Word Meaning
सिकंदर
Sikandar
Meaning
Alexander the Great; legendary conqueror who sought the water of life.
Detailed Meaning
Refers to Alexander the Great, a prominent figure in Persian and Urdu poetic tradition. In this couplet, it alludes to the legend where Khizr guided Sikandar to find the Water of Life (Aab-e-Hayat), yet Sikandar failed to attain immortality. The poet invokes this failure ironically to question whether any guide can truly be trusted.
Etymology
Greek 'Alexandros' borrowed into Arabic and Persian as 'Iskandar'/'Sikandar', entering Urdu via Persian.
Usage
Frequently employed in ghazals as a poetic allusion (talmih) alongside Khizr or Dara to illustrate the vanity of worldly dominion or the limits of mortal destiny.
Examples
Sikandar left this worldly realm empty-handed.
Neither Dara remained nor the glory of Sikandar.