Word Meaning
धुनती
dhuntī
Meaning
Beating (one's head in grief), lamenting, or expressing deep regret.
Detailed Meaning
In classical Urdu poetry, 'धुनती' appears as part of the idiom 'सर धुनना' (to beat one's head in sorrow, remorse, or grief). In this couplet, the candle is personified as inconsolably beating its head until morning over whatever plea the moth had made before perishing. It evokes an image of continuous agitation, lamentation, and utter helplessness.
Etymology
From Hindi/Urdu dhunnā (to card wool, strike, or beat repeatedly), tracing back to Sanskrit dhūnoti (shakes, agitates).
Usage
In the ghazal tradition, 'सर धुनना' is a standard motif of extreme lamentation, often applied to the candle, wind, or the desolate lover.
Examples
Beating her head in inconsolable grief until dawn
Lamenting over the helpless fate of the beloved