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