Word Meaning
बेचैन
be-chain
Meaning
Restless, agitated, anxious, or lacking peace and tranquility.
Detailed Meaning
It denotes a state of inner agitation, anxiety, or sleepless yearning where mental peace is completely disrupted. In the cited couplet, it describes how the persistent desire for mirth and affection keeps the heart perpetually unsettled, preventing it from yielding entirely to lifeless gloom. The word captures the bittersweet torment intrinsic to poetic longing.
Etymology
Hybrid compound of the Persian negative prefix 'be-' (without) and the Indo-Aryan/Hindi word 'chain' (rest, ease, peace of mind).
Usage
In classical Urdu ghazal, it is widely employed to depict the lover's perpetual sleeplessness and emotional turmoil caused by separation or unfulfilled desire.
Examples
Keeping the troubled heart restless throughout the night
A restless spirit yearning for a glimpse of peace