Word Meaning
रातों
raaton
hinoun
Meaning
Nights; at night (oblique plural form of night).
Detailed Meaning
In classical Urdu verse, 'raaton' refers to recurring nights, frequently marking prolonged periods of sleepless grief or contemplation. In this couplet, combined with 'ko', it denotes nocturnal lamentations, depicting how bloody wails emerge night after night in pursuit of touching the beloved's heart.
Etymology
Sanskrit रात्रि (rātri) > Prakrit रत्ति (ratti) > Hindi/Urdu रात (rāt).
Usage
Commonly paired with the postposition 'ko' ('raaton ko') to describe nocturnal crying, longing, or solitary sleeplessness in the ghazal tradition.
Examples
crying throughout the nights
passing restless nights in grief
Synonyms
शबोंरैनों
Related Words
रातशबशब-बेदारी