Word Meaning
साँग
saang
Meaning
Theatrical performance, drama, spectacle, mimicry, or elaborate play.
Detailed Meaning
In classical Urdu and Hindustani idiom, 'saang' denotes a folk dramatic performance, masquerade, or pretense. In this couplet, it alludes to the proverb 'raat thodi aur swaang bahut' (the night is short and the play is long), illustrating how youth is fleeting while life's worldly dramas and pursuits are endlessly vast.
Etymology
Derived from Sanskrit 'स्वाङ्ग' (svāṅga) meaning one's own body or role-playing, developing through Prakrit into Hindustani as 'swāng' and 'sāng'.
Usage
In ghazal poetry, it is frequently employed idiomatically to satirize worldly illusions, pretenses, or the heavy burden of worldly affairs.
Examples
The world is nothing but a passing spectacle.
The night slipped away while the play remained unfinished.