सितम-कश

Meaning

Enduring oppression or cruelty; a long-suffering person.

Detailed Meaning

The term denotes someone who tolerates torment, adversity, or injustice, especially within the tribulations of love. In this couplet, the speaker adopts the posture of enduring cruelty deliberately out of tactical prudence rather than pure helplessness. It frames the lover's forbearance as a strategic compromise while dealing with rivals and affairs of the heart.

Etymology

Persian compound formed from 'sitam' (tyranny, injustice) and 'kash' (from 'kashīdan', meaning to bear, pull, or endure).

Usage

In classical ghazal tradition, 'sitam-kash' typifies the faithful lover whose noble endurance of the beloved's cruelty is viewed as a mark of true passion.

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