Word Meaning
निशाना
nishana
Meaning
Target, aim, butt, or mark for arrows and strikes.
Detailed Meaning
Literally referring to an archery butt or a target, it denotes anything aimed at by a hunter or archer. In classical poetry, it metaphorically signifies the lover's frail body or broken heart being subjected to the beloved's torment. In this verse, it describes the beloved making every bone of the wounded lover a target for fresh arrows.
Etymology
Persian 'nishāna' (نشانہ), derived from 'nishān' (نشان, mark/sign) with the suffix '-a'.
Usage
A recurrent motif in the ghazal tradition portraying the helpless lover as an archery target for the beloved's glance or arrow.
Examples
Dil ko sitam ka nishana banana (Making the heart a target of tyranny)
Nishana-e-teer-e-mizha (A target for the arrows of eyelashes)