Word Meaning
बहका
bahkā
Meaning
Astray, disoriented, or intoxicated; wandering aimlessly without control.
Detailed Meaning
In this couplet, 'बहका' describes an intoxicated wanderer who has lost his bearings and sense of discrimination. It conveys both the physical staggering caused by wine and the psychological bewilderment of the lover. The speaker is addressed as one whose senses are clouded, mistaking everyday things for wine decanters or mirrors.
Etymology
Sanskrit 'भ्रष्ट' (bhraṣṭa) / 'भ्राम्यति' (bhrāmyati) through Prakrit, evolving into Hindi-Urdu 'बहकना' (to err, wander, stray).
Usage
In classical Urdu ghazal, it frequently symbolizes the lover's sweet derangement and loss of worldly logic under the influence of wine or passion.
Examples
बहका हुआ दिल किसी की बात नहीं सुनता
क़दम-क़दम पर बहका बहका सा अंदाज़