Word Meaning
रूबाही
rūbāhī
hinoun
Meaning
Craftiness, cunning, deceit, or cowardice like that of a fox.
Detailed Meaning
Derived from the Persian word for fox, 'rūbāhī' signifies slyness, craftiness, or timid cowardice, used as a traditional antithesis to 'sherī' (lion-hearted valor). In this couplet, it highlights the moral decay of traditional religious institutions, lamenting that noble courage and majesty have been supplanted by base timidity and deceit.
Etymology
Persian (from 'rūbāh', meaning fox, with the abstract suffix '-ī').
Usage
In classical and modern Urdu verse, particularly Iqbal's, it is frequently set against 'sherī' to contrast cowardice with valor.
Examples
The era of lion-hearted valor is gone; only fox-like cunning remains.
Empires are not sustained through mere trickery and cowardice.
Synonyms
मक्कारीअय्यारीबुज़दिलीफ़रेब
Related Words
रूबाहशीरीशाहीनशिकार