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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Iraivanukke Therinthu

From Sisubalan · 1974

Lyricist
Poovai Senguttavan
Singer
Rajesh Krishnan
Music director
Kunnakudi Vaithiyanathan
Details
Sisubalan1974

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Iraivanukke therinthu vidumGod Himself will come to know,
Ennamellaam purinthuvidumAll thoughts will be understood.
En nilaiyil avan irunthaalIf he were in my situation,
Avan manamum kallaagumEven his heart would turn to stone.
En nilaiyil avan irunthaalIf he were in my situation,
Avan manamum kallaagumEven his heart would turn to stone.
Male
Thamaraiyil nooleduththaeExtracting thread from a lotus stem,
Thari neithaal palanumillaiWeaving it on a loom yields no fruit.
Paamarnin kangalukkuTo the eyes of an ignorant person,
Paava puniyam therivathillaiSin and virtue are not discernible.
Paamarnin kangalukkuTo the eyes of an ignorant person,
Paava puniyam therivathillaiSin and virtue are not discernible.
Oruvar seitha paava punyamThe sin or virtue committed by one person
Mattravarkke saervathillaiDoes not get attached to another.
Male
Iraivanukke therinthu vidumGod Himself will come to know,
Ennamellaam purinthuvidumAll thoughts will be understood.
En nilaiyil avan irunthaalIf he were in my situation,
Avan manamum kallaagumEven his heart would turn to stone.
Avan manamum kallaagumEven his heart would turn to stone.
Male
Thanneerum ulaginilaeIn this world, even water
Moondru murai pizhai porukkumForgives a mistake three times.
Thanneerum ulaginilaeIn this world, even water
Moondru murai pizhai porukkumForgives a mistake three times.
Male
Kannano nooru muraiBut Lord Krishna will, a hundred times,
Naan seiyum pizhai poruppaanForgive the mistakes I commit.
Kannano nooru muraiBut Lord Krishna will, a hundred times,
Naan seiyum pizhai poruppaanForgive the mistakes I commit.
Male
Ponnaana manaiyaalumEven a golden wife
Munnoru pizhai poruppaalWill forgive a past mistake.
Ponnaana manaiyaalumEven a golden wife
Munnoru pizhai poruppaalWill forgive a past mistake.
En thaayum enakkagaHow many mistakes will my mother
Eththanaithaan pizhai poruppaalForgive on my behalf?
En thaayum enakkagaHow many mistakes will my mother
Eththanaithaan pizhai poruppaalForgive on my behalf?
Male
Iraivanukke therinthu vidumGod Himself will come to know,
Ennamellaam purinthuvidumAll thoughts will be understood.
En nilaiyil avan irunthaalIf he were in my situation,
Avan manamum kallaagumEven his heart would turn to stone.
Avan manamum kallaagumEven his heart would turn to stone.
Avan manamum kallaagumEven his heart would turn to stone.
Avan manamum kallaagumEven his heart would turn to stone.
Avan manamum kallaagumEven his heart would turn to stone.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song reflects on fate, human suffering, divine forgiveness, and individual moral responsibility. The speaker lamentably declares that if God were to step into his shoes and experience his grief, even divine compassion would harden into stone. The lyrics use poignant metaphors, highlighting that an ignorant person cannot distinguish between virtue and vice, and that one person cannot bear the karmic weight of another's deeds. Further, the text contrasts human tolerance with divine and maternal forgiveness, referencing the mythological standard where Lord Krishna tolerated Sisupala's hundred offenses. Ultimately, the song serves as a profound contemplation on grief, the limits of human endurance, and the boundlessness of maternal love.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Mythological Allusion

Kannano nooru murai Naan seiyum pizhai poruppaan

Refers to the epic story of Krishna promising Sisupala's mother that he would forgive 100 offenses committed by Sisupala.

Metaphor

Thamaraiyil nooleduththae Thari neithaal palanumillai

Comparing futile efforts or unappreciated virtues to spinning lotus fibers on a weaver's loom, which yields no practical benefit.

Hyperbole / Personification

En nilaiyil avan irunthaal Avan manamum kallaagum

Attributes human-like forgiveness to water and asserts that even God's merciful heart would harden into stone.

Anaphora / Repetition

Avan manamum kallaagum

The line repetition emphasizes the overwhelming anguish and despair felt by the speaker.

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Trivia

The lyric directly invokes the story of Sisupala from the Mahabharata (hence matching the movie title 'Sisubalan'), where Krishna tolerates 100 mistakes before finally taking action. Composed by Kunnakudi Vaithiyanathan, known for integrating Classical Carnatic elements with thematic cinematic storytelling.

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