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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Iraivanukke Therinthu

From Sisubalan · 1974

Lyricist
Poovai Senguttavan
Singer
Rajesh Krishnan
Music director
Kunnakudi Vaithiyanathan
Movie name
Sisubalan
Movie release year
1974
Lyrics added on
29 Mar 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Iraivanukke therinthu vidum
Ennamellaam purinthuvidum
En nilaiyil avan irunthaal
Avan manamum kallaagum
En nilaiyil avan irunthaal
Avan manamum kallaagum
Thamaraiyil nooleduththae
Thari neithaal palanumillai
Paamarnin kangalukku
Paava puniyam therivathillai
Paamarnin kangalukku
Paava puniyam therivathillai
Oruvar seitha paava punyam
Mattravarkke saervathillai
Iraivanukke therinthu vidum
Ennamellaam purinthuvidum
En nilaiyil avan irunthaal
Avan manamum kallaagum
Avan manamum kallaagum
Thanneerum ulaginilae
Moondru murai pizhai porukkum
Thanneerum ulaginilae
Moondru murai pizhai porukkum
Kannano nooru murai
Naan seiyum pizhai poruppaan
Kannano nooru murai
Naan seiyum pizhai poruppaan
Ponnaana manaiyaalum
Munnoru pizhai poruppaal
Ponnaana manaiyaalum
Munnoru pizhai poruppaal
En thaayum enakkaga
Eththanaithaan pizhai poruppaal
En thaayum enakkaga
Eththanaithaan pizhai poruppaal
Iraivanukke therinthu vidum
Ennamellaam purinthuvidum
En nilaiyil avan irunthaal
Avan manamum kallaagum
Avan manamum kallaagum
Avan manamum kallaagum
Avan manamum kallaagum
Avan manamum kallaagum
Even God will come to know,
He will understand all my thoughts.
If He were in my place,
Even His heart would turn to stone...
If He were in my place,
Even His heart would turn to stone...
Drawing thread from a lotus
And weaving on a loom is useless.
To the eyes of an ignorant person,
Sin and virtue are invisible.
To the eyes of an ignorant person,
Sin and virtue are invisible.
The sins and virtues of one person
Never pass on to another...
Even God will come to know,
He will understand all my thoughts.
If He were in my place,
Even His heart would turn to stone...
Even His heart would turn to stone...
In this world, even the water
Forgives a mistake three times.
In this world, even the water
Forgives a mistake three times.
Lord Krishna, a hundred times,
Forgives the mistakes I make.
Lord Krishna, a hundred times,
Forgives the mistakes I make.
A golden-hearted wife
Will forgive three hundred mistakes.
A golden-hearted wife
Will forgive three hundred mistakes.
And for my sake, my mother—
How many mistakes will she forgive?...
And for my sake, my mother—
How many mistakes will she forgive?...
Even God will come to know,
He will understand all my thoughts.
If He were in my place,
Even His heart would turn to stone...
Even His heart would turn to stone...
Even His heart would turn to stone...
Even His heart would turn to stone...
Even His heart would turn to stone...
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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