Word Meaning
सर-गुज़श्त
sar-guzasht
Meaning
An account of events, narrative, life story, adventure, or personal history.
Detailed Meaning
In Urdu classical poetry, 'sar-guzasht' denotes a personal narrative, life story, or chronicle of lived experiences. In Mir's couplet, it refers to the poignant account of the lover's own suffering, which is contrasted with ordinary lullaby-like tales; while bedtime stories are supposed to bring sleep, hearing his tragic reality drives sleep away entirely. It emphasizes the heartrending impact of genuine lived grief over romanticized fiction.
Etymology
Persian compound formed from 'sar' (head) and 'guzasht' (passed, elapsed), literally meaning 'that which has passed over one's head'.
Usage
Commonly invoked in the ghazal to introduce the lover's narrative of endurance, affliction, and fate.
Examples
Listening to my life's sorrowful tale, they began to weep.
How can I narrate the story of my grief-stricken existence?