Word Meaning
सादा-ज़ेहनी
sāda-zehnī
Meaning
Simple-mindedness, naivety, or guileless simplicity of the mind.
Detailed Meaning
Denotes an unpretentious, innocent, or simple state of intellect that lacks cunning or convoluted artifice. In this couplet, it highlights an earlier phase of naive or basic comprehension before the acquisition of formal learning and critical discernment. It contrasts innocent understanding with learned fault-finding.
Etymology
Persian 'sādah' (plain, simple) combined with Arabic 'dhihn' (mind, intellect) and the Persian abstract noun suffix '-ī'.
Usage
In classical Urdu poetry, it evokes the charm or tragedy of innocence set against the shrewdness of worldly wisdom.
Examples
His simple-mindedness could not perceive the worldly deception.
Those were days of naive thought and innocent joy.