Word Meaning
तश्त
tasht
Meaning
A large basin, bowl, or platter used to catch blood or severed heads.
Detailed Meaning
In traditional royal execution practices, a leather mat (nata') was laid down, and a sword (tegh) alongside a basin (tasht) were brought to decapitate the condemned and catch the falling blood or head. In this couplet, it represents the refined, ceremonial execution of the lover carried out with regal dignity. It stands metaphorically for the paraphernalia of sacrificial martyrdom in poetic tradition.
Etymology
Persian (طشت / tasht), meaning an open bowl, salver, or basin.
Usage
Conventionally paired with 'tegh' (sword) and 'nata'' (leather execution mat) in Urdu poetry to symbolize formal, ritualized decapitation.
Examples
The executioner readied the sword and the basin.
A crimson tear fell into the silver basin.