Word Meaning
दया
daya / diya
Meaning
Gave; surrendered or sacrificed (past tense of to give).
Detailed Meaning
In this couplet, 'दया' represents the past tense verb 'दिया' (gave), appearing in the classical idiom 'जी देना' (to sacrifice one's soul or life for love). Rather than meaning mercy or pity (as in Sanskrit 'dayā'), it signifies the lover surrendering his very existence. Mir considers giving up one's life for the beloved to be the solitary art or virtue that lovers possess.
Etymology
Hindustani / Prakrit ditta, derived from Sanskrit dattam (दत्त), past participle of dā (दा, to give).
Usage
In classical ghazal, 'ji dena' or 'dil dena' frequently denotes the ultimate submission and ultimate sacrifice demanded by passion.
Examples
Us ne talab kiya to ham ne ji diya
Dil diya dard-e-mohabbat ke sahare ham ne