बादशाह

Meaning

Emperor, king, monarch, or sovereign ruler.

Detailed Meaning

Refers to a supreme sovereign or ruler, historically associated with imperial monarchs such as the Mughal emperors. In Ghalib's couplet, it serves as a deferential reference to his imperial patron, Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar, expressing loyalty and wishing for his enduring reign. It can also metaphorically denote a beloved who rules unconditionally over the lover's heart.

Etymology

Persian پادشاه (pādshāh / bādshāh), composed of pād (master/lord, from Old Iranian *pati-) + shāh (king).

Usage

In classical ghazals and qasidas, it denotes either the poet's royal patron or an allegorical monarch like the beloved or Love personified.

Examples

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Related Words