zara dekhen rafiq-e-karwan manzil kahan tak hai

zarā dekheñ rafīq-e-kārvāñ manzil kahāñ tak hai

isī se kuchh ho andāza sukūñ hāsil kahāñ tak hai

ye duniyā haañ ye duniyā kāmgār-e-dil kahāñ tak hai

kanār-e-mauj meñ gunjā.ish-e-sāhil kahāñ tak hai

batā.ūñ kyā hayāt-āsūda merā dil kahāñ tak hai

mujhe marġhūb ye tartīb-e-āb-o-gil kahāñ tak hai

koī nāqis kahāñ tak hai koī kāmil kahāñ tak hai

bajā ye faisla karne meñ merā dil kahāñ tak hai

parā.e dil pe mujh ko dastaras hāsil kahāñ tak hai

jise apnā samajhtā huuñ vo merā dil kahāñ tak hai

baḌhī to hai tirī tasvīr se āġhosh kī zīnat

mirā pahlū tirī tasvīr ke qābil kahāñ tak hai

tum apne dil se ḳhud pūchho ye pursish kis liye mujh se

mirī sa.i-e-mohabbat sa.i-e-lā-hāsil kahāñ tak hai

ho kuchh is kā bhī andāza dam-e-hañgāma-ārā.ī

mirī mamnūn terī garmī-e-mahfil kahāñ tak hai

tarīq-e-ishq ke sālik to haiñ lākhoñ zamāne meñ

tarīq-e-ishq meñ lekin koī kāmil kahāñ tak hai

azal kuchh raushnī Daale abad uqda ye kuchh khole

tirī mahfil kahāñ se hai tirī mahfil kahāñ tak hai

bayān-e-dil ke sunñe ko to ham tayyār baiThe haiñ

sazā-vār-e-yaqīñ lekin bayān-e-dil kahāñ tak hai

mujhe muḳhtār kahne vaale ye bhī ġhaur farmā.eñ

mirī taqdīr meñ merī razā shāmil kahāñ tak hai

sahar hone ko hai gul sham.a hai ruḳhsat haiñ parvāne

bajā ab e'tibār-e-garmī-e-mahfil kahāñ tak hai

nahīñ āsān merī mushkiloñ kā jā.eza lenā

tujhe mushkil-kushā andāza-e-mushkil kahāñ tak hai

kahīñ aisā na ho maujeñ bahā le jaa.eñ kashtī ko

nigahbānī ke qābil dekhnā sāhil kahāñ tak hai

musāfir do qadam bas chal ke ye da.avā-e-āgāhī

ḳhabar bhī hai tujhe tū vāqif-e-manzil kahāñ tak hai

taqāzā-e-mizāj-e-dil kī hai takmīl to mumkin

tahammul-āshnā lekin mizāj-e-dil kahāñ tak hai

jo dil vaale haiñ un kā tajraba tum ko batā.egā

bisāt-e-zindagī meñ iḳhtiyār-e-dil kahāñ tak hai

mirī kashtī bhañvar meñ hai yaqīnan Duub jā.egī

rifāqat ke liye tayyār ab sāhil kahāñ tak hai

mirī ḳhuddāriyāñ 'tālib' haiñ mere ijz kā parda

kahūñ kyā sabr kā yaarā dam-e-mushkil kahāñ tak hai

zara dekhen rafiq-e-karwan manzil kahan tak hai

isi se kuchh ho andaza sukun hasil kahan tak hai

ye duniya han ye duniya kaamgar-e-dil kahan tak hai

kanar-e-mauj mein gunjaish-e-sahil kahan tak hai

bataun kya hayat-asuda mera dil kahan tak hai

mujhe marghub ye tartib-e-ab-o-gil kahan tak hai

koi naqis kahan tak hai koi kaamil kahan tak hai

baja ye faisla karne mein mera dil kahan tak hai

parae dil pe mujh ko dastaras hasil kahan tak hai

jise apna samajhta hun wo mera dil kahan tak hai

baDhi to hai teri taswir se aaghosh ki zinat

mera pahlu teri taswir ke qabil kahan tak hai

tum apne dil se KHud puchho ye pursish kis liye mujh se

meri sai-e-mohabbat sai-e-la-hasil kahan tak hai

ho kuchh is ka bhi andaza dam-e-hangama-arai

meri mamnun teri garmi-e-mahfil kahan tak hai

tariq-e-ishq ke salik to hain lakhon zamane mein

tariq-e-ishq mein lekin koi kaamil kahan tak hai

azal kuchh raushni Dale abad uqda ye kuchh khole

teri mahfil kahan se hai teri mahfil kahan tak hai

bayan-e-dil ke sunne ko to hum tayyar baiThe hain

saza-war-e-yaqin lekin bayan-e-dil kahan tak hai

mujhe muKHtar kahne wale ye bhi ghaur farmaen

meri taqdir mein meri raza shamil kahan tak hai

sahar hone ko hai gul shama hai ruKHsat hain parwane

baja ab e'tibar-e-garmi-e-mahfil kahan tak hai

nahin aasan meri mushkilon ka jaeza lena

tujhe mushkil-kusha andaza-e-mushkil kahan tak hai

kahin aisa na ho maujen baha le jaen kashti ko

nigahbani ke qabil dekhna sahil kahan tak hai

musafir do qadam bas chal ke ye dawa-e-agahi

KHabar bhi hai tujhe tu waqif-e-manzil kahan tak hai

taqaza-e-mizaj-e-dil ki hai takmil to mumkin

tahammul-ashna lekin mizaj-e-dil kahan tak hai

jo dil wale hain un ka tajraba tum ko bataega

bisat-e-zindagi mein iKHtiyar-e-dil kahan tak hai

meri kashti bhanwar mein hai yaqinan Dub jaegi

rifaqat ke liye tayyar ab sahil kahan tak hai

meri KHuddariyan 'talib' hain mere ijz ka parda

kahun kya sabr ka yara dam-e-mushkil kahan tak hai