ai shahr-e-rasan-basta
kya ye teri manzil hai

kya ye tera hasil hai
ye kaun sa manzar hai

kuchh bhi to nahin khulta
kya tera muqaddar hai

taqdir-e-fasil-e-shahr katba hai ki gul-dasta
ai shahr-e-rasan-basta

ab koi bhi khwabon par iman nahin rakhta
kis rah pe jaana hai kis rah nahin jaana pahchan nahin rakhta

shaer ho ki surat-gar baghon ki charaghon ki basti ke sajaane ka saman nahin rakhta
jis samt nazar kije aankhon mein dar aate hain aur khun rulate hain

yaadon se bhare daman lashon se bhara rasta
ai shahr-e-rasan-basta

muddat hui logon ko chup mar gai jaise
thukrai hui khilqat jine ki kashakash mein ji haar gai jaise

har sans khajil thahri bekar gai jaise
ab gham ki hikayat ho ya lutf ki baaten hon koi bhi nahin rota koi bhi nahin hansta

ai shahr-e-rasan-basta