke usa Alor3ana ke pariNAma-svarUpa jo kucha uThanA, dhaMsanA parivartana huA vaha prakRti kI usa niSThura lIlA kI jaise sAkSI de rahA thaa| hIraka jayantI smArikA vidvat khaNDa / 111