Word Meaning
दम-ब-ख़ुद
dam-ba-khud
hiadjective
Meaning
Stunned, speechless, holding one's breath in shock, or perishing silently within oneself.
Detailed Meaning
In classical Urdu poetry, 'dam-ba-khud' signifies a state of being struck speechless with wonder, terror, or sorrow. In this couplet, it describes the lover suffering the beloved's fatal blows in total silence and self-containment, without a single breath of complaint or resistance. It conveys absolute stillness where one's very breath turns inward.
Etymology
Persian compound composed of dam (breath) + ba (in/to) + khud (self).
Usage
Frequently used in the ghazal to portray a lover petrified by the beloved's sudden arrival, overwhelming beauty, or cruelty.
Examples
Left stunned and breathless upon seeing their gaze
Became struck dumb hearing our own voice
Synonyms
हैरानमबहूतस्तब्धअवाक
Related Words
दमख़ुददम-ब-ख़ुदीसकता