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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Janarthana Jaganadha

From Meera (1945) Film · 1945

Lyricist
Parthi Bhaskar
Singer
M. S. Subbulakshmi
Music director
S. V. Venkatraman
Details
Meera (1945) Film1945

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Janaarthanaa jagan naadhaaOh Janardhana, Lord of the Universe!
Janaarthanaa jagan naadhaa aaa aaaOh Janardhana, Lord of the Universe! Ah... ah...
Nee en naadhan androAre You not my Lord and Master?
Suraasurar panipaadhaaWhose lotus feet are worshipped by gods and demons alike,
Arul tharaadha kaaranamaedhoWhat is the reason for withholding Your grace?
Suraasurar panipaadhaaWhose lotus feet are worshipped by gods and demons alike,
Arul tharaadha kaaranamaedhoWhat is the reason for withholding Your grace?
Thaal malar viduvenoWill I ever let go of Your lotus feet?
Thaamadham ini thaalenaeI can no longer tolerate any further delay!
Thaal malar viduvenoWill I ever let go of Your lotus feet?
Thaamadham ini thaalenaeI can no longer tolerate any further delay!
Suraasurar panipaadhaaWhose lotus feet are worshipped by gods and demons alike,
Arul tharaadha kaaranamaedhoWhat is the reason for withholding Your grace?
Female
Kannanae naan patta paaduOh Krishna, seeing the suffering I have endured,
Kandu kallum karaiyumEven a stone would melt.
Kannanae naan patta paaduOh Krishna, seeing the suffering I have endured,
Kandu kallum karaiyumEven a stone would melt.
Kadalil kulithoruHaving dived into the ocean,
Mutheduthaen naanI retrieved a precious pearl.
Kadalil kulithoruHaving dived into the ocean,
MutheduthaenI retrieved a pearl.
Kai nazhuva viduvaayoWill You let it slip away from my hands?
Karunaiyae purivaayoWill You not shower Your mercy?
Karunaiyae purivaayoWill You not shower Your mercy?
Female
Gadhiyilaen giridhaariI have no refuge, Oh Giridhari!
Karunaiyae purivaayoWill You not shower Your mercy?
Gadhiyilaen giridhaariI have no refuge, Oh Giridhari!
Karunaiyae purivaayoWill You not shower Your mercy?
Gadhiyilaen giridhaariI have no refuge, Oh Giridhari!
Karunaiyae purivaayoWill You not shower Your mercy?
Gadhiyilaen giridhaariI have no refuge, Oh Giridhari!
Karunaiyae purivaayoWill You not shower Your mercy?
Gadhiyilaen giridhaariI have no refuge, Oh Giridhari!
Karunaiyae purivaayoOh resident of the sacred city of Dwaraka,
Gadhiyilaen giridhaariIs this ordeal not enough?
Female
Dhwaarakaa purivaasaaBlocking me from beholding Your divine vision,
Sodhanai podhaadhoWill the doors not open?
Dharisanam kaana thadai seiyumThat Meera is Your humble servant,
Kadhavum thiravaadhoHas Your divine mind forgotten this?
Meeraa un adimai enbadhumThis humble servant Meera...
Thiruvullam marandhadhoAh... ah... ah...
Female
Adiyaal mereraaaAh... ah... ah...
Aa… aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa…He made Meera's heart His temple,
Aa….aaa…aaa….aaa…aaa…He claimed her as His eternal servant.
Meeraa hrudhayam kovil kondaan
Meelaa adimai kondaan

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This soulful devotional composition from the movie 'Meera' depicts saint-poetess Meera's intense yearning for Lord Krishna. Addressing Krishna by various divine names such as Janardhana, Giridhari, and Dwarakadhish, Meera questions why He continues to withhold His divine grace. She cries out that even inanimate stones would melt if they witnessed the agony she endures for His love. Likening her spiritual devotion to a precious pearl retrieved after diving deep into the sea, she begs Krishna not to let it slip from her hands. As the song progresses, Meera pleads for the doors of the temple to open so she may finally have His divine vision (darshan). She implores Him to remember her unwavering status as His eternal servant. In the climax, the spiritual connection culminates with Lord Krishna residing permanently in the temple of Meera's heart, accepting her total surrender.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Kadalil kulithoru Mutheduthaen

Meera's lifelong spiritual quest and intense devotion are metaphorically depicted as diving deep into the ocean to extract a rare pearl.

Hyperbole (Uvacharam)

Kandu kallum karaiyum

Exaggeration used to emphasize extreme emotional pain, stating that even lifeless stones would melt upon observing her suffering.

Anaphora / Repetend

Karunaiyae purivaayo Gadhiyilaen giridhaari

The frantic rhythmic repetition of 'Karunaiyae purivaayo Gadhiyilaen giridhaari' underlines the devotee's utter desperation and complete surrender.

Initial Rhyme (Monai)

Janaarthanaa jagan naadhaa

Rhythmic matching of initial consonant sounds ('J' sound in Janaarthanaa and jagan) creates a musical, chant-like invocation.

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Trivia

This classic song features the legendary Carnatic vocalist M. S. Subbulakshmi, who starred as Meera in the 1945 Tamil film directed by American filmmaker Ellis R. Dungan. Her immortal renditions in this film catapulted her to nationwide fame, paving the way for the 1947 Hindi version which was personally introduced on screen by Sarojini Naidu.

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