Word Meaning
सारी
saarii
Meaning
Whole, entire, all (feminine form modifying a feminine noun).
Detailed Meaning
In Urdu and Hindi, 'सारी' is the feminine adjective denoting totality or entirety. In this couplet, it modifies 'बस्ती' (settlement/town), emphasizing that across the entire inhabited colony, it is only the lover's dwelling that lies in utter ruin. The word heightens the contrast between the bustling totality of the town and the solitary desolation of the poet's abode.
Etymology
Derived from Sanskrit 'सर्व' (sarva, all/whole) through Middle Indo-Aryan/Prakrit forms into Hindustani.
Usage
In classical ghazal poetry, 'सारी' commonly emphasizes unbroken duration (e.g., 'सारी रात') or comprehensive scope when contrasting the beloved's whole world with the lover's plight.
Examples
saarii raat taare gin-gin kar kaatnaa
saarii bastii mein charche the