shamshan jala, insan jala
shamshan jala, insan jala
lo dharti ki chhati par hi
dharti ka mehman jala
shamshan jala, insan jala
lo dharti ki chhati par hi
dharti ka mehman jala
shamshan jala, insan jala

kis tarah, jeeyu maru mai
kisko apna haal sunaye
aag to jal kar, raakh hui hai
aag to jal kar, raakh hui hai
ghar jaye to kaise jaye
us ghar me kya rah gaya baki
jis ghar ka bhagwan jala
shamshan jala, insan jala

kadam kadam par thokar khata
apne aap ko bhulta jata
marna chahe, mar na sake ye
marna chahe, mar na sake ye
aur jeene se hai ghabrata
dil me lekar dard hazaro
firta hai ik jane jala
shamshan jala, insan jala
shamshan jala, insan jala

The pyre ablaze, a soul alight,
The pyre ablaze, a soul alight,
Upon the earth's own breast,
Her transient guest, consumed in night.
The pyre ablaze, a soul alight,
Upon the earth's own breast,
Her transient guest, consumed in night.
The pyre ablaze, a soul alight.

How to live, how to die,
To whom can I voice my plight?
The flames have turned to ash and dust,
The flames have turned to ash and dust,
How can I return to light?
What remains within the home,
Where even God is burnt to dust?
The pyre ablaze, a soul alight.

Stumbling with each weary stride,
Forgetting self, nowhere to hide,
Yearning for death, it cannot come,
Yearning for death, it cannot come,
Yet life itself, a frightful tide.
Bearing a heart of a thousand woes,
A wandering soul, a life undone.
The pyre ablaze, a soul alight,
The pyre ablaze, a soul alight.