kya gaoon? maan! kya gaoon?
goonj raheen hain jahaan raag-raaginiyaan,
gaatee hain kinnariyaan kitanee pariyaan
kitanee panchadashee kaaminiyaan,
vahaan ek yah lekar veena deen
tantree-ksheen, nahin jisamen koee jhankaar naveen,
ruddh kanth ka raag adhoora kaise tujhe sunaoon?–
maan! kya gaoon?
chhaaya hai mandir mein tere yah kitana anuraag!
chadhate hain charanon par kitane phool
mrdu-dal, saras-paraag;
gandh-mod-mad peekar mand sameer
shithil charan jab kabhee badhaatee aatee,
saje hue bajate usake adheer noopur-manjeer!
vahaan ek nirgandh kusum upahaar,
nahin kaheen jisamen paraag-sanchaar surabhi-sansaar
kaise bhala chadhaoon?–
maan? kya gaoon?