Word Meaning
मर्तबा
martaba
Meaning
Degree, extent, rank, status, or measure
Detailed Meaning
In classical Urdu poetics, 'martaba' refers to rank, dignity, or the extent and degree of an emotion or state. In this couplet, 'kis martaba' expresses the immense intensity and supreme degree of the longing to see the beloved, enduring even after death. It emphasizes how profound this yearning was, causing the very flower rising from the poet's dust to gaze watchfully.
Etymology
Arabic مَرْتَبَة (martaba), derived from the root r-t-b, meaning a step, degree, rank, or position.
Usage
In ghazals, 'martaba' commonly denotes social or spiritual stature, and when paired with interrogatives ('kis martaba') signifies an extreme degree or intensity of emotion.
Examples
To what degree could passion endure such sorrow?
He attained a noble rank in the assembly of love.