Word Meaning
तिश्ना-लबी
tishna-labi
Meaning
Thirst, parched lips; metaphorical intense longing or unfulfilled desire.
Detailed Meaning
Literally denoting the state of having dry or parched lips from extreme thirst, 'tishna-labi' metaphorically conveys unrequited yearning and deep emotional deprivation. In the couplet, the speaker's buried thirst is so vast that even a torrential flood (sail) is cautioned against stepping into the desert, lest it be entirely absorbed.
Etymology
Persian compound formed from 'tishna' (thirsty) and 'lab' (lip), combined with the abstract noun suffix '-i'.
Usage
A staple motif in the Urdu ghazal representing spiritual longing, unfulfilled romantic devotion, or existential deprivation.
Examples
The agony of enduring lifelong tishna-labi
Quenching the soul's tishna-labi at the tavern