Word Meaning
पकड़ा
pakṛā
Meaning
Caught, seized, held, or assumed a particular form or state.
Detailed Meaning
Literally meaning to catch, hold, or grip, here it is used idiomatically with 'rang' (color or disposition) in the sense of assuming, developing, or adopting a certain quality. In Ghalib's verse, it signifies that love had not yet fully taken on the hue or extremity of wild madness (wahshat). It depicts an early transitional phase before passion turns into utter delirium.
Etymology
Sanskrit 'स्पर्श' (sparśa) / Prakrit roots, evolved into Hindustani 'पकड़ना'.
Usage
In classical poetry, it frequently appears in idiomatic constructions such as 'rang pakadna' (to assume a mood or hue) or 'zor pakadna' (to gain intensity).
Examples
The fire had not yet caught strength.
The grief took on a strange hue in the heart.