Word Meaning
घबराएँ
ghabraayein
Meaning
Should panic, worry, or become distressed.
Detailed Meaning
In Urdu poetry, 'घबराएँ' is the subjunctive or plural form of the verb 'घबराना', denoting becoming perturbed, anxious, or frightened. In this couplet, it functions rhetorically as 'घबराएँ क्या' (why should we panic?), conveying fatalistic resilience and philosophical detachment before the turbulent cosmic cycles. It suggests that since fate inevitably takes its course, anxiety is futile.
Etymology
Inherited from Indo-Aryan roots, cognate with Prakrit / Sanskrit 'विह्वल' (vihvala - agitated, perturbed) or derived from an onomatopoeic base.
Usage
Frequently used rhetorically with 'क्या' in classical ghazals to convey stoic nonchalance or to highlight the overwhelming angst of love.
Examples
Why should we be anxious over the vicissitudes of time?
Lest the heart panic in the dark of solitude.