Word Meaning
इश्क़-बाज़ाँ
ishq-bāzāñ
Meaning
Lovers; those who play the game of passion.
Detailed Meaning
This is the Persian plural form of 'ishq-bāz', denoting lovers or those completely absorbed in romance. In the couplet, it appears in an izafat-style construction where the poet questions whether the redness on the beloved's lips is betel-juice or the spilled blood of passionate lovers. It highlights both the tragic fate of devoted lovers and the deadly charm of the beloved.
Etymology
Arabic 'ishq' (passionate love) + Persian '-bāz' (player/indulger) + Persian plural suffix '-ān'.
Usage
In classical Urdu poetry, it is used to evoke the collective fraternity of suffering lovers whose blood adorns the beloved's beauty.
Examples
khūn-e-ishq-bāzāñ (blood of passionate lovers)
bazm-e-ishq-bāzāñ (gathering of lovers)