yād-e-māzī 'azāb hai yā-rab

chhīn le mujh se hāfiza merā

yaad-e-mazi 'azab hai ya-rab

chhin le mujh se hafiza mera

haañ kabhī ḳhvāb-e-ishq dekhā thā

ab tak āñkhoñ se ḳhuuñ Tapaktā hai

han kabhi KHwab-e-ishq dekha tha

ab tak aankhon se KHun Tapakta hai

us se pūchhe koī chāhat ke maze

jis ne chāhā aur jo chāhā gayā

us se puchhe koi chahat ke maze

jis ne chaha aur jo chaha gaya

ro.e baġhair chāra na rone kī taab hai

kyā chiiz uf ye kaifiyat-e-iztirāb hai

roe baghair chaara na rone ki tab hai

kya chiz uf ye kaifiyat-e-iztirab hai

jab se muñh ko lag ga.ī 'aḳhtar' mohabbat kī sharāb

be-piye āThoñ pahar madhosh rahnā aa gayā

jab se munh ko lag gai 'aKHtar' mohabbat ki sharab

be-piye aaThon pahar madhosh rahna aa gaya

vo maazī jo hai ik majmua ashkoñ aur aahoñ kā

na jaane mujh ko is maazī se kyuuñ itnī mohabbat hai

wo mazi jo hai ek majmua ashkon aur aahon ka

na jaane mujh ko is mazi se kyun itni mohabbat hai

apnī ujḌī huī duniyā kī kahānī huuñ maiñ

ek bigḌī huī tasvīr-e-javānī huuñ maiñ

apni ujDi hui duniya ki kahani hun main

ek bigDi hui taswir-e-jawani hun main

is meñ koī mirā sharīk nahīñ

merā dukh aah sirf merā hai

is mein koi mera sharik nahin

mera dukh aah sirf mera hai

shabāb naam hai us jāñ-navāz lamhe kā

jab aadmī ko ye mahsūs ho javāñ huuñ maiñ

shabab nam hai us jaan-nawaz lamhe ka

jab aadmi ko ye mahsus ho jawan hun main

samajhtā huuñ maiñ sab kuchh sirf samjhānā nahīñ aatā

taḌaptā huuñ magar auroñ ko taḌpānā nahīñ aatā

samajhta hun main sab kuchh sirf samjhana nahin aata

taDapta hun magar auron ko taDpana nahin aata

ai soz-e-jāñ-gudāz abhī maiñ javān huuñ

ai dard-e-lā-ilāj ye umr-e-shabāb hai

ai soz-e-jaan-gudaz abhi main jawan hun

ai dard-e-la-ilaj ye umr-e-shabab hai

aarzū ko ruuh meñ ġham ban ke rahnā aa gayā

sahte sahte ham ko āḳhir ranj sahnā aa gayā

aarzu ko ruh mein gham ban ke rahna aa gaya

sahte sahte hum ko aaKHir ranj sahna aa gaya

maiñ kisī se apne dil kī baat kah saktā na thā

ab suḳhan kī aaḌ meñ kyā kuchh na kahnā aa gayā

main kisi se apne dil ki baat kah sakta na tha

ab suKHan ki aaD mein kya kuchh na kahna aa gaya

ragoñ meñ dauḌtī haiñ bijliyāñ lahū ke evaz

shabāb kahte haiñ jis chiiz ko qayāmat hai

ragon mein dauDti hain bijliyan lahu ke ewaz

shabab kahte hain jis chiz ko qayamat hai

koī ma.āl-e-mohabbat mujhe batāo nahīñ

maiñ ḳhvāb dekh rahā huuñ mujhe jagāo nahīñ

koi maal-e-mohabbat mujhe batao nahin

main KHwab dekh raha hun mujhe jagao nahin

koī ro.e to maiñ be-vaj.h ḳhud bhī rone lagtā huuñ

ab 'aḳhtar' chāhe tum kuchh bhī kaho ye merī fitrat hai

koi roe to main be-wajh KHud bhi rone lagta hun

ab 'aKHtar' chahe tum kuchh bhi kaho ye meri fitrat hai

sunñe vaale fasāna terā hai

sirf tarz-e-bayāñ hī merā hai

sunne wale fasana tera hai

sirf tarz-e-bayan hi mera hai

dūsroñ kā dard 'aḳhtar' mere dil kā dard hai

mubtalā-e-ġham hai duniyā aur maiñ ġham-ḳhvār huuñ

dusron ka dard 'aKHtar' mere dil ka dard hai

mubtala-e-gham hai duniya aur main gham-KHwar hun

shabāb-e-dard mirī zindagī kī sub.h sahī

piyūñ sharāb yahāñ tak ki shaam ho jaa.e

shabab-e-dard meri zindagi ki subh sahi

piyun sharab yahan tak ki sham ho jae

mirī ḳhabar to kisī ko nahīñ magar 'aḳhtar'

zamāna apne liye hoshiyār kaisā hai

meri KHabar to kisi ko nahin magar 'aKHtar'

zamana apne liye hoshiyar kaisa hai

yāroñ ke iḳhlās se pahle dil kā mire ye haal na thā

ab vo chaknāchūr paḌā hai jis shīshe meñ baal na thā

yaron ke iKHlas se pahle dil ka mere ye haal na tha

ab wo chaknachur paDa hai jis shishe mein baal na tha

rañg o bū meñ Duube rahte the havās

haa.e kyā shai thī bahār-e-ārzū

rang o bu mein Dube rahte the hawas

hae kya shai thi bahaar-e-arzu

ilāj-e-'aḳhtar'-e-nā-kām kyuuñ nahīñ mumkin

agar vo jī nahīñ saktā to mar to saktā hai

ilaj-e-'aKHtar'-e-na-kaam kyun nahin mumkin

agar wo ji nahin sakta to mar to sakta hai

milā ke qatra-e-shabnam meñ rañg o nik.hat-e-gul

koī sharāb banāo bahār ke din haiñ

mila ke qatra-e-shabnam mein rang o nikhat-e-gul

koi sharab banao bahaar ke din hain

dil-e-fasurda meñ kuchh soz o saaz baaqī hai

vo aag bujh ga.ī lekin gudāz baaqī hai

dil-e-fasurda mein kuchh soz o saz baqi hai

wo aag bujh gai lekin gudaz baqi hai

maiñ dil ko chiir ke rakh duuñ ye ek sūrat hai

bayāñ to ho nahīñ saktī jo apnī hālat hai

main dil ko chir ke rakh dun ye ek surat hai

bayan to ho nahin sakti jo apni haalat hai

dil-e-pur-shauq kī qismat meñ likhī hai nākāmī

ye ik nāzuk sī shai kyoñ is tarah Thukrā.ī jaatī hai

dil-e-pur-shauq ki qismat mein likhi hai nakaami

ye ek nazuk si shai kyon is tarah Thukrai jati hai