Word Meaning
ख़्वास्त-गारी
khwāst-gārī
Meaning
Desire, petitioning, seeking, requesting, or yearning for something.
Detailed Meaning
In classical poetry, 'khwāst-gārī' refers to the act of desiring, entreating, or seeking something with earnest longing. In this couplet, it cautions against courting or desiring worldly gains, reminding the seeker that the material world yields no genuine fulfillment. It embodies the posture of asking, petitioning, or hankering after transitory rewards.
Etymology
Persian: compound of 'khwāst' (خواست, desire/request from 'khwāstan' to want/seek) + agent suffix '-gār' (گار) + abstract noun suffix '-ī' (ی).
Usage
In the ghazal tradition, the word is typically used in contemplative or Sufistic verses to reflect on human longing, whether for worldly illusion or divine union.
Examples
Duniya ki na kar tu khwast-gari
Khwast-gari-e-visal mein umr guzar gayi
