main azal ka rah-rau mujhko abad ki justuju

maiñ azal kā rāh-rau mujh ko abad kī justujū

gard-e-rah mere jilau meñ saath mere maiñ na tū

zard thā chehra magar masrūr thā pahlū meñ dil

barg-e-gul jab le uḌā chupke se merā rañg-o-bū

mujh ko apne shahar kā har ek zarra hai aziiz

ai havā le jā uḌā kar ḳhaak merī kū-ba-kū

vaqt kā dariyā ki jis meñ maiñ kañval ban kar khulā

sochiye to bahr hai aur dekhiye to aabjū

maiñ musavvir huuñ magar tasvīr hai ḳhāliq mirī

rañg bhartī hai mire ḳhāke meñ merī aarzū

zaat kā ā.īna jab dekhā to hairānī huī

maiñ na thā goyā koī mujh sā thā mere rū-ba-rū

lazzat-e-ḳhud-āgahī kā faiz hai 'ārif' ki ham

pahroñ apne aap se rahte haiñ mahv-e-guftugū

main azal ka rah-rau mujh ko abad ki justuju

gard-e-rah mere jilau mein sath mere main na tu

zard tha chehra magar masrur tha pahlu mein dil

barg-e-gul jab le uDa chupke se mera rang-o-bu

mujh ko apne shahar ka har ek zarra hai aziz

ai hawa le ja uDa kar KHak meri ku-ba-ku

waqt ka dariya ki jis mein main kanwal ban kar khula

sochiye to bahr hai aur dekhiye to aabju

main musawwir hun magar taswir hai KHaliq meri

rang bharti hai mere KHake mein meri aarzu

zat ka aaina jab dekha to hairani hui

main na tha goya koi mujh sa tha mere ru-ba-ru

lazzat-e-KHud-agahi ka faiz hai 'arif' ki hum

pahron apne aap se rahte hain mahw-e-guftugu