aaina-KHane ke qaidi se

zaat kā ā.īna-ḳhāna

jis meñ raushan ik charāġh-e-ārzū

chār-sū

za.afrānī raushnī ke dā.ere

muḳhtalif haiñ ā.īnoñ ke zāviye

ek lekin aks-e-zāt;

ik ikaa.ī par usī kī zarb se

kasrat-e-vahdat kā paidā hai tilism

ḳhalvat-e-ā.īna-ḳhāna meñ kahīñ koī nahīñ

sirf maiñ!

maiñ hī but

aur maiñ hī but-parast!

maiñ hī bazm-e-zāt meñ raunaq-afroz

jalva-hā-e-zāt ko detā huuñ daad!

jab havā-e-shoḳh kī mauj-e-sharīr

toḌ jaatī hai kisī khiḌkī ke parde kā jumūd

to bigaḌ jaatā hai khel

dev-qāmat aks ko baunā banā detī hai bāhar kī kiran

ai mirī nā-musta.id majhūl zaat

ai ki tū az-ḳhud nazar-band ā.īna-ḳhāne meñ hai

sochtī hai tū kahegī an-kahā

aur kuchh kahtī nahīñ!

sochtī hai tū likhegī shāhkār

aur kuchh likhtī nahīñ!

sochtī hai tū jahāñ-dārī kī baat

aur kuchh kartī nahīñ!

sochne hī sochne meñ sā.at-e-taḳhlīq jab

tere shal hāthoñ se jaatī hai phisal

to bilak paḌtī hai tū

ai mirī nā-musta.id majhūl zaat

ḳhalvat-e-ā.īna-ḳhāne se nikal

ai charāġh-e-ārzū

jis taraf zau-pāsh ho

jis taraf se shāh-rāh-e-justujū

taash aur shatranj ke shāhoñ se bartar hai kahīñ

vo piyāda jo chale

vo piyāda jo chale ḳhud apnī chaal

ai mirī nā-musta.id majhūl zaat

koī fikr

koī kaam!

koī baat!

zat ka aaina-KHana

jis mein raushan ek charagh-e-arzu

chaar-su

zafrani raushni ke daere

muKHtalif hain aainon ke zawiye

ek lekin aks-e-zat;

ek ikai par usi ki zarb se

kasrat-e-wahdat ka paida hai tilism

KHalwat-e-aina-KHana mein kahin koi nahin

sirf main!

main hi but

aur main hi but-parast!

main hi bazm-e-zat mein raunaq-afroz

jalwa-ha-e-zat ko deta hun dad!

jab hawa-e-shoKH ki mauj-e-sharir

toD jati hai kisi khiDki ke parde ka jumud

to bigaD jata hai khel

dew-qamat aks ko bauna bana deti hai bahar ki kiran

ai meri na-mustaid majhul zat

ai ki tu az-KHud nazar-band aaina-KHane mein hai

sochti hai tu kahegi an-kaha

aur kuchh kahti nahin!

sochti hai tu likhegi shahkar

aur kuchh likhti nahin!

sochti hai tu jahan-dari ki baat

aur kuchh karti nahin!

sochne hi sochne mein saat-e-taKHliq jab

tere shal hathon se jati hai phisal

to bilak paDti hai tu

ai meri na-mustaid majhul zat

KHalwat-e-aina-KHane se nikal

ai charagh-e-arzu

jis taraf zau-pash ho

jis taraf se shah-rah-e-justuju

tash aur shatranj ke shahon se bartar hai kahin

wo piyaada jo chale

wo piyaada jo chale KHud apni chaal

ai meri na-mustaid majhul zat

koi fikr

koi kaam!

koi baat!