नाकामों

Meaning

Those who are unsuccessful, disappointed, or unfortunate (specifically frustrated lovers).

Detailed Meaning

In Urdu poetics, 'nākām' designates someone whose desire remains unfulfilled, specifically the suffering or spurned lover. In this couplet, it denotes those helpless and defeated lovers upon whom the beloved need not repeatedly draw a sword of cruelty, since a single miraculous glance is sufficient to vanquish them. The plural oblique suffix '-oñ' marks them as the object of actions and afflictions.

Etymology

Persian compound of the negative prefix 'nā-' (without, un-) and 'kām' (desire, wish, intent, success).

Usage

In the classical ghazal tradition, 'nākām' is often embraced as an honorable condition of the faithful lover whose unrequited devotion contrasts with worldly success.

Examples

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Related Words