Word Meaning
शेवा
sheva
Meaning
Habit, custom, practice, manner, or established way of conduct.
Detailed Meaning
In classical Persian and Urdu poetry, 'sheva' refers to an ingrained habit, personal conduct, or a chosen code of behavior. In this couplet, it denotes the lover's steadfast temperament and ethos of relentless seeking, refusing to settle into passive rest even when denied entry at the beloved's door. The term frequently signifies fidelity to an ideal, persistent longing, or an essential aspect of nature.
Etymology
Persian 'شیوہ' (shevah), meaning manner, habit, coquetry, or custom.
Usage
In ghazals, 'sheva' is conventionally invoked either to define the lover's uncompromising ethos of passion or the beloved's habitual cruelty and indifference.
Examples
It is not our way to bow to oppression.
The beloved's habit of cruelty remains unchanged.