बख़्त

Meaning

Fate, fortune, destiny, or luck.

Detailed Meaning

In classical Urdu poetry, 'bakht' refers to destiny or fortune, often personified as an active force that is either awake and favorable or asleep and indifferent. In this verse, Ghalib conceives of his slumbering fate ('bakht-e-khufta') as a lender from whom he contemplates borrowing a rare moment of joy. It serves as a melancholic reflection on enduring misfortune and poverty of hope.

Etymology

Persian 'baxt' (portion, fortune, fate), derived from Middle Persian 'baxt' (destiny, allotment).

Usage

In the ghazal tradition, 'bakht' is predominantly depicted as adverse, frequently combined with 'khufta' (sleeping), 'siyah' (black), or 'bargashtha' (turned away).

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Related Words