सुगंधों में शब्दों, दिखावे, भावनाओं या इच्छाशक्ति से भी ज़्यादा मज़बूत मनाने की शक्ति होती है। किसी गंध की इस persuasive शक्ति से बचा नहीं जा सकता, यह हमारे फेफड़ों में हवा की तरह हमारे अंदर उतर जाती है, हमें पूरी तरह भर देती है, हमारे रोम-रोम में बस जाती है। इसका कोई इलाज नहीं है।
Odors have a power of persuasion stronger than that of words, appearances, emotions, or will. The persuasive power of an odor cannot be fended off, it enters into us like breath into our lungs, it fills us up, imbues us totally. There is no remedy for it.
Odors have a power of persuasion stronger than that of words, appearances, emotions, or will. The persuasive power of an odor cannot be fended off, it enters into us like breath into our lungs, it fills us up, imbues us totally. There is no remedy for it.
...प्रतिभा का कोई मतलब नहीं होता, जबकि विनम्रता और कड़ी मेहनत से हासिल किया गया अनुभव ही सब कुछ होता है।
...talent means nothing, while experience, acquired in humility and with hard work, means everything.
...talent means nothing, while experience, acquired in humility and with hard work, means everything.
उसे एहसास हुआ कि पूरी ज़िंदगी वह हर किसी के लिए एक साधारण इंसान बनकर रह गया था। उसे अब जिस चीज़ का डर सता रहा था, वह उसके अपने वजूद के मिट जाने का डर था। ऐसा लग रहा था मानो उसका कोई अस्तित्व ही न हो।
He realized that all his life he had been a nobody to everyone. What he now felt was the fear of his own oblivion. It was as though he did not exist.
He realized that all his life he had been a nobody to everyone. What he now felt was the fear of his own oblivion. It was as though he did not exist.
उसने उसके सबसे बेहतरीन हिस्से को सहेज कर रख लिया था और उसे अपना बना लिया था: उसकी खुशबू का सार।
He had preserved the best part of her and made it his own: the principle of her scent.
He had preserved the best part of her and made it his own: the principle of her scent.
वह खुद को पूरी तरह से बोरिंग साबित करने में कामयाब रहा। लोगों ने उसे उसके हाल पर छोड़ दिया। और वह बस यही चाहता था।
He succeeded in being considered totally uninteresting. People left him alone. And that was all he wanted.
He succeeded in being considered totally uninteresting. People left him alone. And that was all he wanted.
क्योंकि लोग महानता, horrors, सुंदरता से अपनी आँखें मूंद सकते हैं, और मेलोडी या धोखेभरे शब्दों के लिए अपने कान बंद कर सकते हैं। लेकिन वे खुशबू से नहीं बच सकते थे। क्योंकि खुशबू साँस की बहन थी। साँस के साथ ही वह इंसानों के अंदर उतर जाती थी, जो चाहकर भी उससे अपना बचाव नहीं कर पाते थे, अगर उन्हें ज़िंदा रहना था। और खुशबू उनके दिल में उतर जाती थी, सीधे उनके दिलों तक पहुँच जाती थी, और एक बार हमेशा के लिए तय कर देती थी अपनापन और तिरस्कार, घृणा और वासना, प्यार और नफ़रत के बीच का फ़ैसला। जो खुशबू पर राज करता था, वह इंसानों के दिलों पर राज करता था।
For people could close their eyes to greatness, to horrors, to beauty, and their ears to melodies or deceiving words. But they couldn't escape scent. For scent was a brother of breath. Together with breath it entered human beings, who couldn't defend themselves against it, not if they wanted to live. And scent entered into their very core, went directly to their hearts, and decided for good and all between affection and contempt, disgust and lust, love and hate. He who ruled scent ruled the hearts of men.
