Word Meaning
शुनीदा
shuneeda
Meaning
heard; something that has been heard of or hearsay
Detailed Meaning
In Persian and Urdu poetry, 'shuneeda' is the past participle of 'shuneedan' (to hear), referring to that which is merely heard of rather than directly witnessed. In the cited couplet, it evokes the famous proverb 'shuneeda kai buvad manand-e deeda' (hearing can never equal seeing), emphasizing that hearsay about Joseph's beauty cannot compare to the visible reality of the beloved. The contrast between 'shuneeda' (heard) and 'deeda' (seen) forms a classical poetic motif of direct perception versus mere rumor.
Etymology
Persian (شنیدہ), past participle of the infinitive 'shuneedan' (شنیدن, to hear).
Usage
In ghazal poetry, it is most frequently paired in antithesis with 'deeda' (seen) to contrast hearsay or fame with firsthand visual experience.
Examples
What is merely heard can never rival what is seen.
Do not trust the heard report over the witnessed truth.