Word Meaning
बेदारी
bedaari
Meaning
Wakefulness, the state of being awake, vigilance, or conscious awareness.
Detailed Meaning
It denotes the state of being awake or spiritually conscious, as opposed to slumber or illusion. In this couplet, it contrasts with 'khwaab' (sleep/dream) to show that for the discerning eye, wakefulness and dream merge into the same aesthetic and spiritual experience. Beyond literal waking, it often connotes vigilance, insight, and freedom from negligence.
Etymology
Persian (bīdārī), formed from 'bīdār' (awake) and the abstract noun suffix '-ī'.
Usage
In classical ghazal, it is frequently set against 'ख़्वाब' (dream/slumber) or 'ग़फ़लत' (unawareness) to highlight the tension between illusion and reality.
Examples
the torment of bedaari in the long nights of separation
suspended in a state between sleep and bedaari