For people could close their eyes to greatness, to horrors, to beauty, and their ears to melodies or deceiving words. But they couldn't escape scent. For scent was a brother of breath. Together with breath it entered human beings, who couldn't defend themselves against it, not if they wanted to live. And scent entered into their very core, went directly to their hearts, and decided for good and all between affection and contempt, disgust and lust, love and hate. He who ruled scent ruled the hearts of men.
लोगों ने उसे उसके हाल पर छोड़ दिया। और वह बस यही चाहता था।
People left him alone. And that was all he wanted.
People left him alone. And that was all he wanted.
उसके पास वह ताक़त थी। वह उसके हाथ में थी। पैसे की ताक़त, खौफ की ताक़त या मौत की ताक़त से भी ज़्यादा शक्तिशाली ताक़त: इंसानों के प्यार को अपने वश में करने की अजेय ताक़त। उस ताक़त के बस में एक ही चीज़ नहीं थी: वह उसे खुद अपनी खुशबू महसूस करने के काबिल नहीं बना सकती थी।
He possessed the power. He held it in his hand. A power stronger than the power of money or the power of terror or the power of death: the invincible power to command the love of mankind. There was only one thing that power could not do: it could not make him able to smell himself.
He possessed the power. He held it in his hand. A power stronger than the power of money or the power of terror or the power of death: the invincible power to command the love of mankind. There was only one thing that power could not do: it could not make him able to smell himself.
जो खुशबू पर राज करता था, वह इंसानों के दिलों पर राज करता था।
He who ruled scent ruled the hearts of men.
He who ruled scent ruled the hearts of men.
यह इत्र पहले से जाने जाने वाले किसी भी इत्र जैसा नहीं था। यह कोई ऐसी खुशबू नहीं थी जो चीज़ों को सिर्फ बेहतर महकाती हो... यह बिल्कुल नई थी, एक पूरी दुनिया बनाने में सक्षम, एक जादुई, समृद्ध दुनिया, और पलक झपकते ही आप अपने आस-पास की सारी घिनौनी चीज़ों को भूल जाते थे और खुद को इतना अमीर, इतना सुकून में, इतना आज़ाद, इतना बेहतरीन महसूस करते थे।
This perfume was not like any perfume known before. It was not a scent that made things smell better... it was completely new, capable of creating a whole world, a magical, rich world, and in an instant you forgot all the loathsomeness around you and felt so rich, so at ease, so free, so fine.
This perfume was not like any perfume known before. It was not a scent that made things smell better... it was completely new, capable of creating a whole world, a magical, rich world, and in an instant you forgot all the loathsomeness around you and felt so rich, so at ease, so free, so fine.
...वह इस नतीजे पर पहुँचा कि आप इंसानों पर भरोसा नहीं कर सकते, और आप शांति से तभी जी सकते जब आप उन्हें खुद से एक हाथ की दूरी पर रखें।
...he came to the conclusion that you cannot depend on people, and that you can live in peace only if you keep them at arm's length.
...he came to the conclusion that you cannot depend on people, and that you can live in peace only if you keep them at arm's length.
पसीने से लथपथ और बेचैनी से कांपते हुए, नहीं, बेचैनी से नहीं, बल्कि डर से, क्योंकि आखिरकार उसने खुद से मान लिया था: यह नग्न डर था जिसने उसे जकड़ लिया था, और यह स्वीकार करने पर वह शांत हो गया और उसके विचार ज़्यादा स्पष्ट हो गए।
Bathed in sweat and trembling with agitation, no, not with agitation, but with fear, for he finally admitted it to himself: it was naked fear that had seized him, and in admitting it he grew calmer and his thoughts clearer.
Bathed in sweat and trembling with agitation, no, not with agitation, but with fear, for he finally admitted it to himself: it was naked fear that had seized him, and in admitting it he grew calmer and his thoughts clearer.
