माही

Meaning

A fish; an aquatic creature.

Detailed Meaning

In Persian and classical Urdu poetry, 'māhī' denotes a fish. In phrases such as 'murgh-o-māhī' (bird and fish), it represents the aquatic world or lower depths contrasted with birds in the sky, symbolizing the entirety of physical creation. In this couplet, it points to the worldly realm of birds and beasts through which the aspiring soul must pass.

Etymology

Persian 'māhī' (ماهی), meaning fish, tracing back to Middle Persian 'māhīg'.

Usage

Frequently used in classical verse either in compounds like 'murgh-o-māhī' to denote the entire animal world, or in similes of restlessness ('māhī-e-be-āb' — a fish out of water).

Examples

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Related Words