Word Meaning
परहेज़
parhez
Meaning
Abstinence, restraint, avoidance, or refraining from wine and worldly temptations.
Detailed Meaning
In classical Urdu poetry, 'parhez' signifies conscious abstinence, often in the context of renouncing wine or sensory pleasures. In this couplet, it denotes an excuse given by the seeker to avoid drinking, which irritates the cupbearer (saqi) as it betrays an anxious preoccupation with future consequences. It thus stands in contrast to the spontaneous surrender and uninhibited ecstasy demanded in the tavern of love.
Etymology
Persian (پرهیز), derived from the infinitive 'parhīzīdan' (پرهیزیدن), meaning to abstain, ward off, or beware.
Usage
In the ghazal tradition, 'parhez' is frequently treated with poetic irony, where the lover's or ascetic's caution is mocked by the saqi for lacking true abandon.
Examples
To make an excuse of abstinence before the cupbearer
Restraint from wine in the season of rain