Word Meaning
बंधी
bandhī
Meaning
Tied, closed, or clenched; preserved without exposure.
Detailed Meaning
In classical Hindustani poetry, 'bandhī' literally denotes tied, fastened, or closed. Within the couplet, it belongs to the idiom 'bandhī muṭṭhī' (a closed fist), symbolizing dignity, restraint, and the concealment of one's vulnerability or inner state. The poet advises leaving the garden of the world silently and self-contained, without opening one's hand to expose poverty or secret pain.
Etymology
Derived from Sanskrit बन्ध् (bandh, to bind) via Prakrit, giving rise to Hindustani बाँधना/बँधना.
Usage
Frequently used in ghazal poetry within the proverbial image of 'bandhī muṭṭhī' to denote veiled pride, secrecy, or unrevealed grief.
Examples
a closed fist maintains its secret honor
with tied lips and a quiet heart