Word Meaning
ख़मसा
khamsa
Meaning
Five; specifically referring to the five senses in classical philosophy.
Detailed Meaning
In classical Urdu poetry and Islamic philosophy, 'khamsa' most commonly appears in the phrase 'hawas-e-khamsa', denoting the five external physical senses (sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell). In Mir's couplet, gathering or composing the 'hawas-e-khamsa' implies overcoming scattered thoughts and regaining full conscious composure amid emotional turmoil. It underscores the difficulty of maintaining mental concentration when grief and anxiety overwhelm the senses.
Etymology
Arabic root خ-م-س (kh-m-s), meaning 'five'.
Usage
In classical ghazal, it almost exclusively occurs in the Arabic genitive construction 'hawās-e-khamsā' to evoke the sensory faculties or loss of mental presence.
Examples
His five senses were entirely bewildered by the shock.
Regaining the five senses amidst sorrow is an arduous task.