Word Meaning
सुला
sula
Meaning
To put to sleep; figuratively, to lay to rest or kill.
Detailed Meaning
In Urdu poetry, 'sula' (stem of 'sulānā', often appearing as 'sula denā') fundamentally means causing someone to sleep. Figuratively, it frequently signifies laying someone to eternal rest, silencing, or killing them. In this couplet, it stands in direct antithesis to 'jagā' (waking the calamity), meaning that the awakening of chaos consigned countless beloved souls to death.
Etymology
From Sanskrit 'स्वप्' (svap, to sleep), leading to Prakrit 'suvaï' and Hindustani intransitive 'sonā', with its causative stem 'sulānā'.
Usage
In classical ghazal, it is frequently juxtaposed with 'jagānā' (waking) to contrast calm with upheaval, or life with death.
Examples
A single sigh put countless desires to sleep forever.
The night came and put the grieving lover to rest.