Word Meaning
बिस्तार
bistār
Meaning
Expansion, elaboration, widespread diffusion, or extensive detail.
Detailed Meaning
In classical poetry, 'bistār' (derived from Sanskrit 'vistāra') denotes diffusion, prolongation, or the spreading out of a narrative. In this couplet, it refers to how a mere whisper or undertone from the beloved's lips unfolded into a widespread, amplified public conversation. It emphasizes the contrast between a barely audible murmur and its vast, gossiped proliferation.
Etymology
Sanskrit (vistāra, meaning spreading or expansion), adapted into Hindi-Urdu (Rekhta) as a Tadbhava form.
Usage
In Urdu ghazal, it is occasionally employed to convey the proliferation of rumors, grief, or elaborate storytelling.
Examples
a mere whisper gained such expansion
the spread of sorrow throughout the night