ibtida har ek KHushi ki intiha-e-gham se hai

ibtidā har ik ḳhushī kī intihā-e-ġham se hai

tāzgī-e-ġhuncha-o-gul girya-e-shabnam se hai

hādsāt-e-dahr meñ shāmil rahā kis kā lahū

surḳh-rūī bāġh-e-ālam kī hamāre dam se hai

apne mai-ḳhvāroñ ko saaqī mast nazroñ kī pilā

raunaq-e-bazm-e-masarrat daur-e-jām-e-jam se hai

mushkileñ kitnī bhī hoñ manzil pe pahuñcheñge zarūr

kāmyābī kī tavaqqo koshish-e-paiham se hai

ham se hī vābasta hai 'aḳhtar' bahār-e-rang-o-bū

husn kī nāz-āfrīnī āshiqī ke dam se hai

ibtida har ek KHushi ki intiha-e-gham se hai

tazgi-e-ghuncha-o-gul girya-e-shabnam se hai

hadsat-e-dahr mein shamil raha kis ka lahu

surKH-rui bagh-e-alam ki hamare dam se hai

apne mai-KHwaron ko saqi mast nazron ki pila

raunaq-e-bazm-e-masarrat daur-e-jam-e-jam se hai

mushkilen kitni bhi hon manzil pe pahunchenge zarur

kaamyabi ki tawaqqo koshish-e-paiham se hai

hum se hi wabasta hai 'aKHtar' bahaar-e-rang-o-bu

husn ki naz-afrini aashiqi ke dam se hai