ye tabla kahe
ye tabla kahe dhik hai dhik hai saarangi kahe kinko kinko
ye tabla kahe dhik hai dhik hai saarangi kahe kinko kinko
manjira hath utha ke kehta hai inko inko
ye tabla kahe dhik hai dhik hai saarangi kahe kinko kinko
manjira hath utha ke kehta hai inko inko
ye tabla kahe dhik hai dhik hai

bhagwan tera teri mehnat hai mandir tera saara bharat hai
jita rahe roshan ho naam tera bade bade kaam kare lal mera
kam se jo bhage anzam se jo bhage daya ki bhikh mange unko
ye tabla kahe dhik hai dhik hai sarangi kahe kinko kinko
manjira hath utha ke kehta hai inko inko
ye tabla kahe dhik hai dhik hai

tu mera hi nahi sabka apna hai tu aanewale kal ka sapna hai
gum kaisa tu mann ka mauji hai seema ka nanha sa fauji hai
peeth jo dikhaye maidan chhod jaye jo desh ko lazaye unko
unko kya bolo
ye tabla kahe dhik hai dhik hai sarangi kahe kinko kinko
manjira hath utha ke kehta hai inko inko
ye tabla kahe dhik hai dhik hai

mere nanhe nanhe phul maa ko mat jaana tu bhul
tu hai, tu hai gandhi ka hakdar tu hai nehru ka avtar
desh ko aur sawaar aur bhi rup nikhaar
desh ki jo khaye videshi geet gaye
imaan ko dubaye unko unko kya bolo
ye tabla kahe dhik hai dhik hai sarangi kahe kinko kinko
ye tabla kahe dhik hai dhik hai sarangi kahe kinko kinko
manjira hath utha ke kahta hai inko inko
ye tabla kahe dhik hai dhik hai

The Tabla drums lament,
"Shame, shame," the Sarangi sighs, "Whom, whom?"
The Tabla drums lament,
"Shame, shame," the Sarangi sighs, "Whom, whom?"
The cymbals rise, clanging, pointing,
"These, these," they cry.
The Tabla drums lament, "Shame."

God, your labor is your temple, all of India is yours,
May your name shine, may my son achieve great deeds.
Those who flee duty, those who shun the outcome, begging for mercy,
The Tabla drums lament, "Shame, shame," the Sarangi sighs, "Whom, whom?"
The cymbals rise, clanging, pointing,
"These, these," they cry.
The Tabla drums lament, "Shame."

You are mine, yet all's own, the dream of tomorrow you embody,
Why sorrow? You are joy's own, a tiny soldier of boundaries.
Those who turn their backs, who abandon the field, who shame the nation,
To them, what is to be said?
The Tabla drums lament, "Shame, shame," the Sarangi sighs, "Whom, whom?"
The cymbals rise, clanging, pointing,
"These, these," they cry.
The Tabla drums lament, "Shame."

Do not crush the tender blooms, never forget your mother,
You are, you are, inheritor of Gandhi's right, Nehru's avatar.
Adorn the nation further, refine its form,
Those who feast upon the nation, who sing foreign songs,
Who drown their honor, to them, what is to be said?
The Tabla drums lament, "Shame, shame," the Sarangi sighs, "Whom, whom?"
The Tabla drums lament, "Shame, shame," the Sarangi sighs, "Whom, whom?"
The cymbals rise, clanging, pointing,
"These, these," they cry.
The Tabla drums lament, "Shame, shame."