Word Meaning
जाँ-दादा
Jaan-daada
Meaning
One who has sacrificed their life; deeply devoted, enamored, or surrendered to love.
Detailed Meaning
In classical Persian and Urdu poetry, 'jān-dāda' denotes someone who has surrendered his soul or life to a beloved or a consuming passion. In this couplet, it describes a lover whose very existence was sacrificed to the yearning of wandering the beloved's pathway. It expresses the pinnacle of self-negation, devotion, and tragic martyrdom in love.
Etymology
Persian compound formed from 'jān' (life/soul) and 'dāda' (given/bestowed, past participle of dādan).
Usage
Commonly employed in classical ghazals as an epithet for the archetypal lover who embraces death for the sake of union or devotion.
Examples
The one who surrendered his life to love sought no reward.
Every lover in that lane seemed to have given up his soul.