Word Meaning
पत्थर
Patthar
Meaning
Stone, rock; metaphorically, a hard-hearted, unfeeling, or indifferent nature.
Detailed Meaning
Literally referring to stone or rock, 'patthar' is a common trope in Urdu poetry for emotional coldness and unresponsiveness. It embodies the cruelty, mercilessness, or unbending nature of the beloved. In this couplet, it serves as an explicit metaphor for the beloved's heart, which remains entirely unmoved and refuses to soften or melt.
Etymology
Derived from Sanskrit 'प्रस्तर' (prastara) via Prakrit 'पत्थर' (patthara).
Usage
In classical ghazal imagery, stone is frequently juxtaposed against the fragile glass or mirror of the lover's heart to dramatize vulnerability against callous indifference.
Examples
A heart of stone feels no sorrow for the wounded.
The fragile mirror was shattered by a cruel stone.