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3 Urdu couplets and shers with badnaam

badnaam: disrepute

Description of badnaam: Badnaam is an Urdu word meaning "disreputable," "infamous," or "having a bad name," often implying someone slandered or stained by scandal. Unlike positive terms like "mashhoor" , it carries a negative connotation of notoriety from wrongdoing or rumor. Differs from "badnaam" in casual slang, where it specifically evokes social ostracism due to moral lapses. In poetry, like ghazals, it laments lost honor, as in "badnaam mohabbat karne wale" for forbidden

1 / 3: badnaam

mat karo shama koon badnaam jalaati woh naheen

aap sin shauq patangon ko hai

jal jaane ka

don't blame the flame

for it does not burn anyone

the moths themselves

are eager to be consumed

Siraj Aurangabadi (4)

shama (m) (5)

lamp, candle, wax

koon (m) (3)

poetic form of ko

badnaam (3)

disrepute

aap (12)

respectful 'you'

shauq (m) (14)

passion, zeal

patangon (m) (1)

moths

jal (m) (4)

burn

Theme: Quest, Journey, & Destination (54)

2 / 3: badnaam

hum aah bhi karte hai to ho jaate hai badnaam

woh qatl bhi karte hai to

charcha nahin hota

even if i sigh a little

i am harshly censured

when he commits murder

there isn't even a murmur

Akbar Allahabadi (12)

aah (m) (7)

sigh

badnaam (3)

disrepute

qatl (m) (3)

murder

charcha (m) (2)

discussion

Theme: Oppression, Rebellion, & Freedom (61)

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3 / 3: badnaam

ishq ka zauq-e-nazaara muft mein hai badnaam

husn khud betaab hai

jalwa dikhaane ke liye

love gets a bad rap needlessly

for the pleasure of watching

though beauty herself is impatient

for her splendor to be seen

Asrarul Haq Majaz (6)

ishq (m) (34)

love

zauq (m) (6)

pleasure, delight, joy

nazaara (m) (1)

scene, panorama

muft (m) (1)

forfree, needlessly

badnaam (3)

disrepute

husn (m) (19)

beauty

khud (24)

myself

betaab (3)

restless

jalwa (m) (3)

bright, splendor

dikhaane (m) (3)

shown

Theme: Beauty, Charm, & Union (109)

4.5K

Featured Themes

Creativity, Philosophy, & Enlightenment (40)

Oppression, Rebellion, & Freedom (61)

Home, Country, & Belonging (30)

Friends, Family, & Community (139)

Loneliness, Separation, & Grief (118)

Hopes, Aspirations, & Dreams (37)

Miscellany (44)

Voice, Expression, & Language (78)

Grit, Resilience, & Courage (58)

Love, Passion, and Longing (113)

Heart, Mind, & Memory (66)

Religion, Reason, & Tradition (70)

Quest, Journey, & Destination (54)

Life, Learning, & Living (127)

Nature, World & Universe (50)

Beauty, Charm, & Union (109)

Alfaaz Ki Mehfil is a curated space for timeless poetry celebrating words, emotions, and the enduring beauty of expression. From classic Urdu couplets to modern reflections, it brings together generations of poetic voices that speak of love, longing, hope, and the human soul.

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badnaam: disrepute

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