Word Meaning
ख़ाना-ज़ाद
khaana-zaad
Meaning
A house-born slave, hereditary servant, or innate captive.
Detailed Meaning
Literally meaning 'born in the house', it refers to a domestic slave born into the master's household and thus deeply devoted. In classical Urdu poetry, it metaphorically denotes someone born into unconditional servitude or emotional captivity to the beloved. In this couplet, being the 'khana-zad' of the beloved's tresses implies that being bound by chains is an innate, natural state rather than a punishment to flee from.
Etymology
Persian: compound of 'khana' (house, home) + 'zad' (born, offspring).
Usage
In ghazal poetry, it is prized as a metaphor for deep-rooted fidelity and pride in submission to the beloved.
Examples
A lifelong servant born to this threshold.
One born to love seeks no release from captivity.