Word Meaning
सदमा
sadma
Meaning
A severe shock, trauma, blow, or affliction.
Detailed Meaning
In classical Urdu poetry, 'sadma' denotes a heavy blow, sudden collision, or an overpowering psychological trauma. In Ghalib's verse, it hyperbolically portrays the lover's extreme frailty, where even the subtle motion of the beloved's lips acts as a fatal, crushing impact. It emphasizes the fatal delicacy of the lover who perishes from the faintest gesture.
Etymology
Arabic (ṣadmah / صدمة), from the triconsonantal root ṣ-d-m meaning 'to strike, dash against, or collide with'.
Usage
In the ghazal tradition, 'sadma' is often combined in an izafat construction (like 'sadma-e-hijr') to describe the lethal emotional impact of separation or unrequited love.
Examples
The sudden blow of grief was unbearable.
His heart could not survive the shock of separation.