Word Meaning
रा
rā
Meaning
To; for; Persian postposition marking the accusative or dative case.
Detailed Meaning
In Persian grammar and classical poetry, 'rā' functions as an enclitic postposition indicating the direct object or recipient, equivalent to 'ko' in Hindustani. In this couplet, it governs 'ahl-e-khirad' ('ahl-e-khirad rā'), meaning 'to the people of intellect', who are denied even a blade of grass by indifferent fortune. It is a fundamental grammatical marker frequently encountered in Persian ghazals and Persian-language verses by Indo-Persian masters.
Etymology
Persian (Middle Persian 'rāy', meaning 'for the sake of, on account of').
Usage
In classical verse, 'rā' is appended to nouns or noun phrases to designate the specific object or dative recipient in Persian phrasing.
Examples
ahl-e-hunar rā (to the artists / skilled)
dil-e-nādān rā (to the naive heart)