meharban kaise kasie kadardan
kaise kasie maharban kaise kasie kadardan
aaj mehfil me aaye hue hai
meharban kaise kasie

rim jhim me hai par chabhi
kastiye ka mai akela pujabi
laut chal kaise kaise aah bhar
kaise kaise aaj matlab sajaye hue hai
kaise kaise maharban kaise kaise kadardan
kaise kaise aj mehfil me aaye huye hai
maharban kaise kaise

kaam ki khithmat kaam hai inka
kaam ki khithmat kaam hai inka
is khithmat se bhi naam bhi inka
sun kar ham bhi kahte hai
sone chandi me tulate hai
sone chandi me tulate hai
dur in ki balaye in pe kurban jaye
ye jo nazare jhukaye hue hai
maharban kaise kasie kadardan
kaise kasie aaj mehfil me aaye hue hai
meharban kaise kasie

saaj sas ke nagme kya hai
saaj sas ke nagme kya hai
husan or husan ke jalwe kya hai
shram hai kya or gerat kya hai
izzat kya hai or kismat kya hai
izzat kya hai or kismat kya hai
ye khof ke parinde ye surat darinde
daam kab ka lagaye hue hai
maharban kaise kasie kadardan
kaise kasie aaj mehfil me aaye hue hai
meharban kaise kasie

ye yatimo ka hak khane vale
ye yatimo ka hak khane vale
bebaso par sitam dhane vale
bas chale to vatan bech dale
matyato ke kafan bech dale
ye gila to haram tak naa chode
mandiro ke sanam tak na chhod e
mandiro ke sanam tak na chhod e
ye bazariyo se chor bazariyo se
sano sokat badhaye ja rahe hai
maharban kaise kasie kadardan
aaj mehfil me aaye hue hai
meharban kaise kasie

Benevolent, how they arrive, these esteemed guests,
How they grace this gathering, these benevolent ones.
In the drizzle, a key I discern,
A lone Punjabi in a boat, I yearn to return.
How they sigh, how they weave their purpose,
How they build their meaning in this moment.
Benevolent, how they arrive, these esteemed guests,
How they grace this gathering, these benevolent ones.

Their service, their work, is all they possess,
By this service, their name finds its dress.
Hearing of them, we too declare,
They weigh in gold and silver, we compare.
May their troubles flee, for them we pray,
They lower their gaze, in a hidden way.
Benevolent, how they arrive, these esteemed guests,
How they grace this gathering, these benevolent ones.

What are the melodies of music and breath?
What are the splendors of beauty and death?
What is shame, and what is honor’s call?
What is dignity, and what is fate’s thrall?
What is dignity, and what is fate’s thrall?
These birds of fear, these faces of beast,
Their traps are long set, and their power increased.
Benevolent, how they arrive, these esteemed guests,
How they grace this gathering, these benevolent ones.

Those who devour the orphans' due,
Those who inflict suffering on the few,
If they could, they'd sell their homeland's ground,
They'd sell the shrouds of the dead, all around.
They spare not even the hallowed hall,
Nor the idols within the temple's wall.
Nor the idols within the temple's wall.
From the markets they steal, in the shadows they dwell,
Their pomp and circumstance, they swell.
Benevolent, how they arrive, these esteemed guests,
How they grace this gathering, these benevolent ones.