karam-nawazo ne koshish hazar ki hai to kya
mere nasib mein rahat nahin likhi hai to kya

tawangari ho ki iflas chaar din ki hai
ye zindagi hai to kya hai wo zindagi hai to kya

abas hai fakhr suna kar fasana-e-aslaf
wo shakl aaj nahin hai kabhi rahi hai to kya

jab ek kar-e-numayan na kar sake koi
to phir hazar baras ki bhi zindagi hai to kya

karen hazar jatan rahbaran-e-rah-e-suluk
faza hi dushman-e-iman-o-agahi hai to kya

ganwa di daulat-e-uqba husul-e-duniya mein
wahan ki khair manaen yahan sabhi hai to kya

use shikastagi-e-dil pasand hai 'mahmud'
shikastagi se na dariye shikastagi hai to kya