Word Meaning
ख़स्ता-दिल
khasta-dil
Meaning
Broken-hearted, wounded in spirit, or emotionally fragile.
Detailed Meaning
In Urdu poetics, 'khasta-dil' describes a lover whose heart is broken, bruised, or made exceptionally fragile by grief and unrequited love. In the cited couplet, it highlights an extreme emotional sensitivity where the lover is even more delicate than the beloved. It emphasizes a vulnerability so profound that a mere frown from the beloved proves devastating.
Etymology
Persian compound composed of 'khasta' (wounded, broken, fatigued) and 'dil' (heart).
Usage
Frequently used in classical ghazals to portray the afflicted lover whose fragile heart collapses under the beloved's indifference or wrath.
Examples
Listening to the lament of a broken-hearted soul.
Take pity on the condition of this wounded heart.