Word Meaning
काहिश
kāhish
Meaning
Wasting away, decay, or the gnawing anguish of the heart.
Detailed Meaning
In classical Urdu poetry, 'kāhish' signifies a slow, debilitating process of wasting away, emaciation, or pining. In this couplet, 'kāhish-e-dil' refers to the consuming torment and inner burning of the heart that gradually drains the lover's life force. It emphasizes an internal affliction that demands remedy before life itself is lost.
Etymology
Persian, abstract noun from the verb 'kāhīdan' (to decrease, decline, pine, waste away).
Usage
Frequently constructed with izafat (such as 'kāhish-e-dil' or 'kāhish-e-jāñ') in ghazals to evoke the silent, slow erosion of life through romantic grief.
Examples
The wasting away of the soul in unceasing sorrow.
Seeking a cure for the heart's persistent anguish.