nirwan

meñ kapilvastu kā shahzāda nahīñ

dardmandī kī havas

nirvān kī ḳhvāhish

kabhī dil meñ samā.ī bhī nahīñ

maiñ ki bargad ke taqaddus se bhī thā nā-āshnā

aur aaj bhī

chhāñv kī had tak daraḳhtoñ se hai merī dostī

maiñ ik aisā tifl-e-maktab thā

zarā sī bhuul par jo sarzanish ke ḳhauf se

jañgal kī jānib chal paḌe

raah meñ kuchh ham-safar aise mileñ

jo use vidyārthī samjheñ

kuchh aise log bhī

jo use sahmī huī sī chor nazroñ ke sabab

mushtarak dushman kā ik jāsūs samjheñ

aur ishāroñ meñ kahīñ

ye kapilvastu kā shahzāda nahīñ

kyā ḳhabar shāyad manū jī kā koī chelā ho

yā phir chānakya jī kā koī muḳhbir na ho

yuuñ ummīd-o-bīm kā sarhad ke gahre darmiyānī fāsle ko

maiñ ne mushkil se añdherī raat meñ tai kar liyā

aur shārdā ke khañDaroñ tak aa gayā

jab sahar hone ko thī

maiñ shārdā ke khañDaroñ se chal diyā

shārdā kā pul mare qadmoñ meñ thā

tab sipāhī kā pukārā kaun hai

yuuñ visāl-e-sub.h kā armāñ firāq-e-sohbat-e-shab ban gayā

ḳhud farebī aur ḳhush-fahmī ke saare rāste masdūd ho kar rah ga.e

dhyān ne jab dil ko samjhāyā sipāhī kaun thā

ab maiñ qat.an gyaan aur muktī kā dil-dāda nahīñ

maiñ kapilvastu kā shahzāda nahīñ

mein kapilwastu ka shahzada nahin

dardmandi ki hawas

nirwan ki KHwahish

kabhi dil mein samai bhi nahin

main ki bargad ke taqaddus se bhi tha na-ashna

aur aaj bhi

chhanw ki had tak daraKHton se hai meri dosti

main ek aisa tifl-e-maktab tha

zara si bhul par jo sarzanish ke KHauf se

jangal ki jaanib chal paDe

rah mein kuchh ham-safar aise milen

jo use widyarthi samjhen

kuchh aise log bhi

jo use sahmi hui si chor nazron ke sabab

mushtarak dushman ka ek jasus samjhen

aur ishaaron mein kahin

ye kapilwastu ka shahzada nahin

kya KHabar shayad manu ji ka koi chela ho

ya phir chanakya ji ka koi muKHbir na ho

yun ummid-o-bim ka sarhad ke gahre darmiyani fasle ko

main ne mushkil se andheri raat mein tai kar liya

aur shaarda ke khanDaron tak aa gaya

jab sahar hone ko thi

main shaarda ke khanDaron se chal diya

shaarda ka pul mare qadmon mein tha

tab sipahi ka pukara kaun hai

yun visal-e-subh ka arman firaq-e-sohbat-e-shab ban gaya

KHud farebi aur KHush-fahmi ke sare raste masdud ho kar rah gae

dhyan ne jab dil ko samjhaya sipahi kaun tha

ab main qatan gyan aur mukti ka dil-dada nahin

main kapilwastu ka shahzada nahin