Word Meaning
मअ'नी
ma'ni
Meaning
Meaning, inner sense, essence, or significance behind words.
Detailed Meaning
In classical Urdu poetics, 'ma'ni' denotes the inner significance, esoteric truth, or conceptual depth of an expression, frequently contrasted with 'lafz' (the outer shell of language). In this couplet, Ghalib envisions his words not as mere language but as a magical treasure-trove of boundless interpretive possibilities. It captures the prized poetic virtue of 'ma'ni-afrini'—the generation of rich, layered meanings from concise phrasing.
Etymology
Arabic, derived from the triconsonantal root 'a-n-y (ع-ن-ي), signifying intent, concern, or inner substance.
Usage
In the ghazal tradition, 'ma'ni' is often contrasted dialectically with 'lafz' (word) or 'surat' (form), stressing substantive thematic depth over purely ornamental wordplay.
Examples
A river of meaning hidden beneath simple speech.
Without true meaning, beautiful words remain empty forms.