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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Deviyaval Mangalyam

From Devi Dharisanam · 1980

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Devi Dharisanam1980

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Deviyaval maangalyamI stole the sacred mangalsutra of that goddess-like woman
Thirudi manamudiththaenI stole it and married her
Deiva thirumagalinThe divine virtuous daughter's
Karpinaiyae naan koduththaenHonor and chastity, I compromised
Male
Kovilaiyum yaemattriDeceiving even the divine temple
Kulamagalai yaemaattriDeceiving a woman of noble descent
Paavam naan seithatharkkuFor the terrible sin I committed
Pazhi theerththaal deviyammaaThe Goddess mother took her vengeance
Male
Paavaththil vilai thannaiThe price and penalty for my sin
Pettruk kondaenI have received in full
Nalla paadaththai enakkullaeA valuable lesson within myself
KattrukkondaenI have learned now
Male
Deivaththai ariyaamalWithout understanding the divine truth
Pagaiththu kondaenI made an enemy of God
Manam thirunthi vittaenI have reformed my mind
Ammaa varunthi vittaenOh Mother, I am deeply remorseful
Male
Deivaththai ariyaamalWithout understanding the divine truth
Pagaiththu kondaenI made an enemy of God
Manam thirunthi vittaenI have reformed my mind
Ammaa varunthi vittaenOh Mother, I am deeply remorseful
Male
Paavaththin vilai thannaiThe price and penalty for my sin
PettrukkondaenI have received in full
Nalla paadaththai enakkullaeA valuable lesson within myself
Kattru kondaenI have learned now
Male
Thaalikkaiyiru ennai sudugindrathuThe sacred mangalsutra thread burns me inside
Antha thavaru en aayul varai varugindrathuThat mistake haunts me throughout my entire life
Thaalikkaiyiru ennai sudugindrathuThe sacred mangalsutra thread burns me inside
Antha thavaru en aayul varai varugindrathuThat mistake haunts me throughout my entire life
Male
Pothum naan seitha kuttram purigindrathuEnough, I now understand the crime I committed
Aavi poe aval kaalgalil vizhugindrathuMy soul leaves me and falls at her feet
Pothum naan seitha kuttram purigindrathuEnough, I now understand the crime I committed
Aavi poe aval kaalgalil vizhugindrathuMy soul leaves me and falls at her feet
Amma….devi….amma….devi….Mother... Goddess... Mother... Goddess...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a dramatic, guilt-ridden confession from a man who committed a grave sin by deceitfully marrying a virtuous, divine-like woman through unethical means. He realizes that by tricking a pure woman and desecrating the sanctity of marriage, he did not merely deceive a human being, but challenged God Himself. Now facing the agony of retribution, he acknowledges the harsh price he must pay for his transgression. Suffering from intense moral remorse, the protagonist expresses deep repentance. The sacred marriage thread (thaali) feels like fire burning his conscience, haunting him for the rest of his life. He surrenders completely, begging for forgiveness and laying his soul at the feet of the woman and the divine mother.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaibu (Rhyme / End Rhyme)

Thaalikkaiyiru ennai sudugindrathu / Antha thavaru en aayul varai varugindrathu

Matching rhyming suffixes at the end of consecutive lines ('sudugindrathu', 'varugindrathu', 'purigindrathu') create a rhythmic, solemn cadence that emphasizes agonizing emotional progression.

Metaphor

Thaalikkaiyiru ennai sudugindrathu

The mangalsutra thread ('thaalikkaiyiru') burning the narrator is a metaphor describing the unbearable heat of guilt and moral agony consuming his conscience.

Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Paavam naan seithatharkku / Pazhi theerththaal deviyammaa

The second letter consonant match ('va' in 'Paavam' and 'Pazhi') strengthens the poetic structure, connecting sin directly with its inevitable retribution.

Monai (Initial Letter Alliteration)

Kovilaiyum yaemattri / Kulamagalai yaemaattri

Alliteration of the initial letter 'K' in 'Kovilaiyum' and 'Kulamagalai' binds the dual act of deception (cheating the temple and cheating the noble family).

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by M. S. Viswanathan for the 1980 film 'Devi Dharisanam', this song highlights Kannadasan's mastery in translating intense human guilt and divine retribution into deeply emotional Tamil poetry, rendered powerfully by T. M. Soundararajan.

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