Word Meaning
संग
sang
Meaning
Stone, rock, or pebble; symbol of hardness, weight, or insignificance.
Detailed Meaning
In classical Urdu and Persian poetry, 'sang' denotes a stone or rock, serving as a multifaceted metaphor for hardness, cruelty, or physical heaviness. In this couplet, it refers specifically to an unvalued wayside stone ('sang-e-sar-e-rah'), whose physical weight and uselessness mirror the speaker's own unappreciated gravity. It is also famously paired with 'shisha' (glass) to represent the lover's vulnerable heart facing the world's harshness.
Etymology
Persian 'sang' (سنگ), from Middle Persian 'sang' / 'sag'.
Usage
Commonly contrasted with 'shisha' (glass) to denote fragility versus cruelty, or used with street imagery to show utter humiliation.
Examples
sang-e-dar (the stone of the beloved's doorstep)
sang-e-malamad (the stone of reproach)