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IsaimozhiLyrics · Translation · Meaning

Lyrics & meaning

Dharma Devan Koyilil

From Dharma Devan · 1989

Lyricist: Vaali
Singer: K. S. Chithra
Music director: Sankar Ganesh
Movie name: Dharma Devan
Movie release year: 1989
Lyrics added on: 15 Aug 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics

↻ English translation

………………….

Dharma devan koyilil

Kaiyendhi ketkkiren

Unnai meendum vandha karnanaai

Enneram paarkkiren

Illaiyendru ennalumae solladhavan

Selvamellam than sondhamaai kolladhavan

Vallal endru naalum per edutha

Dharma devan koyilil

Kaiyendhi ketkkiren

Unnai meendum vandha karnanaai

Enneram paarkkiren

Dharmathai naan ketka

Kaiyil thaarai vaarthida

Jenmangal illamal sorgam sendru ooivedu

Ingu neeyum vandha velai thaan

Poorthi aanadhu

Innum neenda kaalam vaazhumae

Un keerthiyaanadhu

Indru oor vittu nee sella

Thaer kondu vandhenae

Thennaattu mannavanae

Indru oor vittu nee sella

Thaer kondu vandhenae

Thennaattu mannavanae

Ezhai pillai yaarkum soru alitha

Dharma devan koyilil

Kaiyendhi ketkkiren

Unnai meendum vandha karnanaai

Enneram paarkkiren

Illaiyendru ennalumae solladhavan

Selvamellam than sondhamaai kolladhavan

Vallal endru naalum per edutha

Dharma devan koyilil

Kaiyendhi ketkkiren

Unnai meendum vandha karnanaai

Enneram paarkkiren

Thaaikku koyil katti

Thottathilae vachavenae

Thaai illaa pullaikkellaam

Thaayagi vandhavanae

Ezhai vaaikku arisiyittu

Varumaiyai theerthavanae

Un vaaikarisi naangal ida

Vaanagam thaan ponavanae

Alli alli thantha kai thaan

Asaiyaama kedakuthaiyaa

Aadi aadi vandha ratham

Aadaama irukkudhaiyaa

Silukku sattaiyellaam

Seeraaga irukkaiyilae

Vacha kullaa vachappadi

Vannamaai irukkaiyilae

Rosaapoo maeni mattum

Yaaththiraiyil vaadiduchu

Raajiyatha aandavanin

Moochandangi pooyiduchae

Podhum ozhaichadhunnu

Ponnulagam poneengala

Saami azhachadhinnu

Sorgathukku poneegala

Yen yaa en dhuraiyae idhu

Unnakae nalla irukkaa

Ezhai sanangalukku inimael yaar irukkaa

Dharma devan koyilil

Kaiyendhi ketkkiren

Unnai meendum vandha karnanaai

Enneram paarkkiren

Illaiyendru ennalumae solladhavan

Selvamellam than sondhamaai kolladhavan

Vallal endru naalum per edutha

Dharma devan koyilil

Kaiyendhi ketkkiren

Unnai meendum vandha karnanaai

Enneram paarkkiren

…………….

In the temple of the God of Righteousness,

I ask with open, outstretched hands.

As Karna who has returned again,

I look at you at all times.

The one who never said 'no' on any day,

The one who didn't claim all wealth as his own,

Who earned the name of philanthropist every day,

In the temple of the God of Righteousness,

I ask with open, outstretched hands.

As Karna who has returned again,

I look at you at all times.

As I ask for charity,

Pouring water into the hand to give,

Go to heaven with no future births and take rest.

The work for which you came here

Has been completed;

Will live for a long time to come—

Your eternal fame!

Today, as you leave this town,

I brought a chariot.

O king of the Southern land!

Today, as you leave this town,

I brought a chariot.

O king of the Southern land!

Who gave food to all poor children,

In the temple of the God of Righteousness,

I ask with open, outstretched hands.

As Karna who has returned again,

I look at you at all times.

The one who never said 'no' on any day,

The one who didn't claim all wealth as his own,

Who earned the name of philanthropist every day,

In the temple of the God of Righteousness,

I ask with open, outstretched hands.

As Karna who has returned again,

I look at you at all times.

Building a temple for your mother,

Keeping it in the garden,

For all motherless children,

O one who came as a mother!

Feeding rice to poor mouths,

O one who eradicated poverty!

For us to place funeral rice in your mouth,

O one who departed to the heavens!

The hand that gave abundantly in handfuls,

Lies motionless, oh sir!

The chariot that moved and swayed as it came,

Now sits unmoving, oh sir!

While all silk shirts

Are intact and neat,

While the cap you wore remains as it was placed,

In colorful grace,

Only your rose-flower body

Has withered on this final journey!

The breath of the ruler of the kingdom

Has choked and stopped completely!

Thinking 'that's enough work',

Did you go to the golden world?

Saying 'God has summoned me',

Did you depart for heaven?

Why, oh sir, my lord, is this—

Does this seem right even to you?

Who is there for the poor people from now on?

In the temple of the God of Righteousness,

I ask with open, outstretched hands.

As Karna who has returned again,

I look at you at all times.

The one who never said 'no' on any day,

The one who didn't claim all wealth as his own,

Who earned the name of philanthropist every day,

In the temple of the God of Righteousness,

I ask with open, outstretched hands.

As Karna who has returned again,

I look at you at all times.

Chorus

Female

Female

Female

Female

Female

Female

Female

Female

Female

Female

Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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').

Keep listening

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