Word Meaning
शमअ
sham'a
Meaning
A candle or lamp; symbol of burning passion or divine light
Detailed Meaning
In Persian and Urdu poetry, 'sham'a' refers to a candle or flame, embodying both illumination and self-consuming passion. It is traditionally paired with the moth (parvaana) to symbolize the beloved's radiant beauty and the lover's sacrifice. In this couplet, it represents the burning flame whose eternal fire and very lifeblood are drawn from the beloved's glowing countenance.
Etymology
Arabic origin (شمع / sham'a), meaning wax or candle.
Usage
A central trope in the ghazal, frequently paired with the 'parvaana' to depict beauty's fatal attraction and the pain of sacrificial love.
Examples
The candle kept burning in the lonely gathering till dawn.
The moth drew near the radiant flame of the candle.