zindagī gul hai naġhma hai mahtāb hai

zindagī ko faqat imtihāñ mat samajh

zindagi gul hai naghma hai mahtab hai

zindagi ko faqat imtihan mat samajh

jo mile the hameñ kitāboñ meñ

jaane vo kis nagar meñ rahte haiñ

jo mile the hamein kitabon mein

jaane wo kis nagar mein rahte hain

jaane vaale sab aa chuke 'mohsin'

aane vaalā abhī nahīñ aayā

jaane wale sab aa chuke 'mohsin'

aane wala abhi nahin aaya

nairañgī-e-siyāsat-e-daurāñ to dekhiye

manzil unheñ milī jo sharīk-e-safar na the

nairangi-e-siyasat-e-dauran to dekhiye

manzil unhen mili jo sharik-e-safar na the

ġhalat the vaade magar maiñ yaqīn rakhtā thā

vo shaḳhs lahja bahut dil-nashīn rakhtā thā

ghalat the wade magar main yaqin rakhta tha

wo shaKHs lahja bahut dil-nashin rakhta tha

kis qadar nādim huā huuñ maiñ burā kah kar use

kyā ḳhabar thī jaate jaate vo duā de jā.egā

kis qadar nadim hua hun main bura kah kar use

kya KHabar thi jate jate wo dua de jaega

sadā-e-vaqt kī gar bāz-gasht san paao

mire ḳhayāl ko tum shā.irāna kah denā

sada-e-waqt ki gar baz-gasht san pao

mere KHayal ko tum shairana kah dena

ek muddat kī rifāqat kā ho kuchh to in.aam

jaate jaate koī ilzām lagāte jaao

ek muddat ki rifaqat ka ho kuchh to inam

jate jate koi ilzam lagate jao

us ko chāhā thā kabhī ḳhud kī tarah

aaj ḳhud apne talabgār haiñ ham

us ko chaha tha kabhi KHud ki tarah

aaj KHud apne talabgar hain hum

kyā ḳhabar thī hameñ ye zaḳhm bhī khānā hogā

tū nahīñ hogā tirī bazm meñ aanā hogā

kya KHabar thi hamein ye zaKHm bhi khana hoga

tu nahin hoga teri bazm mein aana hoga

hamārī jaan pe dohrā azaab hai 'mohsin'

ki dekhnā hī nahīñ ham ko sochnā bhī hai

hamari jaan pe dohra azab hai 'mohsin'

ki dekhna hi nahin hum ko sochna bhi hai

sūraj chaḌhā to phir bhī vahī log zad meñ the

shab bhar jo intizār-e-sahar dekhte rahe

suraj chaDha to phir bhi wahi log zad mein the

shab bhar jo intizar-e-sahar dekhte rahe

raushnī haiñ safar meñ rahte haiñ

vaqt kī rahguzar meñ rahte haiñ

raushni hain safar mein rahte hain

waqt ki rahguzar mein rahte hain

is liye suntā huuñ 'mohsin' har fasāna ġhaur se

ik haqīqat ke bhī ban jaate haiñ afsāne bahut

is liye sunta hun 'mohsin' har fasana ghaur se

ek haqiqat ke bhi ban jate hain afsane bahut

us se mil kar usī ko pūchhte haiñ

be-ḳhayālī sī be-ḳhayālī hai

us se mil kar usi ko puchhte hain

be-KHayali si be-KHayali hai

ab ke mausam meñ ye meyār-e-junūñ Thahrā hai

sar salāmat raheñ dastār na rahne paa.e

ab ke mausam mein ye meyar-e-junun Thahra hai

sar salamat rahen dastar na rahne pae

lafzoñ ko e'timād kā lahja bhī chāhiye

zikr-e-sahar bajā hai yaqīn-e-sahar bhī hai

lafzon ko e'timad ka lahja bhi chahiye

zikr-e-sahar baja hai yaqin-e-sahar bhi hai

badan ko rauñdne vaalo zamīr zinda hai

jo haq kī pūchh rahe ho to haq adā na huā

badan ko raundne walo zamir zinda hai

jo haq ki puchh rahe ho to haq ada na hua

baat kahne kī hamesha bhūle

laakh añgusht pe dhāgā bāñdhā

baat kahne ki hamesha bhule

lakh angusht pe dhaga bandha

'mohsin' apnā.iyat kī fazā bhī to ho

sirf dīvār-o-dar ko makāñ mat samajh

'mohsin' apnaiyat ki faza bhi to ho

sirf diwar-o-dar ko makan mat samajh

lafzoñ ke ehtiyāt ne ma.anī badal diye

is ehtimām-e-shauq meñ husn-e-asar gayā

lafzon ke ehtiyat ne mani badal diye

is ehtimam-e-shauq mein husn-e-asar gaya

'mohsin' aur bhī nikhregā in sheroñ kā mafhūm

apne aap ko pahchāneñge jaise jaise log

'mohsin' aur bhi nikhrega in sheron ka mafhum

apne aap ko pahchanenge jaise jaise log

ai mashīhāo agar chāragarī hai dushvār

ho sake tum se nayā zaḳhm lagāte jaao

ai mashihao agar chaaragari hai dushwar

ho sake tum se naya zaKHm lagate jao

sochā thā ki us bazm meñ ḳhāmosh raheñge

mauzū-e-suḳhan ban ke rahī kam-suḳhanī bhī

socha tha ki us bazm mein KHamosh rahenge

mauzu-e-suKHan ban ke rahi kam-suKHani bhi

iblāġh ke liye na tum aḳhbār dekhnā

ho justujū to kūcha-o-bāzār dekhnā

iblagh ke liye na tum aKHbar dekhna

ho justuju to kucha-o-bazar dekhna

ḳhanda-e-lab meñ nihāñ zaḳhm-e-hunar dekhegā kaun

bazm meñ haiñ sab ke sab ahl-e-nazar dekhegā kaun

KHanda-e-lab mein nihan zaKHm-e-hunar dekhega kaun

bazm mein hain sab ke sab ahl-e-nazar dekhega kaun

pahle jo kahā ab bhī vahī kahte haiñ 'mohsin'

itnā hai ba-andāz-e-digar kahne lage haiñ

pahle jo kaha ab bhi wahi kahte hain 'mohsin'

itna hai ba-andaz-e-digar kahne lage hain

koī sūrat nahīñ ḳharābī kī

kis ḳharābe meñ bas rahā hai jism

koi surat nahin KHarabi ki

kis KHarabe mein bas raha hai jism