Word Meaning
मबादा
mabada
Meaning
Lest, for fear that, God forbid that.
Detailed Meaning
In classical Urdu and Persian poetry, 'mabada' functions as a prohibitive or apprehensive conjunction meaning 'lest' or 'may it not be that'. In this couplet, the poet asks permission to let out his cries of pain, fearing that his concealed grief might inadvertently reveal itself on the beloved's face. It underscores an acute anxiety about an undesired outcome.
Etymology
Persian, formed from the prohibitive prefix 'ma-' and 'bādā' (optative form of būdan, 'to be'), literally meaning 'may it not be'.
Usage
Commonly employed in the ghazal tradition to frame a cautionary warning or delicate apprehension regarding the beloved's reputation or fragility.
Examples
Speak softly, lest the secret be revealed to rivals.
Do not sigh heavily, lest the delicate mirror shatter.