Word Meaning
शाही
shāhī
hinoun, feminine
Meaning
Sovereignty, kingship, royalty, or supreme dignity.
Detailed Meaning
In classical Urdu poetry, 'shāhī' signifies imperial rule, royal grandeur, and sovereignty. In this couplet, it represents the spiritual majesty and noble stature achieved through preservation of self-respect (khudī). Without such integrity, sovereign elevation collapses into utter degradation and disgrace.
Etymology
Persian, formed from 'shāh' (king, monarch) with the abstract noun suffix '-ī'.
Usage
In ghazal and philosophical poetry, 'shāhī' is frequently contrasted with 'darveshī' (ascetic poverty) or 'gadāī' (beggary) to weigh worldly power against spiritual dignity.
Examples
The spiritual sovereignty of a mendicant
Worldly kingship without honor is meaningless
Synonyms
सल्तनतहुकूमतबादशाहीसरदारी
Related Words
शाहबादशाहशहंशाहख़ुदी