Word Meaning
मेहरबान
meharbān
Meaning
Kind, benevolent; a compassionate friend, well-wisher, or benefactor.
Detailed Meaning
In classical poetry, 'meharbān' denotes one who shows kindness, grace, or sympathy, often functioning substantively to mean a close confidant, sympathizer, or friend. In this couplet, it refers to the speaker's well-wishers and sympathetic companions to whom he will lament his grief before dying. It contrasts the comforting presence of friends with the cruelty of the beloved.
Etymology
Persian (mihr = love, sun, kindness + bān = keeper, possessor).
Usage
In the ghazal, it is used directly as an address of gratitude or ironically to contrast well-meaning companions with a merciless beloved.
Examples
O kind friend, listen to my tale of sorrow
He who once was kind and tender toward me