ना-ख़ुदा

Meaning

A boatman, sailor, helmsman, or captain of a ship.

Detailed Meaning

In classical Urdu poetry, 'nā-khudā' refers literally to a boatman or helmsman tasked with steering a vessel across treacherous waters. Poetically, it frequently serves as a pun or rhetorical counterpoint to 'Khudā' (God), embodying worldly guardians or unreliable saviors. In Ghalib's verse, it signifies the oppressive helmsman whose cruelty during the voyage becomes moot once the shore is safely reached.

Etymology

Persian (compound of nāv 'boat/ship' + khudā 'master/owner', later folk-etymologized as nā- 'not' + khudā 'god').

Usage

Frequently used in ghazal metaphorics as a contrast to divine providence (Khudā), dramatizing the plight of a traveler stranded in life's ocean.

Examples

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Related Words