apna saya bhi na ham-rah safar mein rakhna

apnā saaya bhī na ham-rāh safar meñ rakhnā

puḳhta saḌkeñ hī faqat rāhguzar meñ rakhnā

ġhair-mahfūz samajh kar na ġhanīm aa jaa.e

dosto! maiñ na sahī ḳhud ko nazar meñ rakhnā

kahīñ aisā na ho maiñ hadd-e-ḳhabar se guzrūñ

koī aalam ho mujhe apnī ḳhabar meñ rakhnā

aa.ina TuuT ke bikhre to ka.ī aks mile

ab hathauḌā hī kaf-e-ā.ina-gar meñ rakhnā

mashġhale kibr-sinī meñ vahī bachpan vaale

kabhī tasvīreñ kabhī aa.ine ghar meñ rakhnā

bahte dariyāoñ ko sāhil hī se takte rahnā

aur jalte hue ghar dīda-e-tar meñ rakhnā

koī to aisā ho jo tum ko bachā.e tum se

koī to apnā bahī-ḳhvāh safar meñ rakhnā

koī bhī chiiz na rakhnā ki ta.āqub meñ haiñ log

apnī miTTī hī magar dast-e-hunar meñ rakhnā

jañgaloñ meñ bhī havā se vahī rishta 'aḳhtar'

shahr meñ bhī yahī saudā mujhe sar meñ rakhnā

apna saya bhi na ham-rah safar mein rakhna

puKHta saDken hi faqat rahguzar mein rakhna

ghair-mahfuz samajh kar na ghanim aa jae

dosto! main na sahi KHud ko nazar mein rakhna

kahin aisa na ho main hadd-e-KHabar se guzrun

koi aalam ho mujhe apni KHabar mein rakhna

aaina TuT ke bikhre to kai aks mile

ab hathauDa hi kaf-e-aina-gar mein rakhna

mashghale kibr-sini mein wahi bachpan wale

kabhi taswiren kabhi aaine ghar mein rakhna

bahte dariyaon ko sahil hi se takte rahna

aur jalte hue ghar dida-e-tar mein rakhna

koi to aisa ho jo tum ko bachae tum se

koi to apna bahi-KHwah safar mein rakhna

koi bhi chiz na rakhna ki taaqub mein hain log

apni miTTi hi magar dast-e-hunar mein rakhna

jangalon mein bhi hawa se wahi rishta 'aKHtar'

shahr mein bhi yahi sauda mujhe sar mein rakhna