jeevan kee aapadhadhee mein kab vakata mila
kuchh der ho gaya par baithana yah sochane lagata hai
jo kiya, kaha, maan usamen kya bura bhala.
vah din meree chetana jagee mainne dekha
main khada hua hoon is duniya ke mele mein,
har ek yahaan par ek bhulaane mein bhoola
har ek laga hai apane svayan ke de-le mein
kuchh der ho hakka-bakka, bhauchakka-sa,
aa gaya kahaan, kya karoon yahaan, mujhe ja raha hai?
phir ek taraph se ham hee to dhakka-sa
main bhee bahana shuroo kiya us rele mein,
kya baahar kee theka-pelee hee kuchh kam tha,
jo bheetar bhee bhaavon ka oohaapoh macha,
jo kiya, usee ko karane kee majabootee thee,
jo kaha, vahee man ke andar se ubal chala,
jeevan kee aapadhadhee mein kab vakata mila
kuchh der ho gaya par baithana yah sochane lagata hai
jo kiya, kaha, maan usamen kya bura bhala.
mela jatana bhadakeela rang-rangeela tha,
maanas ke andar unee hee kamazoree tha,
jitana zyaada sanchit karane kee khvaahish tha,
utpanee hee chhota apane kar kee jhoree tha,
jitanee hee birame rahane kee thee abhilaasha,
utpana hee rele tej dhakele gae the,
kray-vikray to thande dil se ho sakata hai,
yah to bhaaga-paart kee chhina-chhoree thee;
ab maangate hain kya batalaoon
kya maan akinchan bikharaata path par,
vah kaun ratan anamol mila aisa mujhako,
jo par apana man praan nicharan kar,
yah thaadeedee baat mujhe gun dosh na do
jiko samajha tha sona, vah mittee nikalee,
jiko samajha tha aansoo, vah motee nikala.
jeevan kee aapadhadhee mein kab vakata mila
kuchh der ho gaya par baithana yah sochane lagata hai
jo kiya, kaha, maan usamen kya bura bhala.
main vaastav mein nahin bhoolana, bhatakana ya bharamau,
hai ek kaheen manzil jo mujhe bulaatee hai,
kitane hee paanv pade oonche-neeche,
pratilip vah mere paas chalee hee aatee hai,
mujh par vidhi ka aabhaar bahut see baaton ka.
par main krtagy use is par sabase zyaada -
nabh ole barasae, dharatee shole ugale,
anavarat samay kee chakkee chalatee hai,
main kahaan khada tha kal us thal par aaj nahin,
mahal par paana mujhako mushkil hai,
le maapadand joko parivartit kar rahe hain
keval chhookar hee desh-kaal kee seemaen
jag de mujhapar nirnay use jaisa bhaee
lekin main to berok safar mein jeevan ke
yah ek aur pahaloo se hokar nikal chalao.
jeevan kee aapadhadhee mein kab vakata mila
kuchh der ho gaya par baithana yah sochane lagata hai
jo kiya, kaha, maan usamen kya bura bhala.
raajoo