ek maje ki bat suno ek yatim sa ladka
aaj bana wo lakhpati kal tak tha jo kadka
ye dunia, ye dunia khel tamasha, ye dunia khel tamasha
are ghadi me tola ghadi me masha ye dunia khel tamasha
aaj parathe khaye kal tak tha jo bhukha pyasa
ye dunia, ye duniya khel tamasha, ye dunia khel tamasha

o ye do rangi duniy a badle rang sawere sham
is maya ke do hai nam parsu parsha parsram
is maya ke do hai nam parsu parsha parsram
hai aaj kadar aise waise ki har desh me pooja ho paise ki
ho chahe ho patiyala, bhai chahe ho mambasa
sun munia ye dunia khel tamasha
are ghadi me tola ghadi me masha ye dunia khel tamasha
ye dunia khel tamasha

kisi ne hamse pucha kon hai apne ristedar
hamne usse has ke kaha ab kya batlaye tum ko yar
hamne usse has ke kaha ab kya batlaye tum ko yar
jo amir hai wo na pahchane
jo garib hai unko hum na jane
hai khudgarj jamana, diwana achha khasa
ye dunia khel tamasha
are ghadi me tola ghadi me masha ye duniya khel tamasha
ye dunia khel tamasha

yahi kaha karti thi meri saheli madhumati
meri sakhi tera pati hoga koi lakhpati
are sakhi tera pati hoga koi lakhpati
hai kon wo jane kismat wala, mujhe alega jo pyar ki mala
sun kr jag diya bat, mainu te aawe hasa
sun munia ye dunia khel tamasha
are ghadi me tola ghadi me masha ye dunia khel tamasha
ye dunia khel tamasha
aaj parathe khaye kal tak tha jo bhukha pyasa
ye dunia khel tamasha, ye duniya khel tamasha
ye dunia khel tamasha, ye duniya khel tamasha

A tale unfolds, a laughing jest, a boy orphaned, alone,
A millionaire today, who yesterday was stone.
This world, this world, a fleeting stage, a theater's fleeting show,
Weighing fortunes in an hour, fortunes ebb and flow.
Today, he feasts on bread, who yesterday was cold and slow.
This world, this world, a fleeting stage, a theater's fleeting show.

Oh, this two-faced world, its colors shift with dawn and dusk,
This illusion's names, two masks, a treacherous, gilded husk.
This illusion's names, two masks, a treacherous, gilded husk.
Today's worth is shallow, everywhere, the worship of the purse,
From Patiala's halls to Mombasa's curse.
Listen, dear one, this world's a fleeting game,
Weighing fortunes in an hour, a flickering flame.
This world, this world, a fleeting game.

Someone asked, "Who are your kin, your blood?"
I laughed and said, "What words can capture this cruel flood?"
I laughed and said, "What words can capture this cruel flood?"
The wealthy turn away, their faces cold and veiled,
The poor we cannot know, their stories frail.
This selfish age, a madman's praise, a world that cannot last,
This world's a fleeting game, forever running fast.
Weighing fortunes in an hour, a shadow cast.
This world, this world, a fleeting game.

Thus spoke my friend, Madhumati, her voice a gentle plea,
"My friend, your husband will be rich, a life of luxury."
"My friend, your husband will be rich, a life of luxury."
Who knows the favored one, the chosen by fate's decree,
Who'll place upon my neck a chain of love so free?
Hearing this, the world's song came to me,
Listen, dear one, this world's a fleeting game,
Weighing fortunes in an hour, a flickering flame.
This world, this world, a fleeting game.
Today, he feasts on bread, who yesterday was cold and slow.
This world, this world, a fleeting show.
This world, this world, a fleeting show.
This world, this world, a fleeting show.