Word Meaning
सुब्हा-गर्दां
subḥa-gardāñ
Meaning
Turning prayer beads; one engaged in counting the rosary in devotion
Detailed Meaning
Literally means rotating or telling the beads of a rosary ('subha'). In this couplet, it denotes spending one's life in ascetic piety and prayer, which Mir contrasts with reaching for the wine flagon ('subu'). It highlights the poet's regret or irony of remaining confined to formal religiosity due to shortcomings or restraint.
Etymology
Compound of Arabic 'subḥah' (rosary, prayer beads) and Persian 'gardān' (turning/revolving, from 'gardīdan').
Usage
In classical Urdu ghazal, it is often paired antithetically with 'bāda-kash' (wine drinker) or 'subū' (wine flagon) to satirize orthodox asceticism.
Examples
subha-gardān-e-sahar (counting beads at dawn)
hazār subha-gardāñ (a thousand bead-turners)