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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Aayiram Kannatha

From Mahasakthi Mariamman · 1986

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Mahasakthi Mariamman1986

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Aaiyiram kannatha angirundhu paathaThe thousand-eyed Goddess Mariamman watched from over there.
Aduthavanai keduthavanaeO one who ruined others!
Aram thavari nadanthavaneO one who walked straying from righteousness!
Aaiyiram kannatha angirundhu paathaThe thousand-eyed Goddess Mariamman watched from over there.
Female
Aaiyiram kannatha angirundhu paathaThe thousand-eyed Goddess Mariamman watched from over there.
Aduthavanai keduthavanaeO one who ruined others!
Aram thavari nadanthavaneO one who walked straying from righteousness!
Aduthavanai keduthavanaeO one who ruined others!
Aram thavari nadanthavaneO one who walked straying from righteousness!
Aaiyiram kannatha angirundhu paathaThe thousand-eyed Goddess Mariamman watched from over there.
Female
Thenai vedhaichavan thenai aruppaanHe who sowed foxtail millet will harvest foxtail millet.
Venai vedhaichavan venai aruppaanHe who sowed evil deeds will harvest calamitous sorrow.
Thenai vedhaichavan thenai aruppaanHe who sowed foxtail millet will harvest foxtail millet.
Venai vedhaichavan venai aruppaanHe who sowed evil deeds will harvest calamitous sorrow.
Female
Summa sollura pazhamozhiya moodaIs this just a foolishly spoken proverb, you fool?
Andha amma potta kanakkidhuthaan podaaThis is the divine ledger calculated by that Mother Goddess!
Nee vedhachadhu thaan velanjiruchirukudhu aruthukadaWhat you sowed has ripened, now go and harvest it!
Nee koduthathu thaan thirumbhi vandhadhu eduthukadaWhat you gave out has returned to you, now accept it!
Female
Aayiram kannatha angirundhu paathaThe thousand-eyed Goddess Mariamman watched from over there.
Aayiram kannatha angirundhu paathaThe thousand-eyed Goddess Mariamman watched from over there.
Female
Pona pirappila nee senja punniyamThe merit and good deeds you performed in your past life...
Rasa padhaviyai koduthathu...bestowed upon you the royal throne.
Naan naan endru sollura aanavam vandhuBut the arrogance of constantly boasting 'I, I' came along...
Ippa un puthiya keduthathu...and destroyed your wisdom now.
Female
Makkalukkaaga padhavi engiraThe realization that a ruler's position is meant for serving the people...
Ennam manasila irukkanum...should always reside within one's heart.
Adha maranthuvittavan maanam kettavanHe who forgets this truth is shameless...
Ipadithaan thidikkanum...and deserves to tremble in suffering like this.
Female
Suvadiyilae irukku adhaThis is inscribed in the palm-leaf scriptures...
Solli vechen unakku...and I have forewarned you about it.
Idhu suvadiyilae irukkuThis is inscribed in the palm-leaf scriptures...
Adha solli vechen unakku...and I have forewarned you about it.
Female
Karppulla pendugalaiVirtuous and chaste women...
Kadhara kadhara nee karppa azhichae...you destroyed their purity as they wailed in despair.
Kaiyedukkam bakthargalaiDevotees who raised their hands in pious prayer...
Kalanga kalanga nee vaatti vadhachae...you tormented and tortured them until they wept.
Female
Polladha mandhiringa viricha valaiyilaeIn the trap laid by evil ministers...
Unnai izhandhae unnai izhandhae...you lost your true self, you lost your true self!
Ellamae pona pinnae yengi thavikkiraeNow that everything is gone, you suffer in longing agony...
Kanna izhandhae kanna izhandhae...having lost your eyes, having lost your vision!
Female
Appo unnai izhandhae ippo kanna izhandhaeBack then you lost your soul, and now you have lost your sight!
Appo unnai izhandhae ippo kanna izhandhaeBack then you lost your soul, and now you have lost your sight!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This powerful devotional track from 'Mahasakthi Mariamman' serves as a solemn moral sermon on the inexorable law of Karma and divine justice. Sung from the perspective of a divine messenger or devotee of Goddess Mariamman (the 'thousand-eyed' deity who sees all human actions), the song addresses a fallen, arrogant ruler who misused his power, mistreated virtuous women, and tortured the innocent. It highlights how past good deeds brought him royalty, but present hubris and corrupt advice led to his downfall and physical blindness.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Adukkuthodar / Repetition for emphasis

Kadhara kadhara nee karppa azhichae

Words like 'kadhara kadhara' (wailing repeatedly) and 'kalanga kalanga' (weeping intensely) are repeated to heighten emotional distress.

Proverb / Pazhamozhi

Thenai vedhaichavan thenai aruppaan / Venai vedhaichavan venai aruppaan

The traditional Tamil proverb 'Thinai vithaithavan thinai aruppan, vinai vithaithavan vinai aruppan' (You reap what you sow) is directly adapted to emphasize inescapable karmic retribution.

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Nee vedhachadhu thaan velanjiruchirukudhu aruthukada

Rhyming of the second consonant sound across consecutive lines ('vedhaichadhu' / 'koduthathu') creates lyrical rhythm.

Contrast / Anthesis

Appo unnai izhandhae ippo kanna izhandhae

Juxtaposes internal moral blindness in the past ('appo unnai izhandhae') with literal physical blindness in the present ('ippo kanna izhandhae').

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Mahasakthi Mariamman' (1986) features iconic devotional compositions by legendary music director K. V. Mahadevan. This song utilizes classical storytelling tropes from Tamil folklore, where Goddess Mariamman is depicted as 'Aayiram Kannudaiyal' (the Goddess with a thousand eyes) who oversees righteousness and punishes hubris.

Keep listening

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