Word Meaning
दुनिया
dunyā
Meaning
The world, mortal existence, earth, or worldly life.
Detailed Meaning
In classical Urdu poetry, 'dunyā' denotes the material, transient realm, often contrasted with the hereafter or divine truth. It frequently symbolizes superficial attachments, fickle fortune, and moral disillusionment. Poets commonly portray it as an illusion, an unfaithful beloved, or a passing stage that hinders spiritual elevation.
Etymology
Arabic دُنْيَا (dunyā), from the root d-n-w (denoting 'near' or 'lower', signifying the earthly existence preceding the hereafter).
Usage
In the ghazal tradition, 'dunyā' is habitually personified as treacherous, heartless, and fleeting, pitted against the ascetic detachment of the lover or dervish.
Examples
The world is a strange marketplace where everything is bartered.
I kept telling my heart to turn away from this world.