१८५७ का स्वातन्त्र्य समर (वीर विनायक दामोदर सावरकर - अंग्रेजों द्वारा छपने से पूर्व प्रतिबन्धित महाग्रन्थ)

THE VOLCANO
So, Azimullah then completed his European tour
and returned to Brahmavarta. As soon as Azim
reached Brahmavarta, the whole political atmosphere of
the palace was changed. The Jaripatka which had waved
triumphant and victorious all over India lay so long in
dust in the palace ; the glorious drum of the Peshwas at
the beating of which thousands of Mahratta swords had
advanced on the battlefields and performed such deeds of
wondrous valour, that drum hitherto only sounded melan-
choly to the ear ; and the royal signet of the Peshwas on
the sealing of which had depended the fate of the Mogul
Empire had so far been lying sealing its own widowhood
in the palace. But now all these appeared to be thrilled
with extraordinary life. The dust-soiled Jaripatka shone
forth again ; the old drums which had almost forgotten
their martial music were practising again the forgotten
military airs ; and the regal seals seemed to be eager,
extremely eager. The eyes of Shrimant Nana Sahib,
“excited like those of a tiger, brilliant and fierce,”
since the arrival of Azimullah Khan, flashed more
fierce from injured pride and shone more brilliant
as he drank inspiration from the words of Shri
Krishna, “Therefore, get ready for battle”. Every corner
of Brahmavarta echoed with those eternal words, Tasmat
yuddhaya yujyaswa. For, in Swadesh, even in their own
Hindusthan, the people have been reduced to be slaves and
have foreign masters : the Swaraj is no more, they have
lost their natural rights of liberty ! All the attempts to
win back the country and its independence by conciliation
and by money, and by appeal, had so far failed ; hence,
be ready for war. “If you are killed, you will get to
heaven ; if you win, you will enjoy the earth ; so, be ready
for war ; you will not be committing any sin thereby”—
it was such heavenly inspiration that gave to Nana’s eyes
extraordinary brilliance ! ³ He studied the conditions of
3. “Nana’s object, then, was to lay the foundations of his
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