Word Meaning
मस्तों
mastoñ
Meaning
Intoxicated ones, drunkards, or spiritual ecstatics (oblique plural form).
Detailed Meaning
The word is the oblique plural form of 'mast', denoting those who are drunk, intoxicated, or submerged in spiritual ecstasy. In this couplet, it refers to the tavern-goers and free-spirited drunkards who engage in playful banter or verbal sparring with the strict muezzin. Classical ghazal frequently highlights these figures as sincere seekers who reject outward pretense.
Etymology
Persian 'mast' (مست), meaning drunk, excited, or intoxicated, tracing back to Indo-Iranian roots denoting intoxication.
Usage
In classical Urdu poetry, 'mast' represents the antinomian lover or sincere drunkard who stands in moral and philosophical opposition to rigid orthodoxy.
Examples
the gathering of the intoxicated
the ecstasy of free-spirited lovers