Word Meaning
तिश्ना-लब
tishna-lab
Meaning
Thirsty-lipped; parched; yearning intensely or unfulfilled in longing.
Detailed Meaning
Literally referring to someone whose lips are parched with thirst, in Urdu poetry it symbolizes an unfulfilled lover craving union or compassion from the beloved. In the given couplet, it describes the lovers dying in severe deprivation without receiving even a drop of grace or life-giving love. Metaphorically, it evokes deep spiritual longing or profound unrequited desire.
Etymology
Persian compound formed from 'tishna' (تشنہ - thirsty) + 'lab' (لب - lip).
Usage
A frequent trope in classical Urdu ghazal denoting the tragic, ascetic yearning of the lover or invoking the poignant imagery of Karbala.
Examples
Returning thirsty-lipped from the very shores of the ocean.
A life spent thirsty-lipped in longing for union.