Word Meaning
कश्मकश
kashmakash
Meaning
Struggle, dilemma, internal conflict, or constant tug-of-war of emotions.
Detailed Meaning
Literally referring to a tug-of-war or mutual pulling, 'kashmakash' signifies an agonizing state of internal conflict, dilemma, or unresolved emotional turmoil. In this couplet, it represents the inescapable, tormenting agony of love's sorrow ('andoh-e-ishq') that refuses to leave the lover even when the heart itself is consumed. It captures the persistent friction between suffering and existence.
Etymology
Persian compound formed from 'kash' (from kashīdan, 'to pull, draw') and 'makash' (the prohibitive form, 'do not pull'), literally meaning a pulling back and forth or tug-of-war.
Usage
In classical Urdu poetry, it frequently portrays the lover's psychological vacillation between reason and passion, or the inescapable struggle against destiny and grief.
Examples
Trapped in the relentless kashmakash between hope and despair.
This kashmakash of existence left the soul without any repose.