Word Meaning
तभी
tabhī
Meaning
At that very moment; ever since then; only then.
Detailed Meaning
'तभी' is an emphatic temporal adverb formed by combining 'तब' (then) with the intensive marker 'ही' (only/even). In poetry, it often pinpoints an exact moment of consequence, an emotional shift, or the inception of enduring suffering. In this couplet, it functions as part of 'तभी से', indicating 'from that precise moment onward' when calamity struck.
Etymology
Sanskrit तदा (tadā) developed via Prakrit into Hindustani 'तब', fused with the emphatic particle 'ही' (from Sanskrit एव / eva).
Usage
In classical ghazal, it is frequently combined with 'से' (tabhī se) to mark the onset of an unending ordeal triggered by a lover's action.
Examples
Ever since that moment, the heart knew no peace.
Only then was the hidden secret revealed.