Word Meaning
पज़मुर्दा
pazmurda
Meaning
Withered, faded, wilted, despondent, or crestfallen.
Detailed Meaning
Literally referring to vegetation that has wilted or dried up, the term metaphorically signifies someone weary, dejected, or crushed by fate. In the quoted couplet, it describes frail greenery ('sabza') that scarcely emerges from the earth before facing ruin and trampling. It evokes a state of existential vulnerability and premature destruction.
Etymology
Persian 'پژمردہ' (pazhmurdah), past participle of 'پژمردن' (pazhmurdan, to wither, fade, or wilt).
Usage
In classical Urdu ghazal, 'pazmurda' is often applied to flowers or hearts to evoke melancholy, transience, and the cruelty of unfulfilled longing.
Examples
A withered bloom trampled under careless feet
A dejected heart that finds no solace in the spring