Word Meaning
बारगाह
bārgāh
Meaning
A royal court, audience chamber, palace, or sacred presence and shrine.
Detailed Meaning
Literally denoting a place of audience or imperial court, 'bārgāh' refers to a sovereign palace, divine presence, or holy shrine. In this couplet by Iqbal, it conveys the spiritually exalted gathering or humble dwelling of a detached Sufi ascetic (mard-e-qalandar), which holds greater grandeur and truth than the worldly majesty of emperors.
Etymology
Persian: compound of 'bār' (audience, admittance) and 'gāh' (place).
Usage
In classical Urdu poetry, it frequently contrasts the ephemeral majesty of worldly rulers with the supreme court of God or the spiritual authority of saints.
Examples
A prayer was accepted in the Divine court.
He bowed his head at the master's exalted threshold.