और चूँकि लोग मूर्ख होते हैं और अपनी नाक का इस्तेमाल सिर्फ साँस लेने या साफ़ करने के लिए करते हैं, लेकिन अपनी आँखों से देखी हुई हर बात पर आँख मूँदकर यकीन कर लेते हैं, इसलिए वे कहेंगे कि ऐसा इसलिए है क्योंकि यह लड़की रूपवान, शालीन और आकर्षक है।
And because people are stupid and use their noses only for blowing, but believe absolutely anything they see with their eyes, they will say it is because this is a girl with beauty and grace and charm.
And because people are stupid and use their noses only for blowing, but believe absolutely anything they see with their eyes, they will say it is because this is a girl with beauty and grace and charm.
वह वाकई बेहद खूबसूरत लड़की थी। वह उन सुस्त और मदहोश करने वाली महिलाओं में से एक थी जो गहरे शहद जैसी चिकनी, मीठी और बेहद सम्मोहक थीं।
She was indeed a girl of exquisite beauty. She was one of those languid women made of dark honey smooth and sweet and terribly sticky.
She was indeed a girl of exquisite beauty. She was one of those languid women made of dark honey smooth and sweet and terribly sticky.
यह कोई ज़ाहिर होने वाला उत्साह नहीं बल्कि भीतर ही भीतर सुलगता हुआ एक ऐसा जुनून था जो ठंडी आग की तरह धधक रहा था।
Not a visible enthusiasm but a hidden one, an excitement burning with a cold flame.
Not a visible enthusiasm but a hidden one, an excitement burning with a cold flame.
कोई भी इंसान कबूतर के साथ एक ही घर में नहीं रह सकता; कबूतर तो अव्यवस्था और अराजकता की मिसाल है—एक ऐसा कबूतर जो अचानक कहीं भी फड़फड़ाने लगता है, जो अपने पंजे आप पर गड़ा देता है, और आपकी आँखों को नोंचने लगता है।
No human being can go on living in the same house with a pigeon, a pigeon is the epitomy of chaos and anarchy, a pigeon that whizzes around unpredictably, that sets it's claws in you, picks at your eyes.
No human being can go on living in the same house with a pigeon, a pigeon is the epitomy of chaos and anarchy, a pigeon that whizzes around unpredictably, that sets it's claws in you, picks at your eyes.
वह पूरी तरह से अपनी ही खुशी के लिए, खुद के करीब रहने के लिए सबसे कट गया था। अब बाहरी दुनिया की किसी भी चीज़ से उसका ध्यान नहीं भटकता था, वह अपने ही वजूद में डूबा रहता था और उसे यह बहुत शानदार लगता था।
He had withdrawn solely for his own personal pleasure, only to be near to himself. No longer distracted by anything external, he basked in his own existence and found it splendid.
He had withdrawn solely for his own personal pleasure, only to be near to himself. No longer distracted by anything external, he basked in his own existence and found it splendid.
यह वाकई अच्छी बात थी कि यह बाहरी दुनिया अभी भी वजूद में थी, भले ही वह महज़ एक पनाहगाह की तरह ही क्यों न हो।
It was good, really, that this external world still existed, if only as a place of refuge.
It was good, really, that this external world still existed, if only as a place of refuge.
उसने शुद्ध चिढ़ और ईर्ष्या के चलते ज़िंदगी का साथ देने का फैसला किया।
He decided in favor of life out of sheer spite and malice.
He decided in favor of life out of sheer spite and malice.
और आखिरकार—न तो वह इसे रोक पाया और न ही रोकना चाहता था—उसके भीतर जमा हुआ खुद से नफरत का गुबार फूट पड़ा और बाहर बह निकला। उसकी कैप के नीचे छिपी, और ज़्यादा भयानक और गुस्से से भरी आँखों से वह नफरत छलक पड़ी और एक संपूर्ण, भद्दे और कुत्सित रूप में पूरी बाहरी दुनिया पर छा गई।
And finally - he was neither able nor willing to prevent it - the self-loathing dammed up inside him spilled over and gushed out, gushed out of glaring eyes that grew ever grimmer, angrier, beneath the rim of his cap, flooding the outside world as perfect, vulgar hate.
