Word Meaning
काट
kaat
Meaning
To pass or spend time; to endure; to sever or cut.
Detailed Meaning
In this couplet, 'काट' functions as an imperative verb meaning to pass, spend, or endure the night of sorrow. The poet advises enduring the harsh hours independently by burning dry thorns and rubbish in a furnace rather than humiliating oneself by seeking entrance to the beloved's garden through supplication. It carries a strong undertone of stoic endurance and self-respect in times of desolation.
Etymology
Derived from Sanskrit कृन्तति (kṛntati) or कर्तन (kartana), developing through Prakrit into Hindustani काटना/کاٹنا.
Usage
In classical ghazal poetry, phrasing like 'raat kaatna' conventionally signifies the agonizing and painful passage of time experienced during loneliness and separation.
Examples
To pass the night of separation in tears
How should one endure the long days of solitude?