Word Meaning
छुरी
chhurī
Meaning
A knife or small dagger used for cutting or stabbing.
Detailed Meaning
In poetic tradition, 'chhuri' denotes a knife or blade used as an instrument of slaughter or injury. In this couplet, it represents a lethal weapon to pierce the heart if the lover's eyelashes fail to shed bloody tears, emphasizing extreme agony and readiness for self-sacrifice. Metaphorically, it evokes the piercing pain inflicted by love and the cruelty of the beloved.
Etymology
Derived from Sanskrit 'kṣurikā' (knife/razor) via Prakrit 'churiā' into Hindustani.
Usage
In the ghazal, 'chhuri' is frequently employed to depict intense emotional distress, heartbreak, or the murderous charm of the beloved.
Examples
chhuri chalna (to suffer excruciating emotional pain)
chhuri tale dam lena (to wait in anguish under the executioner's blade)