Word Meaning
चश्मा
chashma
Meaning
A natural spring, fountain, or source of water.
Detailed Meaning
In Persian and Urdu literature, 'chashma' refers to a natural spring or wellspring of water. In this couplet, it appears in the izafat compound 'chashma-e-haivan' (the fountain of eternal life or Ab-e Hayat). The poet contrasts the divine elixir of this legendary spring with the wine of worldly indifference, showing that the ascetic drunkard spurns immortality for pure ecstasy.
Etymology
Persian 'chashmah' (چشمه), diminutive/derivative of 'chashm' (eye), metaphorically comparing a natural water spring to an eye.
Usage
Commonly invoked in classical ghazals in mythological motifs like 'chashma-e-khizr' or 'chashma-e-haivan' to symbolize divine inspiration, immortality, or weeping eyes.
Examples
At the fountain of life, thirsty lips remained unquenched.
Tears flowed like a wild spring from the weeping eye.