wo musht-e-KHak jo parwana-e-dil-gir banti hai

vo musht-e-ḳhāk jo parvāna-e-dil-gīr bantī hai

jigar kī aag bujh jaatī hai jab iksīr bantī hai

hayāt-e-jāvedānī haath aatī hai fanā ho kar

mirī ḳhākistar-e-dil rashk-e-sad-iksīr bantī hai

na jiinā raas aatā hai na marnā raas aatā hai

na ye tadbīr bantī hai na vo tadbīr bantī hai

kuchh apnī ḳhāna-barbādī se andesha nahīñ mujh ko

mirī do Thokaroñ se ik na.ī ta.amīr bantī hai

kuchh us kā fitrat-e-āzād par qaabū nahīñ chaltā

ye duniyā to har ik ke paañv kī zanjīr bantī hai

banāne se kabhī insān kī qismat nahīñ bantī

magar banñe pe aatī hai to be-tadbīr bantī hai

kabhī muḳhtār kar denā kabhī majbūr kar denā

mujhe ma.alūm hai jaise mirī taqdīr bantī hai

kisī se mere dil kā mudda.ā zāhir nahīñ hotā

mirī bechārgī apnī hī ḳhud tafsīr bantī hai

mujhe sharminda-e-ilzām hone kī zarūrat kyā

vasīla maġhfirat kā jab mirī taqsīr bantī hai

kamāle-rā-zavāle dāḳhil-e-ā.īn-e-qudrat hai

jo ban kar phir na bigḌe vo kahāñ taqdīr bantī hai

masarrat yaad aa jaatī hai jab ahd-e-guzishta kī

dil-e-māyūs ke haq meñ sinān-o-tīr bantī hai

jise duniyā meñ dekhā ham ne tujh ko koste dekhā

kisī se bhī tirī ai āsmān-e-pīr bantī hai

na jaane kātib-e-qismat pe kyoñ ilzām rakhte haiñ

ḳhud apne haath se insān kī taqdīr bantī hai

bashar miTTī kā putlā hī sahī zer-e-falak 'tālib'

mohabbat se magar ye ḳhaak bhī iksīr bantī hai

wo musht-e-KHak jo parwana-e-dil-gir banti hai

jigar ki aag bujh jati hai jab iksir banti hai

hayat-e-jawedani hath aati hai fana ho kar

meri KHakistar-e-dil rashk-e-sad-iksir banti hai

na jina ras aata hai na marna ras aata hai

na ye tadbir banti hai na wo tadbir banti hai

kuchh apni KHana-barbaadi se andesha nahin mujh ko

meri do Thokaron se ek nai tamir banti hai

kuchh us ka fitrat-e-azad par qabu nahin chalta

ye duniya to har ek ke panw ki zanjir banti hai

banane se kabhi insan ki qismat nahin banti

magar banne pe aati hai to be-tadbir banti hai

kabhi muKHtar kar dena kabhi majbur kar dena

mujhe malum hai jaise meri taqdir banti hai

kisi se mere dil ka muddaa zahir nahin hota

meri bechaargi apni hi KHud tafsir banti hai

mujhe sharminda-e-ilzam hone ki zarurat kya

wasila maghfirat ka jab meri taqsir banti hai

kamale-ra-zawale daKHil-e-ain-e-qudrat hai

jo ban kar phir na bigDe wo kahan taqdir banti hai

masarrat yaad aa jati hai jab ahd-e-guzishta ki

dil-e-mayus ke haq mein sinan-o-tir banti hai

jise duniya mein dekha hum ne tujh ko koste dekha

kisi se bhi teri ai aasman-e-pir banti hai

na jaane katib-e-qismat pe kyon ilzam rakhte hain

KHud apne hath se insan ki taqdir banti hai

bashar miTTi ka putla hi sahi zer-e-falak 'talib'

mohabbat se magar ye KHak bhi iksir banti hai