Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Aadum Alaigalil Neendhi

From Sabatham · 1971

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
S. Janaki
Music director
G. K. Venkatesh
Details
Sabatham1971

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Aadum alaigalil neendhi kondirunthaanIn the dancing waves, Krishna was swimming
Yamunaiyile kannanIn the Yamuna river, Lord Krishna
Aayar paadiyil gopiyar soola naduvinilae kannanSurrounded by gopis in the cowherd hamlet, Krishna stood in their midst
Pullan kulalisai meetuvathil thanai maranthan kannanLost in playing music on his bamboo flute, Krishna forgot himself
Pullan kulalisai meetuvathil thanai maranthan kannanLost in playing music on his bamboo flute, Krishna forgot himself
Poovaiyar gopiyar anbinilae thanai meimaranthan kannanIn the love of the gopi maidens, Krishna completely forgot himself
Mei maranthan kannanKrishna forgot himself completely
Female
Odiya vellathil vegathil kannanIn the fast-flowing current of water
Aadai naluviyathuKrishna's garment slipped away
Ovena sirithar gopiyarThe gopis laughed aloud out loud
Ovena sirithar gopiyarThe gopis laughed aloud out loud
Kannanai naanam thazhuviyathuShame enveloped Krishna
Naanam thazhuviyathuShame enveloped Krishna
Female
Karai vazhi vanthaal dhravpathiDraupadi came along the bank
Karai vazhi vanthaal dhravpathiDraupadi came along the bank
Kannan kavalaiyai paarkindralShe sees Krishna's distress
Selai munthanaiyai oru puram eduthuTaking one side of her saree pallu
Orathai pirikindralShe tears off a piece of the border
Devagi maindhanin maanathai kaakaTo save the modesty of Devaki's son
Neerinil erikindraal neerinil erikindraalShe throws it into the water, she throws it into the water
Female
Kanni dhravpathii en maanathai kaathaaiVirginal Draupadi, you saved my dignity
Kannan nandri sonnenKrishna said his gratitude
Kannan nandri sonnenKrishna said his gratitude
Kaalamarindhu udhaviku varuvenI shall come to your aid at the right time
Nandriku nandri solvenI will repay this gratitude with gratitude
Nandriku nandri solvenI will repay this gratitude with gratitude
Female
Soothadi thottru vittaanLosing at the game of dice
Paandava dharumanPandava king Dharmaputra
Andha thooyavalai aattathil ilandhu vittaanLost that pure woman in the game
Vaathadum avaithanilae koondhal pattriIn the debating royal court, holding her hair
Maathavalai iluthu vandhan dhuriyan thambiDuryodhana's younger brother dragged that noble woman
Female
Kovrava kulathalaivan dhuriyothanDuryodhana, the leader of the Kaurava clan
Kattalai idukindranGives an order
Iyvarin munnilaiyil aval aadaiyai pari endraanIn front of the five husbands, strip off her garments, he commanded
Annai thudikindral konda ivarai paarkindralThe mother quivers, looking at the husband she wedded
Thammai maranthavarai ivar thalai kuninthirukindrarForgetful of themselves, they sit with heads bowed low
Female
Kanna manivanna deva devaOh Krishna, gem-hued one, Lord of Lords
Hari hari hari hari endraalHari, Hari, Hari, Hari, she called out
Nandri solven endraaiYou said you would repay the debt of gratitude
Andha naalum iduvallavoIs not that day today?
Indru varavidilo kannaIf you do not come today, Oh Krishna
Innaiyor thunai undoIs there any other support for me?
Kanna kanna kanna kannaKrishna, Krishna, Krishna, Krishna
Female
Thodai meedhu vaaventra thuriyothanaOh Duryodhana who called me to sit on your thigh
Undhan thodai keeri ratham edupenI shall tear open your thigh and take blood
Thuchadhana undhan pachai ratham konduOh sinful Dushasana, taking your fresh blood
Kodhai en koonthal mudipenI, the maiden, shall bind my hair
Annai parasakthi aanaiBy the oath on Mother Parasakthi
Manam konda ivari meethile aanaiBy the oath on the husband I wedded
Anbu thunai konda mannan paranthamanBy the oath on Lord Krishna, the loving sovereign Lord
Kannanin meethil aanai aanai aanaiOn Krishna, I take this oath, oath, oath!
Female
Bharatha poril ventrathammaThe Pandavas' great army won in the Kurukshetra war
Andha paandavar perum senaiFelled by Arjuna's arrows
Paarthipan kanaiyil vizhinthathammaWas the vast army of the Kaurava clan
Andha kovravar kulathaanaiWith his mace, Bhima shattered the thighs
Beeman kathaiyil thodaiyai pilanthanOf Duryodhana himself
Thuriyothanan thannaiTears of victory obscuring her spear-like eyes
Vetri kanneer maraithu dhravpathi vel vizhiyal kannaiHer spear-like eyes
Vel vizhiyal kannaiTaking the blood of the sinner Dushasana
Female
Paavi thuchathanan ratham eduthuShe ties up her hair
Koonthal mudikindraalLooking at the face of Lord Vishnu once again
Paranthaman mugam paarthae marupadiShe offers her heartfelt thanks, offers her thanks
Nandri uraikkindraal nandri uraikkindraalThe story of Panchali triumphed in the Mahabharata war
Bharatha poril vendrathamma andha paanjali sarithamShining bright in the maiden's hair
Paavaiyin koonthalil minnuthammaIs that oath of Panchali, her oath, her oath!
Andha panjaaliyin sabadham sabadham sabadham

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This dance-drama song tells the mythological backstory of Draupadi's vow and Krishna's divine protection. It begins with a legendary incident where young Krishna loses his garment while swimming in the Yamuna, and Draupadi tearfully tears a piece of her saree to help him preserve his dignity. Touched by her gesture, Krishna promises to repay her gratitude when she needs it most. The scene then transitions to the famous Mahabharata episode in the Kaurava assembly, where Yudhisthira loses Draupadi in dice, and Dushasana attempts to disrobe her on Duryodhana's command. Draupadi calls out to Krishna, who miraculously supplies endless cloth to protect her modesty. Fueled by righteous fury, Draupadi swears a fierce vow not to bind her hair until it is washed in Dushasana's blood. The narrative concludes with the resolution of the Kurukshetra war, where Bhima slays Duryodhana and Dushasana, allowing Draupadi to fulfill her oath and express her ultimate gratitude to Krishna.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Emonai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Aadum alaigalil neendhi kondirunthaan / Aadai naluviyathu

Repetition of the second consonant 'da' / 'dha' across lines like Aadum / Aadai, creating rhythmic symmetry.

Monaai (Alliteration)

Pullan kulalisai meetuvathil thanai maranthan kannan

Repetition of the initial sound 'P' in 'Pullan kulalisai' and 'Poovaiyar'.

Anaphora / Repetition

Nandriku nandri solven

Dramatic repetition of 'Nandriku nandri solven' and 'aanai aanai aanai' to heighten emotional urgency and commitment.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Vetri kanneer maraithu dhravpathi vel vizhiyal kannai

'Vel vizhi' compares Draupadi's eyes to sharp spears, symbolizing her fierce determination and sorrow.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by G. K. Venkatesh for the 1971 Tamil movie Sabatham, this track is styled as a classical musical dance drama (Sangeetha Natakam) set to ragas like Kapi and Shanmukhapriya. It showcases S. Janaki's exceptional vocal versatility in theatrical storytelling, covering a full narrative arc from playful Yamuna folklore to the intense rage of Panchali's vow.

Keep listening

More from Sabatham