Word Meaning
बतलाएँ
batlaaen
Meaning
Should tell, explain, or express; subjunctive form of to tell.
Detailed Meaning
It is the subjunctive first-person form of the verb 'batlana' (to tell or inform), used here with 'hum' (we/I). In this couplet, it expresses helplessness and bewilderment at trying to explain one's own identity or state to the beloved. It carries a poignant rhetorical force, conveying that the speaker is utterly at a loss for words.
Etymology
Hindustani, causative formation derived from 'बात' (bāt, talk/matter), ultimately traceable to Sanskrit 'वार्ता' (vārtā).
Usage
Commonly employed in ghazals in the subjunctive mood to construct rhetorical questions highlighting romantic or existential helplessness.
Examples
What should we tell them of our heart's condition?
If they ask, what can anyone explain?