Word Meaning
ख़ुदायान
khudaayaan
Meaning
Lords, rulers, masters, or sovereign powers (plural of lord).
Detailed Meaning
Plural of 'Khuda', referring to worldly masters, rulers, or supreme lords rather than the singular Supreme God. In this couplet by Iqbal, 'khudaayaan-e-bahr-o-bar' metaphorically alludes to the imperialist maritime and land superpowers or the unseen elemental rulers. It suggests authority figures whose dominance is nevertheless vulnerable to inevitable historical reckoning.
Etymology
Persian: 'khuda' (lord, master) + Persian plural suffix '-ān'.
Usage
In classical and modern Urdu poetry, this plural form usually signifies earthly tyrants, imperial rulers, or false masters rather than the divine Almighty.
Examples
khudaayaan-e-zamaan (rulers of the age)
dast-e-khudaayaan-e-hukoomat (hands of the sovereign rulers)