gham nahin hota hai aazadon ko besh az-yak-nafas

ġham nahīñ hotā hai āzādoñ ko besh az-yak-nafas

barq se karte haiñ raushan sham-e-mātam-ḳhāna ham

mahfileñ barham kare hai ganjifa-bāz-e-ḳhayāl

haiñ varaq-gardānī-e-nairañg-e-yak-but-ḳhāna him ham

bāvajūd-e-yak-jahāñ hangāma paidā.ī nahīñ

haiñ charāġhān-e-shabistān-e-dil-e-parvāna ham

zo'f se hai ne qanā'at se ye tark-e-justujū

haiñ vabāl-e-takiya-gāh-e-himmat-e-mardāna ham

dā.im-ul-habs is meñ haiñ lākhoñ tamannā.eñ 'asad'

jānte haiñ sīna-e-pur-ḳhūñ ko zindāñ-ḳhana ham

bas-ki haiñ bad-mast-e-ba-shikan ba-shikan-e-mai-ḳhāna ham

mū-e-shīsha ko samajhte haiñ ḳhat-e-paimāna ham

bas-ki har-yak-mū-e-zulf-afshāñ se hai tār-e-shuā.a

panja-e-ḳhurshīd ko samjhe haiñ dast-e-shāna ham

hai faroġh-e-māh se har mauj ik tasvīr-e-chāk

sail se farsh-e-katāñ karte haiñ tā-vīrāna ham

mashq-e-az-ḳhud-raftagī se haiñ ba-gulzār-e-ḳhayāl

āshnā tabīr-e-ḳhvāb-e-sabza-e-begāna ham

fart-e-be-ḳhvābī se haiñ shab-hā-e-hijr-e-yār meñ

juuñ zabān-e-sham.a dāġh-e-garmi-e-afsāna ham

jānte haiñ joshish-e-saudā-e-zulf-e-yār meñ

sumbul-e-bālīda ko mū-e-sar-e-dīvāna ham

bas-ki vo chashm-o-charāg-e-mahfil-e-aġhyār hai

chupke-chupke jalte haiñ juuñ sham-e-mātam-ḳhāna ham

shām-e-ġham meñ soz-e-ishq-e-ātish-e-ruḳhsār se

par-fashān-e-soḳhtan haiñ sūrat-e-parvāna ham

rahte haiñ afsurdagī se saḳht be-dardāna ham

sho'la-hā nazr-e-samundar balki ātish-ḳhāna ham

hasrat-e-arz-e-tamannā yaañ se samjhā chāhiye

do-jahāñ hashr-e-zabān-e-ḳhushk haiñ juuñ shāna ham

kashti-e-ālam ba-tūfān-e-taġhāful de ki haiñ

ālam-e-āb-e-gudāz-e-jauhar-e-afsāna ham

vahshat-e-be-rabti-e-pech-o-ḳham-e-hastī na pūchh

nañg-e-bālīdan haiñ juuñ mū-e-sar-e-dīvāna ham

gham nahin hota hai aazadon ko besh az-yak-nafas

barq se karte hain raushan sham-e-matam-KHana hum

mahfilen barham kare hai ganjifa-baz-e-KHayal

hain waraq-gardani-e-nairang-e-yak-but-KHana him hum

bawajud-e-yak-jahan hangama paidai nahin

hain charaghan-e-shabistan-e-dil-e-parwana hum

zo'f se hai ne qana'at se ye tark-e-justuju

hain wabaal-e-takiya-gah-e-himmat-e-mardana hum

daim-ul-habs is mein hain lakhon tamannaen 'asad'

jaante hain sina-e-pur-KHun ko zindan-KHana hum

bas-ki hain bad-mast-e-ba-shikan ba-shikan-e-mai-KHana hum

mu-e-shisha ko samajhte hain KHat-e-paimana hum

bas-ki har-yak-mu-e-zulf-afshan se hai tar-e-shuaa

panja-e-KHurshid ko samjhe hain dast-e-shana hum

hai farogh-e-mah se har mauj ek taswir-e-chaak

sail se farsh-e-katan karte hain ta-virana hum

mashq-e-az-KHud-raftagi se hain ba-gulzar-e-KHayal

aashna tabir-e-KHwab-e-sabza-e-begana hum

fart-e-be-KHwabi se hain shab-ha-e-hijr-e-yar mein

jun zaban-e-shama dagh-e-garmi-e-afsana hum

jaante hain joshish-e-sauda-e-zulf-e-yar mein

sumbul-e-baalida ko mu-e-sar-e-diwana hum

bas-ki wo chashm-o-charag-e-mahfil-e-aghyar hai

chupke-chupke jalte hain jun sham-e-matam-KHana hum

sham-e-gham mein soz-e-ishq-e-atish-e-ruKHsar se

par-fashan-e-soKHtan hain surat-e-parwana hum

rahte hain afsurdagi se saKHt be-dardana hum

sho'la-ha nazr-e-samundar balki aatish-KHana hum

hasrat-e-arz-e-tamanna yan se samjha chahiye

do-jahan hashr-e-zaban-e-KHushk hain jun shana hum

kashti-e-alam ba-tufan-e-taghaful de ki hain

aalam-e-ab-e-gudaz-e-jauhar-e-afsana hum

wahshat-e-be-rabti-e-pech-o-KHam-e-hasti na puchh

nang-e-baalidan hain jun mu-e-sar-e-diwana hum