समक

Meaning

A fish; an aquatic creature; also the cosmic fish sustaining the world.

Detailed Meaning

In classical Urdu and Persian poetry, 'samak' refers to a fish. In this couplet, it represents a fish whose fins ('par') are submerged in water, setting up an exquisite wordplay on 'flying' ('uṛā jātā hoon') and wings. It is also famous in cosmological imagery alongside the moon in the phrase 'māh tā samak'.

Etymology

Arabic origin (سَمَك), meaning fish or aquatic animal.

Usage

Frequently used in classical ghazals both for literal depictions of a fish writhing without water and in cosmological idioms like 'māh-o-samak'.

Examples

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Related Words