Word Meaning
मोहरा
mohra
Meaning
A chess piece, pawn, or counter used on a game board.
Detailed Meaning
In Urdu poetry, 'mohra' primarily denotes a chess piece or pawn on the board of life and fate. In this verse by Iqbal, it represents the intellectual maneuvers and rationalist arguments of speculative philosophy that lose their significance before spiritual wisdom. It highlights how the calculated moves of formal logic vanish when confronted with the truth of intuitive love.
Etymology
Persian 'muhra' (مہرہ), denoting a polished bead, shell, vertebra, or gaming piece.
Usage
In classical Urdu poetry, it is frequently employed as an allegory for human helplessness under the moves of fate on the chessboard of existence.
Examples
A helpless pawn moved by destiny's hand.
The board cleared out with no piece left to play.