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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ethanaiyo Piravi

From Arunagirinathar · 1964

Lyricist
T. K. Krishnasami
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Movie name
Arunagirinathar
Movie release year
1964
Lyrics added on
31 Aug 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Madhi irundhum pizhai seidha
Udan vandha thamakaikkum
Vasai thedi thandha paavi…ammaaa…
Unadhanbum arivuraiyum
Udharivittu paaviyandro…paaviyandro
Oorarum nagaithidavae
Uttraarum nagaithaarae…ammaa….
Uruthunaiyaam manaiyaalum
Nagaithaalae izhivandro
Ethanaiyoo piravi pettru
Izhaithidum theemaiyellam
Ippiravi ondru pettru
Athanaiyum mudithuvitten
Ethanaiyoo piravi pettru
Izhaithidum theemaiyellam
Ippiravi ondru pettru
Athanaiyum mudithuvitten
Enakkini piravi vendaam
Murugaa
Enakkini piravi vendaam
Iraivaa un arulaal
Enakkini piravi vendaam
Iraivaa un arulaal
Enakkini inbam vendum
Eenam ellam maraiya vendum
Enakkini inbam vendum
Eenam ellam maraiya vendum
Ethanaiyoo piravi pettru
Izhaithidum theemaiyellam
Ippiravi ondru pettru
Athanaiyum mudithuvitten
Muruga.. murugaa.. murugaa
Though I had good sense, I did wrong;
and to my own elder sister,
I brought only disgrace—I am such a sinner, oh Mother!
Your love and your wise counsel,
I brushed aside—am I not a sinner, am I not a sinner?
While the townspeople mocked me,
my own relatives laughed at me too, oh Mother...
Even my wife, my lifelong companion,
laughed in scorn—is this not utter shame?
All the sins one could commit
across countless lifetimes,
in this single birth alone,
I have committed them all.
All the sins one could commit
across countless lifetimes,
in this single birth alone,
I have committed them all.
I want no more births,
O Muruga!
I want no more births;
O Lord, by your grace,
I want no more births;
O Lord, by your grace,
grant me divine peace,
let all my shame fade away.
Grant me divine peace,
let all my shame fade away.
All the sins one could commit
across countless lifetimes,
in this single birth alone,
I have committed them all.
Muruga... Muruga... Muruga!
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song captures the intense moment of remorse and spiritual epiphany experienced by Arunagirinathar before his transformation into a revered saint. Acknowledging his past debauchery and disrespect toward his family—especially his mother, sister, and wife—he expresses deep anguish over the shame and public mockery he brought upon them. Realizing the weight of his sins, which feel equal to lifetimes of evil condensed into a single birth, he surrenders completely to Lord Muruga, pleading for liberation from the cycle of rebirth and asking for divine grace to erase his disgrace and grant eternal bliss.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Ethanaiyoo piravi pettru / Izhaithidum theemaiyellam / Ippiravi ondru pettru / Athanaiyum mudithuvittenwave structural alliteration across stanza starters with matching vowel lengths and sounds (E, I, I, A).

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Enakkini inbam vendum / Eenam ellam maraiya vendum

Anaphora (Repetition for Emphasis)

Enakkini piravi vendaam / Enakkini inbam vendum

Did you know?

Trivia

This song is a pivotal emotional high point in the 1964 biographical Tamil film 'Arunagirinathar'. T.M. Soundararajan (TMS) not only sang the legendary devotional tracks composed by G. Ramanathan but also portrayed the title role of the 15th-century saint-poet Arunagirinathar on screen.

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