===
1098,
1
===

 

{1098,1}

aḥvāl nah pūchho kuchh ham z̤ulm-rasīdoñ kā
kyā ḥāl muḥabbat ke āzār-kashīdoñ kā

1) the state of us tyranny-receivers-- don't ask about it at all!

2a) what a state is that of the suffering-endurers of love!
2b) as if the suffering-endurers of love even have a 'state'!
2c) what is the state of the suffering-endurers of love?
2d) do the suffering-endurers of love have a 'state'?

 

Notes:

S. R. Faruqi:

The opening-verse is by way of introduction.

FWP:

SETS == INEXPRESSIBILITY; KYA
MOTIFS
NAMES
TERMS

This doubly insha'iyah verse makes use of two clever little devices. The verse rests first of all on the excellent versatility of kyā , which opens multivalent possibilities that include an exclamation of wonder or even admiration (2a); or an exclamation of indignant rejection (2b); or a a puzzled or meditative question (2c); or a more radical yes-or-no question (2d).

By no coincidence, all these possibilities interact suitably and enjoyably with the other device, the 'inexpressibility trope' that forbids the addressee to ask about something (because that thing is beyond words).

For further discussion, see the structurally somewhat similar

{1098,5}.

 

 
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