And finally - he was neither able nor willing to prevent it - the self-loathing dammed up inside him spilled over and gushed out, gushed out of glaring eyes that grew ever grimmer, angrier, beneath the rim of his cap, flooding the outside world as perfect, vulgar hate.
जब आखिरकार उन्होंने इसकी हिम्मत जुटाई—पहले छुप-छुपकर देखने और फिर खुलकर आमने-सामने आने की—तो उनके चेहरों पर मुस्कान आ गई और वे खुद पर बेहद गर्व महसूस कर रहे थे। ज़िंदगी में पहली बार उन्होंने प्यार के खातिर कुछ किया था।
When they finally did dare it, at first with stolen glances and then candid ones, they had to smile. They were uncommonly proud. For the first time they had done something out of Love.
When they finally did dare it, at first with stolen glances and then candid ones, they had to smile. They were uncommonly proud. For the first time they had done something out of Love.
कितनी जल्दी किसी के वजूद की मज़बूत दिखने वाली नींव भी भरभरा कर ढह सकती है।
How quickly the apparently solidly laid foundation of one's existence could crumble.
How quickly the apparently solidly laid foundation of one's existence could crumble.
एक ही नज़र में वह उसकी भूरी आँखों की गहराइयों में फँस गया था, उसे ऐसा लगा मानो वह किसी नरम, भूरे दलदल में धंसता चला जा रहा हो, और इस खतरे से बचने के लिए उसे एक पल के लिए अपनी आँखें बंद करनी पड़ीं।
With one glance he had got himself trapped in the brown fundament of her eyes, he was in danger of sinking, as if into a soft, brown swamp, and he had to close his own eyes for a second to get out of it.
With one glance he had got himself trapped in the brown fundament of her eyes, he was in danger of sinking, as if into a soft, brown swamp, and he had to close his own eyes for a second to get out of it.
और अचानक उसकी सूनी सी उदास आँखों के आगे तन्हाई किसी धूल भरी परछाई की तरह छा गई। उसने अपनी आँखें मूँद लीं। उसके भीतर के अंधेरे दरवाज़े खुल गए और वह उनके पार उतर गया। ग्रेनौइल की रूह के रंगमंच पर अगला नाटक शुरू होने जा रहा था।
And suddenly solitude fell across his heart like a dusty reflection. He closed his eyes. The dark doors within him opened and he entered. The next performance in the theater of Grenouille's soul was beginning.
And suddenly solitude fell across his heart like a dusty reflection. He closed his eyes. The dark doors within him opened and he entered. The next performance in the theater of Grenouille's soul was beginning.
बहुत खूब, लेकिन यह बात याद रखना... जब तुम्हें सूली पर लटकाया जाएगा और तुम्हारे अंगों पर बारह प्रहार किए जाएंगे, तब मैं वहीं मौजूद रहूँगा। जब भीड़ तुम्हारे चीखते-चिल्लाते थक कर अपने घर लौट जाएगी, तब मैं तुम्हारे खून से सने शरीर के पास आकर बैठूँगा। मैं तुम्हारी आँखों में गहराई से झाँकूँगा... और एक-एक बूँद करके अपनी घृणा को किसी उबलते तेज़ाब की तरह तुम्हारी आँखों में टपकाता रहूँगा, जब तक कि... आखिरकार... तुम्हारा अंत न हो जाए।
Very well, but remember this... I'll be looking at you when you're laid on the cross and the twelve blows are crashing down on your limbs. When the crowd is finally tired of your screams and wandered home, I will climb up through your blood and sit beside you. I will look deep into your eyes... and drop by drop I will trickle my disgust into them like burning acid until... finally... you perish.
Very well, but remember this... I'll be looking at you when you're laid on the cross and the twelve blows are crashing down on your limbs. When the crowd is finally tired of your screams and wandered home, I will climb up through your blood and sit beside you. I will look deep into your eyes... and drop by drop I will trickle my disgust into them like burning acid until... finally... you perish.