Word Meaning
ग़म-ख़्वारी
gham-khwaari
Meaning
Sympathy, condolence, or the act of sharing another's grief.
Detailed Meaning
In classical Urdu poetry, 'gham-khwaari' refers to expressing sympathy, consoling a grieving person, or attempting to lighten their sorrow. In this couplet, the poet cynically questions the well-meaning efforts of his friends to comfort him, pointing out that his incurable madness of love will cause his nails to grow and scratch his healing wounds open long before their consolation can do any good.
Etymology
A compound of Arabic 'gham' (grief, sorrow) and Persian 'khwaar' (consuming, taking in, from 'khwardan' to eat/endure) with the abstract noun suffix '-i'.
Usage
In the ghazal tradition, 'gham-khwaari' by well-meaning friends (naaseh or dost) is frequently contrasted with the lover's cherished, incurable suffering.
Examples
rasm-e-gham-khwaari (the custom of offering condolences)
gham-khwaari-e-ahbaab (the sympathy of close friends)