dil ki dhaDkan tham gai dard-e-nihan baDhta gaya

dil kī dhaḌkan tham ga.ī dard-e-nihāñ baḌhtā gayā

jal ga.ī hastī mirī lekin dhuāñ baḌhtā gayā

zindagī tū hī batā kis jā mujhe le kar chalī

ajnabī rastoñ pe āḳhir maiñ kahāñ baḌhtā gayā

dasht-e-vahshat meñ jalā kar zulmatoñ kī bastiyāñ

raushnī kī samt merā kārvāñ baḌhtā gayā

apnī barbādī kā zimmedār maiñ yā koī aur

zehn meñ har vaqt mere ye gumāñ baḌhtā gayā

ruuh ne chhoḌā jo tanhā jism ko vaqt-e-nazā.a

ba.ad phir us ke firāq-e-jism-o-jāñ baḌhtā gayā

tifl se le kar adam tak zindagī ke saath saath

sar pe mere bār-e-ummīd-e-garāñ baḌhtā gayā

zindagī aur maut kā yuuñ silsila chaltā rahā

tañg thā pichhlā jahāñ aglā jahāñ baḌhtā gayā

har qadam thā saath 'ārif' merā nafs-e-dā.imī

ibtidā se intihā tak maiñ jahāñ baḌhtā gayā

dil ki dhaDkan tham gai dard-e-nihan baDhta gaya

jal gai hasti meri lekin dhuan baDhta gaya

zindagi tu hi bata kis ja mujhe le kar chali

ajnabi raston pe aaKHir main kahan baDhta gaya

dasht-e-wahshat mein jala kar zulmaton ki bastiyan

raushni ki samt mera karwan baDhta gaya

apni barbaadi ka zimmedar main ya koi aur

zehn mein har waqt mere ye guman baDhta gaya

ruh ne chhoDa jo tanha jism ko waqt-e-nazaa

baad phir us ke firaq-e-jism-o-jaan baDhta gaya

tifl se le kar adam tak zindagi ke sath sath

sar pe mere bar-e-ummid-e-garan baDhta gaya

zindagi aur maut ka yun silsila chalta raha

tang tha pichhla jahan agla jahan baDhta gaya

har qadam tha sath 'arif' mera nafs-e-daimi

ibtida se intiha tak main jahan baDhta gaya