Word Meaning
पर-अफ़्शानी
par-afshānī
Meaning
Flapping or fluttering of wings; scattering or spreading feathers.
Detailed Meaning
In classical Persian and Urdu poetry, 'par-afshani' denotes the beating, fluttering, or shaking out of wings, often evoking movement, agitation, or luminous scattering. In this couplet, it metaphorically captures the fluttering brilliance like that of a firefly radiant against the moon when the beloved bursts into laughter.
Etymology
Persian compound formed from 'par' (wing/feather) and 'afshānī' (scattering/spreading, from the infinitive 'afshāndan').
Usage
Frequently deployed in the ghazal tradition to evoke either a captive bird's restless longing for release or the kinetic display of beauty.
Examples
The fluttering of wings in the narrow cage
A scattering of plumes in ecstatic flight