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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Arthamulla Indhu Madham

From Athirshtam Azhaikirathu · 1976

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
V. Kumar
Movie name
Athirshtam Azhaikirathu
Movie release year
1976
Lyrics added on
18 Mar 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Arthamulla indhu madham enna sonnathu
Arthamulla indhu madham enna sonnathu
Adhu avaravar kadamaigalai vaguththu thanthathu
Aasai vanthu vedhiyinai aatti vaiththathu
Adhuthaan alliyida neruppai
Ingae mootti vaiththathu
Arthamulla indhu madham enna sonnathu
Tharumam unai thaedi un thaaram endru vanthathu
Thaai thanthai deivam ellaam needhaanae endrathu
Tharumam unai thaedi un thaaram endru vanthathu
Thaai thanthai deivam ellaam needhaanae endrathu
Than thalaiyil un pazhiyai thaangi kondu nindrathu
Thaangum varai thaangi vittu thaalaamal saainthathu
Arthamulla indhu madham enna sonnathu
Kattiyaval koduththathellaam vaaikku rushi
Adharkku kaiyalavu nee pottaai vaaikkarisi
Kattiyaval koduththathellaam vaaikku rushi
Adharkku kaiyalavu nee pottaai vaaikkarisi
Ullathellaam unakkaaga koduththu sendraal
Ullathellaam unakkaaga koduththu sendraal
Thanakku pottodu poovai mattum eduththu sendraal
Arthamulla indhu madham enna sonnathu….
Neruppendru solli solli solli naakkae vendhathadaa
Varugindrathendru solli solli puliyae vanthathadaa
Neruppendru solli solli solli naakkae vendhathadaa
Varugindrathendru solli solli puliyae vanthathadaa
Manthiraththil vantha sugam thanthiraththil ponathadaa
Manthiraththil vantha sugam thanthiraththil ponathadaa
Kaipidiththa manaiviyidam poi padiththa paavamadaa
Arthamulla indhu madham enna sonnathu….
What did the meaningful Hindu religion teach?
What did the meaningful Hindu religion teach?
It laid down the duties meant for everyone.
Desire came and swayed the learned priest,
And that is what stoked the fire,
...and set it ablaze right here...
What did the meaningful Hindu religion teach?
Virtue came searching for you in the form of a wife,
Believing you were her mother, father, and her god.
Virtue came searching for you in the form of a wife,
Believing you were her mother, father, and her god.
She stood bearing your blame upon her own head,
She endured it as long as she could, and fell when she could bear no more.
What did the meaningful Hindu religion teach?
All your wedded wife gave you was delicious food to taste,
In return, you offered her a handful of vaaikkarisi (funeral rice).
All your wedded wife gave you was delicious food to taste,
In return, you offered her a handful of vaaikkarisi (funeral rice).
She gave away everything she had for your sake and left,
She gave away everything she had for your sake and left,
Taking only her bindi and flowers with her.
What did the meaningful Hindu religion teach?
By crying 'fire' again and again, the tongue itself was burnt!
By crying that it was coming, the tiger actually arrived!
By crying 'fire' again and again, the tongue itself was burnt!
By crying that it was coming, the tiger actually arrived!
The joy brought by sacred vows was lost to cunning tricks!
The joy brought by sacred vows was lost to cunning tricks!
Such is the sin of lying to the wife whose hand you held!
What did the meaningful Hindu religion teach...?
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This philosophical song reflects on moral accountability, marital devotion, and the severe karmic consequences of deception. It invokes the principles of Hindu philosophy to question a husband who took his devoted wife for granted. The lyrics illustrate how a wife gives up everything, treats her husband as her whole universe, and silently bears his misdeeds until her death.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

“Arthamulla indhu madham / Adhu avaravar kadamaigalai”

Matching second consonants across lines, such as 'Arthamulla' and 'Adhu', or 'Tharumam' and 'Thaai'.

Monaai (Alliteration)

“Tharumam unai thaedi un thaaram endru vanthathu”

Repetition of initial consonant sounds across words in a single line, such as 'Tharumam', 'thaedi', 'thaaram'.

Wordplay / Juxtaposition

“Kattiyaval koduththathellaam vaaikku rushi / Adharkku kaiyalavu nee pottaai vaaikkarisi”

A sharp contrast between 'Vaaikku rushi' (tasty food for the mouth) and 'Vaaikkarisi' (rice placed in the mouth during funeral rites).

Idiomatic Allusion

“Varugindrathendru solli solli puliyae vanthathadaa”

Referencing the classic fable of crying wolf ('puli vanthathadaa') to signify self-fulfilling negative prophecies and deceit.

Did you know?

Trivia

Although the opening line 'Arthamulla Indhu Madham' shares its exact title with Kannadasan's iconic multi-volume book on Hindu spiritual philosophy, this song was actually written by his contemporary and competitor, lyricist Vaali.

Keep listening

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