Word Meaning
कुश्ता
kushta
Meaning
Slain, killed, or martyred; a victim of love or tyranny.
Detailed Meaning
In classical Persian and Urdu verse, 'kushta' literally signifies one who is slain or killed, and it is most commonly applied to a lover slain by the cruelty or charms of the beloved. In the cited couplet, it forms part of the izafat phrase 'kushta-e-wafa' (a martyr to faithfulness), denoting a lover ruined or put to death by devotion itself. The term elevates the suffering of the lover to the status of a noble sacrifice.
Etymology
Persian past participle of 'kushtan' (کشتن), meaning 'to kill' or 'to slay'.
Usage
In the ghazal, it is widely utilized in izafat constructions to romanticize the lover as an honored casualty of love.
Examples
Kushta-e-tegh-e-ada (slain by the sword of coquetry)
Kushta-e-naaz (a victim of elegance)