Word Meaning

वीरान

vīrān

hiadjective

Meaning

Desolate, deserted, ruined, or uninhabited.

Detailed Meaning

In classical Urdu poetry, 'vīrān' denotes an aura of profound desolation, ruin, and abandonment. In this couplet, it describes the transience of human civilization, contrasting thriving settlements of the past with the decaying, ancient ruins of the present world. It frequently serves as a powerful metaphor for the broken, desolate interior landscape of the lover's heart.

Etymology

Persian 'vīrān' (ویران), meaning desolate, ruined, or barren.

Usage

A staple motif in the ghazal, often juxtaposed with 'ābād' (populated) to accentuate loss, grief, and the ephemerality of worldly glory.

Examples

A desolate path where footprints have vanished.

The ruined heart bereft of hope and joy.

Synonyms

उजाड़सुनसानबर्बादनिर्जन

Related Words

वीरानीवीरानगीवीरान-ए-कुहनदश्त
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