मोर

Meaning

Ant; a tiny insect symbolizing frailty, helplessness, or mortality.

Detailed Meaning

In classical Persian and Urdu poetry, 'mor' (pronounced moor) denotes an ant, frequently invoked as an emblem of sheer insignificance and vulnerability. In this couplet, it refers to the ant of the grave; the poet reflects on how even a robust, mighty body is ultimately helpless before the claim and consumption of a mere ant. Though occasionally mistaken in modern readings for the Hindi word for peacock, the context of 'uhda-e-mor' (discharging an obligation to an ant) confirms the classical Persian trope of mortal decay.

Etymology

Persian 'mūr' (مور), meaning ant (cognate with Sanskrit 'vamrī' and Latin 'formica').

Usage

In ghazal tradition, the ant (mor) is most famously contrasted with the pomp of Solomon (Sulaiman) or used to depict the final helplessness of the human body in the grave.

Examples

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Related Words