kai din ho gae ya-rab nahin dekha hai yar apna

ka.ī din ho ga.e yā-rab nahīñ dekhā hai yaar apnā

huā ma.alūm yuuñ shāyad kiyā kam un ne pyaar apnā

havā bhī ishq kī lagne na detā maiñ use hargiz

agar is dil pe hotā haa.e kuchh bhī iḳhtiyār apnā

ye dono lāzim-o-malzūm haiñ goyā ki aapas meñ

na yaar apnā kabhū hote sunāne rozgār apnā

huā huuñ ḳhaak us ke ġham meñ to bhī sīna-sāfī se

nahīñ khotā hai vo ā.īna-rū dil se ġhubār apnā

ye sho.ala sā tumhārā rañg kuchh zor hī jhamaktā hai

jalā kyūñkar na duuñ maiñ ḳhirman-e-sabr-o-qarār apnā

sar-e-fitrāk thā us ko na thā lekin nasīboñ meñ

taḌaptā chhoḌ kar jaatā rahā zālim shikār apnā

tujhe lāzim hai honā mehrbāñ 'tābāñ' pa ai zālim

ki hai betāb apnā āshiq apnā be-qarār apnā

kai din ho gae ya-rab nahin dekha hai yar apna

hua malum yun shayad kiya kam un ne pyar apna

hawa bhi ishq ki lagne na deta main use hargiz

agar is dil pe hota hae kuchh bhi iKHtiyar apna

ye dono lazim-o-malzum hain goya ki aapas mein

na yar apna kabhu hote sunane rozgar apna

hua hun KHak us ke gham mein to bhi sina-safi se

nahin khota hai wo aaina-ru dil se ghubar apna

ye shoala sa tumhaara rang kuchh zor hi jhamakta hai

jala kyunkar na dun main KHirman-e-sabr-o-qarar apna

sar-e-fitrak tha us ko na tha lekin nasibon mein

taDapta chhoD kar jata raha zalim shikar apna

tujhe lazim hai hona mehrban 'taban' pa ai zalim

ki hai betab apna aashiq apna be-qarar apna