Aamrapali

This is an attempt to capture the immense sacrifice of Amrapali in verses. Amrapali was the Nagarvadhu (Royal Courtesan) of Magadh. She was forced to become a ‘public property’, quite literally, because her beauty posed to threaten the solidarity of the republic of Magadh. It was feared that the powerful figures holding the public offices of Magadh would not even hesitate to assassinate each other to win over Amrapali. The threat of internal schism drove the council to request Amrapali to accept the post of royal courtesan, thus incapable of favouring one admirer over another. She was a public property to be used for amusement by the administrators of Magadh. Amrapali accepted the offer for the sake of her nation and was thus to live a life of luxury and admiration without true love and motherhood, the joys every woman yearns for.

वैशाली की स्निग्ध ऊषा

दग्ध हुई

दावानल समस्त दिशा

प्रज्वलित श्रापित निशा।

प्रकृति की तुलिका पर

परिहास हुआ भाग्य का,

कलुषित त्यक्त देह से

अभिषेक हुआ त्याज्य का।

"क्षक्षात तेज प्रतिबिम्ब

मर्त्यलोक की श्रेष्ठ रति,

लुप्त निशेध्य अन्तःपुर में

हो मंत्राग्नी समक्ष सती। "

सतर्क हो उठी नर सत्ता,

वैशाली की भाग्य-विधाता,

वैशाली की नर सत्ता।

"कलह दूर हो!

भाग करो,

भोग करो!"

"साधू! साधू!"

"आम्रपाली, तुम सार्वजनिक,

तुम वैशाली नगरवधु।"