kyun kisi rah-rau se puchhun apni manzil ka pata

kyuuñ kisī rah-rau se pūchhūñ apnī manzil kā patā

mauj-e-dariyā ḳhud lagā letī hai sāhil kā patā

hai nishān-e-laila-e-maqsūd mahmil kā patā

dilrubā haath aa gayā paayā jahāñ dil kā patā

rāh-e-ulfat meñ samajh lo dil ko gūñgā rahnumā

saath hai aur de nahīñ saktā hai manzil kā patā

kahtā hai nāseh ki vāpas jaao aur maiñ sāda-lauh

pūchhtā huuñ ḳhud usī se kū-e-qātil kā patā

rāhbar rahzan na ban jaa.e kahīñ is soch meñ

chup khaḌā huuñ bhuul kar raste meñ manzil kā patā

aa.ī ik āvāz-e-tīr aur niklī dil se uf

phir na qātil kā nishāñ paayā na bismil kā patā

bāñkī-chitvan vaale mahshar meñ hazāroñ haiñ to hoñ

mil hī jā.egā kisī sūrat se qātil kā patā

us jagah bismil ne dam toḌā jahāñ kī ḳhaak thī

yuuñ lagāte haiñ lagāne vaale manzil kā patā

pūchhne vaale ne ye pūchhā ki kyuuñ be-dil ho kyuuñ

aur mujh ko mil gayā kho.e hue dil kā patā

maujeñ Takrā.ī huiiñ dushman bhī niklīñ dost bhī

pīchhe kashtī ko Dhakelā de ke sāhil kā patā

rah gayā hai TuuT kar zaḳhm-e-jigar meñ tīr-e-nāz

ab lagā lenā nahīñ dushvār qātil kā patā

soḳhta parvāne kushta sham.a farsh-e-dāġhdār

de rahe haiñ raat kī garmī-e-mahfil kā patā

maiñ vafā-kesh 'ārzū' aur vo vafā-nā-āshnā

paḌ gayā mushkil meñ pā kar apnī mushkil kā patā

kyun kisi rah-rau se puchhun apni manzil ka pata

mauj-e-dariya KHud laga leti hai sahil ka pata

hai nishan-e-laila-e-maqsud mahmil ka pata

dilruba hath aa gaya paya jahan dil ka pata

rah-e-ulfat mein samajh lo dil ko gunga rahnuma

sath hai aur de nahin sakta hai manzil ka pata

kahta hai naseh ki wapas jao aur main sada-lauh

puchhta hun KHud usi se ku-e-qatil ka pata

rahbar rahzan na ban jae kahin is soch mein

chup khaDa hun bhul kar raste mein manzil ka pata

aai ek aawaz-e-tir aur nikli dil se uf

phir na qatil ka nishan paya na bismil ka pata

banki-chitwan wale mahshar mein hazaron hain to hon

mil hi jaega kisi surat se qatil ka pata

us jagah bismil ne dam toDa jahan ki KHak thi

yun lagate hain lagane wale manzil ka pata

puchhne wale ne ye puchha ki kyun be-dil ho kyun

aur mujh ko mil gaya khoe hue dil ka pata

maujen Takrai huin dushman bhi niklin dost bhi

pichhe kashti ko Dhakela de ke sahil ka pata

rah gaya hai TuT kar zaKHm-e-jigar mein tir-e-naz

ab laga lena nahin dushwar qatil ka pata

soKHta parwane kushta shama farsh-e-daghdar

de rahe hain raat ki garmi-e-mahfil ka pata

main wafa-kesh 'arzu' aur wo wafa-na-ashna

paD gaya mushkil mein pa kar apni mushkil ka pata