paanī ko aag kah ke mukar jaanā chāhiye

palkoñ pe ashk ban ke Thahar jaanā chāhiye

pani ko aag kah ke mukar jaana chahiye

palkon pe ashk ban ke Thahar jaana chahiye

aa mire chāñd raat suunī hai

baat bantī nahīñ sitāroñ se

aa mere chand raat suni hai

baat banti nahin sitaron se

haa.e ye tavīl o sard rāteñ

aur ek hayāt-e-muḳhtasar meñ

hae ye tawil o sard raaten

aur ek hayat-e-muKHtasar mein

ek bhī āftāb ban na sakā

laakh TuuTe hue sitāroñ se

ek bhi aaftab ban na saka

lakh TuTe hue sitaron se

bātoñ se sivā hotī hai kuchh vahshat-e-dil aur

ahbāb pareshāñ haiñ mire tarz-e-amal se

baaton se siwa hoti hai kuchh wahshat-e-dil aur

ahbab pareshan hain mere tarz-e-amal se

un kī mahfil meñ 'zafar' log mujhe chāhte haiñ

vo jo kal kahte the dīvāna bhī saudā.ī bhī

un ki mahfil mein 'zafar' log mujhe chahte hain

wo jo kal kahte the diwana bhi saudai bhi

saañs lene ko hī jiinā nahīñ kahte haiñ 'zafar'

zindagī thī jo tire vasl kā imkāñ hotā

sans lene ko hi jina nahin kahte hain 'zafar'

zindagi thi jo tere wasl ka imkan hota

hai gulū-gīr bahut raat kī pahnā.ī bhī

terā ġham bhī hai mujhe aur ġham-e-tanhā.ī bhī

hai gulu-gir bahut raat ki pahnai bhi

tera gham bhi hai mujhe aur gham-e-tanhai bhi

zahr hai mere rag-o-pai meñ mohabbat shāyad

apne hī Dañk se bichchhū kī tarah mar jā.ūñ

zahr hai mere rag-o-pai mein mohabbat shayad

apne hi Dank se bichchhu ki tarah mar jaun

thak ke patthar kī tarah baiThā huuñ raste meñ 'zafar'

jaane kab uTh sakūñ kyā jāniye kab ghar jā.ūñ

thak ke patthar ki tarah baiTha hun raste mein 'zafar'

jaane kab uTh sakun kya jaaniye kab ghar jaun

āñkhoñ meñ tire jalve liye phirte haiñ ham log

ham log ki rusvā sar-e-bāzār hue haiñ

aankhon mein tere jalwe liye phirte hain hum log

hum log ki ruswa sar-e-bazar hue hain

duur ho kar bhī sunīñ tum ne hikāyāt-e-vafā

qurb meñ bhī vahī unvāñ hai qarīb aa jaao

dur ho kar bhi sunin tum ne hikayat-e-wafa

qurb mein bhi wahi unwan hai qarib aa jao