शुमरी

Meaning

Counting, reckoning, or numbering.

Detailed Meaning

Derived from the Persian verb denoting counting, it signifies the act of tallying or numbering. In classical ghazals, it almost always forms part of the compound 'akhtar-shumari' (star-counting), alluding to the sleepless agony of the desolate lover gazing at the night sky. In this couplet, it depicts counting stars from a dark, hidden vantage point in prison.

Etymology

Persian, from the verbal root of 'shumardan' (to count, reckon).

Usage

Most frequently used as a bound element in compounds like 'akhtar-shumari' to symbolize the sleepless sorrow of separation.

Examples

Synonyms

Related Words