Word Meaning
रह-रवान
rah-ravān
Meaning
Wayfarers, travelers, or pilgrims journeying along a path.
Detailed Meaning
This is the Persian plural of 'rah-rav', signifying travelers, wayfarers, or spiritual seekers. In this couplet, it refers to mortal beings traversing the inevitable path of annihilation and dissolution ('raah-e-fanaa'). The poet depicts human existence as a brief, momentary rest stop for weary pilgrims heading toward ultimate non-existence.
Etymology
Persian: compound of 'rah' (path, way) and 'ravān' (from 'raftan', to go, or the plural suffix -ān attached to 'rah-rav').
Usage
Commonly used in classical ghazal to portray spiritual seekers or humans walking the arduous paths of mortal suffering, love, and transience.
Examples
rah-ravan-e-dasht-e-shauq (the wayfarers in the desert of desire)
rah-ravan-e-manzil-e-ishq (the pilgrims of the destination of love)