बाल-फ़िशानी

Meaning

Fluttering or flapping of wings; taking flight; spreading wings to disperse.

Detailed Meaning

Literally referring to the fluttering, shaking, or opening of a bird's wings, 'baal-fishaanii' evokes the restlessness preceding flight or the dispersal of dust and fragrance. In this couplet by Ghalib, it captures an intense agony and frenzy where even the salt upon the heart's wound longs to sprout wings and scatter like the scent of a rose. It embodies motion, dispersion, and existential agitation.

Etymology

Persian compound formed from 'bāl' (wing) and 'fishānī' (scattering/fluttering, from the verbal stem 'fishāndan').

Usage

In classical Urdu ghazal, it frequently serves as a vivid metaphor for existential restlessness, captivity longing for release, or the scattering of an essence.

Examples

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Related Words