Word Meaning
ठहरें
thahrein
Meaning
To prove to be, become, be deemed, or remain (subjunctive form).
Detailed Meaning
A conjugated form of the verb 'thaharnā', meaning to stop, stay, or be regarded and established as something. In this verse, it carries the nuance of 'to prove to be' or 'to become' (as in becoming a target). The poet rhetorically asks why they shouldn't end up being the mark for tyranny when they themselves retrieve the missed arrow.
Etymology
Derived from Sanskrit 'sthā' (to stand) through Prakrit 'thakkai' / 'thāi', evolving into Hindustani 'thaharnā'.
Usage
In classical Urdu poetry, 'thaharnā' frequently denotes not merely physical stopping, but being definitively judged, confirmed, or rendered into a particular state.
Examples
Why should we not become the target of sorrow?
Where can this restless heart find rest now?