zara batla zaman kya hai makan ke us taraf kya hai

zarā batlā zamāñ kyā hai makāñ ke us taraf kyā hai

agar ye sab gumāñ hai to gumāñ ke us taraf kyā hai

agar patthar se bikhre haiñ to āḳhir ye chamak kaisī

jo maḳhzan nuur kā hai kahkashāñ ke us taraf kyā hai

ye kyā rasta hai aadam gāmzan hai kis masāfat meñ

nahīñ manzil to phir is kārvāñ ke us taraf kyā hai

ajab pātāl hai darvāza o dīvār se aarī

zamīñ-andar-zamīñ be-nishāñ ke us taraf kyā hai

tah-e-āb-e-ravāñ suntā huuñ ye sargoshiyāñ kaisī

sukūnat kis kī hai aur āstāñ ke us taraf kyā hai

samajhte aa rahe the jis ḳhalā ko shahr-e-gum-gashta

vo shai kyā hai ḳhalā-e-be-karāñ ke us taraf kyā hai

nahīñ khultā ki āḳhir ye tilismātī tamāshā sā

zamīñ ke is taraf aur āsmāñ ke us taraf kyā hai

zara batla zaman kya hai makan ke us taraf kya hai

agar ye sab guman hai to guman ke us taraf kya hai

agar patthar se bikhre hain to aaKHir ye chamak kaisi

jo maKHzan nur ka hai kahkashan ke us taraf kya hai

ye kya rasta hai aadam gamzan hai kis masafat mein

nahin manzil to phir is karwan ke us taraf kya hai

ajab patal hai darwaza o diwar se aari

zamin-andar-zamin be-nishan ke us taraf kya hai

tah-e-ab-e-rawan sunta hun ye sargoshiyan kaisi

sukunat kis ki hai aur aastan ke us taraf kya hai

samajhte aa rahe the jis KHala ko shahr-e-gum-gashta

wo shai kya hai KHala-e-be-karan ke us taraf kya hai

nahin khulta ki aaKHir ye tilismati tamasha sa

zamin ke is taraf aur aasman ke us taraf kya hai