Word Meaning
पादशाही
pādshāhī
Meaning
Sovereignty, kingship, royalty, or imperial rule.
Detailed Meaning
In classical Persian and Urdu poetry, 'pādshāhī' denotes imperial rule, supreme majesty, or dominion. In this couplet by Iqbal, it is used metaphorically to signify spiritual sovereignty and mastery over one's self and destiny, transcending mere worldly empire. The true knower of self (khudī) attains an elevated status akin to absolute spiritual monarchs.
Etymology
Persian (پادشاہی / pādshāhī), derived from 'pādshāh' (emperor/monarch) with the abstract noun suffix '-ī'.
Usage
In ghazal and Sufi-oriented poetry, it is frequently juxtaposed with 'faqīrī' or 'gadāī' to demonstrate that spiritual detachment is superior to imperial domain.
Examples
Faqiri turns into pādshāhī when one attains self-realization.
The transient crown cannot match the pādshāhī of a free soul.