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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Dharma Devan Koyilil

From Dharma Devan · 1989

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
K. S. Chithra
Music director
Sankar Ganesh
Details
Dharma Devan1989

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
…………………....
Female
Dharma devan koyililIn the temple of the Lord of Righteousness
Kaiyendhi ketkkirenI ask with hands outstretched in prayer
Unnai meendum vandha karnanaaiI gaze upon you at all times
Enneram paarkkirenAs Karna reincarnated once again
Illaiyendru ennalumae solladhavanOne who never said 'No' to anyone on any day
Selvamellam than sondhamaai kolladhavanOne who never claimed all wealth as his own
Vallal endru naalum per eduthaOne who earned fame daily as a supreme benefactor
Female
Dharma devan koyililIn the temple of the Lord of Righteousness
Kaiyendhi ketkkirenI ask with hands outstretched in prayer
Unnai meendum vandha karnanaaiI gaze upon you at all times
Enneram paarkkirenAs Karna reincarnated once again
Female
Dharmathai naan ketkaAs I ask for your virtues of righteousness
Kaiyil thaarai vaarthidaTo pour water over hands as a sacred oath of giving
Jenmangal illamal sorgam sendru ooiveduTake rest now in heaven, freed from further rebirths
Ingu neeyum vandha velai thaanThe purpose for which you came here to earth
Poorthi aanadhuHas now been completed
Innum neenda kaalam vaazhumaeFor a long time yet to come
Un keerthiyaanadhuYour glory and fame will endure
Female
Indru oor vittu nee sellaFor you to leave this town today
Thaer kondu vandhenaeI have brought a chariot
Thennaattu mannavanaeOh King of the Southern Realm!
Indru oor vittu nee sellaFor you to leave this town today
Thaer kondu vandhenaeI have brought a chariot
Thennaattu mannavanaeOh King of the Southern Realm!
Ezhai pillai yaarkum soru alithaOne who fed every poor child with rice
Female
Dharma devan koyililIn the temple of the Lord of Righteousness
Kaiyendhi ketkkirenI ask with hands outstretched in prayer
Unnai meendum vandha karnanaaiI gaze upon you at all times
Enneram paarkkirenAs Karna reincarnated once again
Illaiyendru ennalumae solladhavanOne who never said 'No' to anyone on any day
Selvamellam than sondhamaai kolladhavanOne who never claimed all wealth as his own
Vallal endru naalum per eduthaOne who earned fame daily as a supreme benefactor
Female
Dharma devan koyililIn the temple of the Lord of Righteousness
Kaiyendhi ketkkirenI ask with hands outstretched in prayer
Unnai meendum vandha karnanaaiI gaze upon you at all times
Enneram paarkkirenAs Karna reincarnated once again
Female
Thaaikku koyil kattiThe one who built a temple for his mother
Thottathilae vachavenaeAnd placed her idol in his garden
Thaai illaa pullaikkellaamThe one who became a mother
Thaayagi vandhavanaeTo every motherless child
Ezhai vaaikku arisiyittuThe one who put grain into poor mouths
Varumaiyai theerthavanaeAnd dispelled their lingering poverty
Un vaaikarisi naangal idaAs we now offer the final rice grains at your lips
Vaanagam thaan ponavanaeYou have departed to the heavenly abode
Alli alli thantha kai thaanThe hands that gave endlessly without pause
Asaiyaama kedakuthaiyaaNow lie still and motionless, oh lord
Aadi aadi vandha rathamThe chariot that arrived moving grandly
Aadaama irukkudhaiyaaNow stands frozen without movement
Female
Silukku sattaiyellaamWhile all the fine silk shirts
Seeraaga irukkaiyilaeRemain neatly arranged as before
Vacha kullaa vachappadiWhile the cap you wore
Vannamaai irukkaiyilaeRemains colorful as it always was
Rosaapoo maeni mattumOnly your rose-like body
Yaaththiraiyil vaadiduchuHas withered on this final journey
Raajiyatha aandavaninThe breath of the king who ruled this kingdom
Moochandangi pooyiduchaeHas come to a final standstill
Female
Podhum ozhaichadhunnuThinking you worked enough in this life
Ponnulagam poneengalaDid you depart for the golden realm?
Saami azhachadhinnuThinking the Almighty called upon you
Sorgathukku poneegalaDid you ascend to heaven?
Yen yaa en dhuraiyae idhuWhy, my lord? Does this act of departure
Unnakae nalla irukkaaSeem fair and right to you?
Ezhai sanangalukku inimael yaar irukkaaWho is left for the poor people hereafter?
Female
Dharma devan koyililIn the temple of the Lord of Righteousness
Kaiyendhi ketkkirenI ask with hands outstretched in prayer
Unnai meendum vandha karnanaaiI gaze upon you at all times
Enneram paarkkirenAs Karna reincarnated once again
Illaiyendru ennalumae solladhavanOne who never said 'No' to anyone on any day
Selvamellam than sondhamaai kolladhavanOne who never claimed all wealth as his own
Vallal endru naalum per eduthaOne who earned fame daily as a supreme benefactor
Female
Dharma devan koyililIn the temple of the Lord of Righteousness
Kaiyendhi ketkkirenI ask with hands outstretched in prayer
Unnai meendum vandha karnanaaiI gaze upon you at all times
Enneram paarkkirenAs Karna reincarnated once again

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a deeply emotional elegy honoring a benevolent leader and patron whose generosity mirrored that of the legendary mythological philanthropist Karna. The speaker mourns at the temple of righteousness, lamenting the passing of a noble ruler who dedicated his entire life to feeding poor children, eradicating poverty, and comforting motherless souls. The imagery contrasts the enduring neatness of the leader's earthly possessions—his silk shirts and iconic cap—with the stillness of his once-generous hands and withered body, highlighting the tragedy of mortality for a revered figure.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor / Allusion (உவமை / புராணக் குறிப்பு)

Unnai meendum vandha karnanaai

Comparing the benevolent leader to Karna (a heroic character from Mahabharata famous for his boundless generosity).

Contrast / Antithesis (முரண்)

Alli alli thantha kai thaan / Asaiyaama kedakuthaiyaa

Contrasting the hands that used to give generously with their current motionless, lifeless state.

Emonative imagery / Synecdoche (உருவகம் / உவமை ஆகுபெயர்)

Rosaapoo maeni mattum / Yaaththiraiyil vaadiduchu

Describing the physical attributes of the leader like his rose-like body (Rosaapoo maeni) fading during the final journey.

Rhyme / Alliteration (எதுகை / மோனை)

Thaaikku koyil katti / Thottathilae vachavenae

Repetition of initial consonant and second-letter sound patterns across adjacent lines (Thaaikku / Thottathilae / Thaai illaa / Thaayagi).

Did you know?

Trivia

The lyrics strongly reference the real-life persona, iconography, and public legacy of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. G. Ramachandran (MGR), notably highlighting the mid-day meal scheme ('Ezhai pillai yaarkum soru alitha'), his trademark velvet cap ('Vacha kullaa'), silk shirts ('Silukku sattaiyellaam'), and his famous devotion to his mother Ramamirtham ('Thaaikku koyil katti').

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