Word Meaning
किनारा
kinārā
Meaning
Shore, bank, coast, edge, or boundary.
Detailed Meaning
In Urdu poetry, 'kinara' refers to the shore or bank of a river or ocean. In the couplet, it represents the physical and metaphorical perimeter of the ocean, which remarkably lacks even the expected coastal ruin or erosion ('kharabi-e-kinara'). It often symbolizes safety, salvation, or a refuge from the storms and whirlpools of worldly or romantic trials.
Etymology
From Persian کناره (kināra / kanāra), meaning edge, border, or shore.
Usage
In classical ghazals, 'kinara' is frequently contrasted with 'bahr' (deep ocean) or 'gardab' (whirlpool) to represent peace and arrival versus ongoing existential peril.
Examples
The boat sank just as it drew close to the shore.
No peaceful shore was found after escaping the storm.