Word Meaning
म'ईशत
ma'ishat
Meaning
Livelihood, subsistence, means of living, or daily sustenance.
Detailed Meaning
In classical Urdu poetry, 'ma'ishat' refers to one's livelihood, sustenance, or daily survival. In the cited couplet, the poet bitterly remarks that sorrow and anger have become his very sustenance, ironically sustaining his existence. It carries both a literal economic meaning and a figurative sense of emotional nourishment.
Etymology
Arabic, derived from the triconsonantal root ʿ-y-sh (ع-ي-ش), meaning to live, subsist, or dwell.
Usage
Commonly encountered in classical poetry in the compound 'fikr-e ma'ishat' (anxiety over livelihood), symbolizing worldly burdens that conflict with love and contemplation.
Examples
Fret not over earthly livelihood when life itself is fleeting.
Sorrow became the sole livelihood of my weary soul.