Meaning of
bait
बैत • بیت
English
verse; couplet
Hindi
शेर; दोहा
Urdu
شعر; دوہا
Origin
Arabic
Ash'aar
ham bhi gaav men shaam ko baitha karte the
hamko bhi haalaat ne baahar bheja hai
95
paron ko khol zamaana udaan dekhta hai
zameen pe baith ke kya aasmaan dekhta hai
283
teraa chup rahna mere zehan men kya baith gaya
itni aawaazen tujhe deen ki gala baith gaya
235
aur phir ek din baithe baithe mujhe
apni duniya burii lag gayi
jis..ko aabaad karte hue
mere maan-baap ki zindagi lag gayi
207
zaraa thehro ki shab feeki bahut hai
tumhein ghar jaane kii jal
dii bahut hai
zaraa nazdeek aakar baith jaao
tumhaare shahar men sar
dii bahut hai
173
main bhi ik shakhs pe ik shart laga baitha tha
tum bhi ik roz isee khel men haaroge mujhe
eed ke din ki tarah tumne mujhe zaayaa' kiya
main samajhta tha muhabbat se guzaaroge mujhe
129
suhaagan bhi bataa degi magar tum poochho vidhwa se
ye mangalsutra zever ke alaava bhi bahut kuchh hai
ye kya ik maqbare ko aakhri had maan baithe ho
mohabbat sang-e-marmar ke alaava bhi bahut kuchh hai
127
chaai peete hain kahii baith ke dono bhaai
ja chuki hai na to bas chhod chal aa jaane de
120
vo paas kya zaraa sa muskuraa ke baith gaya
main is mazaaq ko dil se laga ke baith gaya
darkhat kaat ke jab thak gaya lakadhara
to ik darkhat ke saa.e men ja ke baith gaya
100
faasle aise bhi honge ye kabhi socha na tha
saamne baitha tha mere aur vo meraa na tha
95
ham bhi gaav men shaam ko baitha karte the
hamko bhi haalaat ne baahar bheja hai
95
paron ko khol zamaana udaan dekhta hai
zameen pe baith ke kya aasmaan dekhta hai
283
Nuance
In its original sense, 'bait' refers to a single unit of poetry, a couplet that stands alone yet is part of a larger composition. In poetry, it captures a complete thought or emotion within its concise structure, often leaving a lingering impact.
Poetic Usage
Poets use 'bait' to encapsulate profound emotions or philosophical thoughts. It serves as a building block in ghazals and other poetic forms, often contrasting or complementing other couplets.
Closing Insight
A 'bait' is a universe in itself, capturing the essence of poetry in its brevity.