अफ़्शाँ

Meaning

Scattered, sprinkled, or ornamental dust dusted onto paper or hair.

Detailed Meaning

In Persian and Urdu poetics, 'afshan' refers to scattering or sprinkling, as well as the fine gold or silver specks dusted onto ornamental paper or hair. In this couplet, it combines with the verbal sense to denote scattering the dust of kohl (ghubar-e-surma) across the page of voice (fard-e-sada). It turns silent, pleading sight into a visible, decorated script of lament.

Etymology

Persian, present stem/participle of the verb 'afshandan' (افشاندن), meaning to scatter, disperse, or sprinkle.

Usage

Commonly found in classical ghazals both as a free adjective/noun and as a compound element depicting glittering tears, starlight, or manuscript decoration.

Examples

Synonyms

Related Words