Ai zindagi, bahrupiye si-
rang naye kaise-kaise, too roz badal jaati hai
ummeedon se pare, anokhe jaal bichha jaati hai

satrangi indradhanush si rang rangeeli lagti too
aur kabhi badrang, khand-har si zarzar lagti too

alsaayi madmast shishir ki dhoop si khilti too
to kabhi dhak deti sooraj, ghor ghataa-se aanchal se

anjaani khushiyon ki saugaat achanak laati
agle hi pal chheen unhe, alhad si ithlaati too

leti hai agni-pareeksha, dekar dukh apaar
pal main hi phir khilaati hai, khushiyon se man-upvan

apno se bhi mil na sake jo sneh-dhaar aajeevan
kabhi ajnabi de jaate ik pal mein vo amrit

pathik chale jis raah par, too mod deti vo dagar
phool lagte shool, kaanton ki shayya bhi bhaati hai

maange mile na bheekh, bin maange mil jaate moti
ek anant mrigtrishna, hai jeevan ka saar yehi!