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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Mana Mohana

From Jodhaa Akbar · 2008

Lyricist
Lyricist Not Known
Singer
Sadhana Sargam
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Movie name
Jodhaa Akbar
Movie release year
2008
Lyrics added on
15 Apr 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Mana moganaa..aaaa
Mana moganaa..aaa..aa
En uyir kannaa..aaahaa…
Kaarmugil vanna vaaraiyoo..
Kodhaiyin kuralai kelaaiyoo..
Vidaipetru vaaraai
Kaasi.. madhura
Vidai solla vaaraai
Vaazhkkai pudhiraa
Neeyindri suyam varamaa
Kaarmugil vannaa vaaraaiyoo
Kannaa… kodhaiyin kuralai kelaaiyoo
Dhuvaaraganae irulum oliyum
Iruvizhi arughae thuraththidudhae
Irudhayaththil thunaiyaaga
Nee irukka maattaayaa..
Iru vazhigal sandhikkum idathil
Kaalgal rendum kulambidudhae
En paadhai solvaayaa
Devakiyin nadhalaalaa
Dhisai edhu solvaayaa..
Brindhaavana nandhakumaaraa
Sagiyin vendudhal arivaayaa
Neengaamal varuvaayaa
Nagam pola pirivaayaa
Navanidhaa murali manogaraa
Nangaiyin manadhai purivaaya
Purakkanithae selvaayaa
Ensogangal theerpaayaa
Nee raagangal theerppaayaa
Mana moganaa..aaaa
Mana moganaa..aaa..aa
Mana moganaa..aaaa
Mana moganaa..aaa..aa
En uyir kannaa..aaahaa…
Kaarmugil vanna vaaraiyoo..
Kodhaiyin kuralai kelaaiyoo..
Purushothamanae un udhattil
Pullaanguzhalaai thavalvenaa
Un suvaasa kaatraagi
Uyir petru vaazhvenaa
Paarththibanae un paarvaiyilae
Paarkadal amudham peruvenaa
Pasi thagam marapenna
Gokula thootathilae
Gopiyar aavenaa…
Vaazhkkai ennum
Kadalil thinamum
Valiyin melae alai adikka
Idhayam ennum padagu adhil
Thadumaari modhidudhae
Thooyavanae thuduppugal pottu
Karaiyinil ettrividuvaaiyaa
Nadukkadalil viduvaayaa
Vaseegaraa mannavanae
En vedhanai theeraayoo
Manamohana (enchanter of the mind)...
Manamohana...
Krishna, my very life...
Won't you come, dark cloud-hued one?
Won't you hear this maiden's voice?
Take leave and come,
From Kashi and Mathura...
Come and give me answers,
To this riddle of life...
Without you, can there be a Swayamvara (a bride choosing her groom)?
Won't you come, dark cloud-hued one?
Krishna... won't you hear this maiden's voice?
O Lord of Dwaraka, darkness and light
Keep chasing each other before my eyes.
As a companion in my heart,
Won't you come and stay?
At the crossroads where two paths meet,
Both my feet falter in confusion.
Will you show me my path?
Devaki's darling son Nandalaal,
Will you tell me which way to go?
O young prince of Vrindavan,
Do you know your maiden friend's prayer?
Will you come and stay forever,
Or will you break away like clipped nails?
Navaneetha (butter lover), sweet flute-player,
Will you understand this woman's heart?
Or will you ignore me and walk away?
Will you take away my sorrows?
Will you fulfill my yearning songs?
Manamohana (enchanter of the mind)...
Manamohana...
Manamohana...
Manamohana...
Krishna, my very life...
Won't you come, dark cloud-hued one?
Won't you hear this maiden's voice?
O supreme one, upon your lips,
Will I rest like your flute?
Becoming the air of your breath,
Will I truly come alive and live?
O lord, within your glance,
Will I taste the nectar of the cosmic milk-ocean?
Will I forget all hunger and thirst?
In the gardens of Gokulam,
Will I become one of your Gopis (cowherd maidens)?
In the ocean
Of life every single day,
As waves of pain crash again and again,
The boat of my heart
Rocks, falters, and collides.
O pure one, taking up the oars,
Will you guide me safely to the shore?
Or will you leave me in the deep sea?
O enchanting king,
Won't you heal my pain?
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Mana Moganaa is a deeply emotional, devotional prayer sung from the perspective of Jodhaa (or a maiden expressing devotion) seeking spiritual light and direction from Lord Krishna. Addressing Krishna through various divine epithets—such as Devaki's son, Nanda Kumara, and the Lord of Dwarka—she pours out her internal dilemma and vulnerability, asking whether he will guide her through life's choices or leave her lost in uncertainty.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)

“Vaazhkkai ennum kadalil thinamum / Idhayam ennum padagu adhil”

Life is explicitly conceptualized as a turbulent ocean ('Vaazhkkai ennum kadalil') and the heart as a frail boat ('Idhayam ennum padagu') struggling against waves of pain.

Epithet / Invocation

“Devakiyin nadhalaalaa / Brindhaavana nandhakumaaraa”

Multiple sacred names and attributes of Lord Krishna are woven together to express reverence, such as Devakiyin nadhalaalaa, Brindhaavana nandhakumaaraa, and Navanidhaa murali manogaraa.

Second-letter Rhyme (Edhukai)

“Irudhayaththil thunaiyaaga / Iru vazhigal sandhikkum idathil”

Rhyming of the second consonant sound across consecutive or paired lines, as seen with 'r' in 'Irudhayaththil' and 'Iru vazhigal'.

Simile (Uvamai)

“Nagam pola pirivaayaa”

Compares absolute separation/detachment to the easy clipping off of a fingernail ('Nagam pola pirivaayaa').

Did you know?

Trivia

'Mana Moganaa' is the Tamil dubbed version of the famous Hindi devotional song 'Man Mohana' from Ashutosh Gowariker's 2008 historical drama 'Jodhaa Akbar'. Composed by A.R. Rahman, the original Hindi version was rendered by Bela Shende, while the Tamil version was sung by Sadhana Sargam with lyrics localized by Na. Muthukumar.

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