Word Meaning
जाँ-बख़्श
jaan-bakhsh
Meaning
Life-giving, reviving, or one who bestows life.
Detailed Meaning
A Persian compound adjective meaning life-bestowing or reviving, traditionally used as an epithet for the beloved, God, or the miraculous breath of Jesus (Īsā). In this couplet, it describes the beloved who has the power to restore the lover to life, though the lover questions the need for such a reviving if it comes at a painful cost.
Etymology
Persian compound of 'jān' (soul, life) + 'bakhsh' (bestower, granting; from the verb bakhshīdan).
Usage
In classical Urdu ghazal, 'jān-bakhsh' frequently characterizes the beloved's speech, smile, or lips, comparing their reviving effect to the breath of the Messiah.
Examples
His life-giving lips revived the dying lover.
A life-bestowing gaze that dispels every grief.