Word Meaning
कोठों
kothon
Meaning
Rooftops, upper floors, or terraces of mansions.
Detailed Meaning
In classical Hindustani and Urdu poetry, 'kotha' denotes the upper floor, high terrace, or flat rooftop of a mansion where dwellers relaxed and beloveds appeared. In this couplet, it represents the elevated rooftops where moon-faced beauties once radiantly revealed themselves, highlighting the poignant contrast between former glory and present ruin.
Etymology
Derived from Sanskrit 'कोष्ठ' (koṣṭha - inner room, chamber) / 'कोष्ठागार' (koṣṭhāgāra), passing through Prakrit into Hindi-Urdu.
Usage
In ghazals, it often functions alongside terms like 'bām' to signify the vantage point where the beloved appears in public view.
Examples
radiant faces appearing on the rooftops
the desolation of those lofty terraces