The hand did not reach the time of the auspicious sign, nor did it reach the foot of the killer.

This profound couplet speaks of a fear that transcends mere physical violence. The speaker says that the pain or struggle can continue until the moment of swearing an oath, but the true terror lies in the inability to even reach the feet of the killer. It's a fear of complete helplessness—the moment when defense fails, and surrender becomes inevitable. Mir Taqi Mir captures the existential dread of reaching one's absolute limit.