kuchh to ehsas-e-ziyan tha pahle

kuchh to ehsās-e-ziyāñ thā pahle

dil kā ye haal kahāñ thā pahle

ab to jhoñke se laraz uThtā huuñ

nashsha-e-ḳhvāb-e-girāñ thā pahle

ab to manzil bhī hai ḳhud garm-e-safar

har qadam sañg-e-nishāñ thā pahle

safar-e-shauq ke farsañg na pūchh

vaqt be-qaid makāñ thā pahle

ye alag baat ki ġham raas hai ab

us meñ andesha-e-jāñ thā pahle

yuuñ na ghabrā.e hue phirte the

dil ajab kunj-e-amāñ thā pahle

ab bhī tū paas nahīñ hai lekin

is qadar duur kahāñ thā pahle

Dere Daale haiñ bagūloñ ne jahāñ

us taraf chashma ravāñ thā pahle

ab vo dariyā na vo bastī na vo log

kyā ḳhabar kaun kahāñ thā pahle

har ḳharāba ye sadā detā hai

maiñ bhī ābād makāñ thā pahle

uḌ ga.e shāḳh se ye kah ke tuyūr

sarv ik shoḳh javāñ thā pahle

kyā se kyā ho ga.ī duniyā pyāre

tū vahīñ par hai jahāñ thā pahle

ham ne ābād kiyā mulk-e-suḳhan

kaisā sunsān samāñ thā pahle

ham ne baḳhshī hai ḳhamoshī ko zabāñ

dard majbūr-e-fuġhāñ thā pahle

ham ne ījād kiyā tesha-e-ashk

sho.ala patthar meñ nihāñ thā pahle

ham ne raushan kiyā māmūra-e-ġham

varna har samt dhuāñ thā pahle

ham ne mahfūz kiyā husn-e-bahār

itr-e-gul sarf-e-ḳhizāñ thā pahle

ġham ne phir dil ko jagāyā 'nāsir'

ḳhāna-barbād kahāñ thā pahle

kuchh to ehsas-e-ziyan tha pahle

dil ka ye haal kahan tha pahle

ab to jhonke se laraz uThta hun

nashsha-e-KHwab-e-giran tha pahle

ab to manzil bhi hai KHud garm-e-safar

har qadam sang-e-nishan tha pahle

safar-e-shauq ke farsang na puchh

waqt be-qaid makan tha pahle

ye alag baat ki gham ras hai ab

us mein andesha-e-jaan tha pahle

yun na ghabrae hue phirte the

dil ajab kunj-e-aman tha pahle

ab bhi tu pas nahin hai lekin

is qadar dur kahan tha pahle

Dere Dale hain bagulon ne jahan

us taraf chashma rawan tha pahle

ab wo dariya na wo basti na wo log

kya KHabar kaun kahan tha pahle

har KHaraba ye sada deta hai

main bhi aabaad makan tha pahle

uD gae shaKH se ye kah ke tuyur

sarw ek shoKH jawan tha pahle

kya se kya ho gai duniya pyare

tu wahin par hai jahan tha pahle

hum ne aabaad kiya mulk-e-suKHan

kaisa sunsan saman tha pahle

hum ne baKHshi hai KHamoshi ko zaban

dard majbur-e-fughan tha pahle

hum ne ijad kiya tesha-e-ashk

shoala patthar mein nihan tha pahle

hum ne raushan kiya mamura-e-gham

warna har samt dhuan tha pahle

hum ne mahfuz kiya husn-e-bahaar

itr-e-gul sarf-e-KHizan tha pahle

gham ne phir dil ko jagaya 'nasir'

KHana-barbaad kahan tha pahle