छन

Meaning

Perforated, pierced through, or riddled with holes like a sieve.

Detailed Meaning

In classical Urdu poetry, 'chhan' appears as part of the phrasal verb 'chhan jaana', which signifies being punctured repeatedly until one resembles a sieve. In this couplet, it describes the lover's heart or liver being entirely riddled and shredded by the arrows of the beloved's glances.

Etymology

From Sanskrit क्षण् (kṣaṇ - to wound/break) or छिन्न (chinna - cut/severed), evolving through Prakrit into Hindustani 'chhannā'.

Usage

Commonly paired with 'kalejā' or 'dīl' in ghazals to depict extreme torment caused by the metaphorical arrows of love.

Examples

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Related Words