मलिए

Meaning

Rub, stroke, or massage (polite imperative or conditional form).

Detailed Meaning

In this couplet, 'मलिए' carries the sense of rubbing or caressing with warmth to soften wax. The poet suggests that even a cold and indifferent beloved will melt if treated with intimate tenderness and friction. It reflects the classical trope of tactile affection awakening an otherwise unmoved heart.

Etymology

From Sanskrit 'मर्दन' (mardana, crushing/rubbing), through Prakrit into Hindustani 'मलना' (malnā).

Usage

In classical ghazal, the verb is commonly seen either in the idiom of wringing hands in despair or as a tender, tactile touch.

Examples

Synonyms

Related Words