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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Arava Baranan Thiruvadi

From Sivagami · 1960

Lyricist
Papanasam Sivan
Singer
M. K. Thiyagaraja Bagavathar
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Sivagami
Movie release year
1960
Lyrics added on
15 Jun 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Arava paranan thiruvadi maranthu
Arava paranan thiruvadi maranthu
Arivaiyar mogam kondazhivaarae
Arava paranan thiruvadi maranthu
Arivaiyar mogam kondazhivaarae
Aayiram kattrarindhenna payan
Aayiram kattrarindhenna payan
Pagutharivizhandhu uzhalvaarae
Mangaiyar maiyal ennum
Maayaiyil aazhndhavar
Sankaranai manam ninaivaaroo
Mangaiyar maiyal ennum
Maayaiyil aazhndhavar
Sankaranai manam ninaivaaroo
Nangaiyar kaadhal nirandhadhil paarai
Nangaiyar kaadhal nirandhadhil paarai
Manadhinil sivayogam payiraamoo
Manadhinil sivayogam payiraamoo
Vaadha noikulagil marandhundu
Vaadha noikulagil marandhundu
Pidivadha noiyagala marundhedhu
Pidivadha noiyagala marundhedhu
Saadhanaiyaaga sittrinbam pugazhbavar
Saadhanaiyaaga sittrinbam pugazhbavar
Kaadhinil gyaana mozhi yeradhae
Arava paranan thiruvadi maranthu
Arivaiyar mogam kondazhivaarae
Aayiram kattrarindhenna payan
Pagutharivizhandhu uzhalvaarae
Forgetting the holy feet of Shiva, adorned with serpents,
Forgetting the holy feet of Shiva, adorned with serpents,
They fall into lust for women and ruin themselves.
Forgetting the holy feet of Shiva, adorned with serpents,
They fall into lust for women and ruin themselves.
What is the use of learning a thousand things,
What is the use of learning a thousand things,
If they lose their good sense and wander in confusion?
Drowned in the deep illusion
Of infatuation with women,
Will their hearts ever remember Lord Shiva?
Drowned in the deep illusion
Of infatuation with women,
Will their hearts ever remember Lord Shiva?
If a heart is filled with desire for women,
If a heart is filled with desire for women,
Can devotion to Shiva ever grow in a heart of stone?
Can devotion to Shiva ever grow in a heart of stone?
There is medicine in this world for physical illness,
There is medicine in this world for physical illness,
But what cure is there for the disease of stubbornness?
But what cure is there for the disease of stubbornness?
For those who praise fleeting pleasures as great achievements,
For those who praise fleeting pleasures as great achievements,
Words of true wisdom will never enter their ears....
Forgetting the holy feet of Shiva, adorned with serpents,
They fall into lust for women and ruin themselves.
What is the use of learning a thousand things,
If they lose their good sense and wander in confusion?
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic devotional song composed by Papanasam Sivan emphasizes the fleeting nature of worldly sensory pleasures and lust versus the eternal bliss of devotion to Lord Shiva. The lyrics critique those who acquire extensive academic knowledge yet lose their ability to discern right from wrong due to sensory entanglements. It metaphorically compares worldly attraction to an incurable ailment and highlights that spiritual wisdom cannot enter a mind obsessed solely with superficial pleasures.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

“Arava paranan thiruvadi maranthu / Arivaiyar mogam kondazhivaarae”

The second consonant 'ra' matches across lines: 'Arava' and 'Arivaiyar'.

Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)

“Manadhinil sivayogam payiraamoo”

Spiritual practice in the mind is metaphorically described as cultivating a crop ('Sivayogam payiraamoo').

Rhetorical Question

“Pidivadha noiyagala marundhedhu”

Asking what medicine exists for stubborn infatuation to highlight its absolute lack of cure in worldly terms.

Did you know?

Trivia

This song from 'Sivagami' (1960) features the iconic Carnatic music maestro M. K. Thiyagaraja Bagavathar (MKT) towards the latter part of his cinematic career. The composition by Papanasam Sivan reflects classic Saiva Siddhanta philosophy.

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