Word Meaning
अफ़्साने
afsaane
hinoun (masculine, oblique/plura
Meaning
Tale, story, narrative, romance, or personal saga of sorrow.
Detailed Meaning
In Urdu poetics, 'afsana' denotes a tale, fable, or prolonged narrative, often carrying undertones of tragic life experiences. In this couplet by Ghalib, it stands for the poet's agonizing account of heartache, one so unbearable that ordinary listeners lack the endurance to hear it through.
Etymology
Persian افسانه (afsāna), meaning a story, tale, or fable.
Usage
In ghazal tradition, 'afsana' often contrasts the speaker's endless, painful reality against the listener's fleeting capacity to endure it.
Examples
My tale of grief remained unfinished in the gathering.
Who possesses the endurance to listen to this endless story?
Synonyms
दास्तानक़िस्सासरगुज़श्तहिकायत
Related Words
अफ़्सानाअफ़्साना-निगारदास्तान-गो