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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
Details
Jodhaa Akbar2008

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Mana moganaa..aaaaOh charmer of my mind...
Mana moganaa..aaa..aaOh charmer of my mind...
En uyir kannaa..aaahaa…Oh my life, my Krishna...
Kaarmugil vanna vaaraiyoo..Oh dark cloud-complexioned one, won't you come?
Kodhaiyin kuralai kelaaiyoo..Won't you listen to the voice of this maiden?
Female
Vidaipetru vaaraaiCome after taking leave,
Kaasi.. madhuraFrom Kashi... Mathura,
Vidai solla vaaraaiCome to give me an answer,
Vaazhkkai pudhiraaIs life a riddle?
Female
Neeyindri suyam varamaaCan there be a choice of groom without you?
Kaarmugil vannaa vaaraaiyooOh dark cloud-complexioned one, won't you come?
Kannaa… kodhaiyin kuralai kelaaiyooOh Krishna... won't you listen to the voice of this maiden?
Female
Dhuvaaraganae irulum oliyumOh Lord of Dwarka, darkness and light,
Iruvizhi arughae thuraththidudhaeChase each other close to my two eyes.
Irudhayaththil thunaiyaagaAs a companion in my heart,
Nee irukka maattaayaa..Won't you stay with me?
Female
Iru vazhigal sandhikkum idathilAt the place where two paths cross,
Kaalgal rendum kulambidudhaeBoth my feet stand confused.
En paadhai solvaayaaWill you show me my path,
Female
Devakiyin nadhalaalaaOh beloved son of Devaki?
Dhisai edhu solvaayaa..Will you tell me which direction to take?
Female
Brindhaavana nandhakumaaraaOh Nanda Kumara of Brindavan,
Sagiyin vendudhal arivaayaaDo you know this maiden's earnest request?
Neengaamal varuvaayaaWill you come without leaving me,
Nagam pola pirivaayaaOr will you separate like a trimmed fingernail?
Female
Navanidhaa murali manogaraaOh charming flutist with butter-soft grace,
Nangaiyin manadhai purivaayaWill you understand this woman's heart?
Purakkanithae selvaayaaWill you go away ignoring me,
Female
Ensogangal theerpaayaaOr will you dissolve my sorrows?
Nee raagangal theerppaayaaWill you resolve my inner conflicts?
Female
Mana moganaa..aaaaOh charmer of my mind...
Mana moganaa..aaa..aaOh charmer of my mind...
Mana moganaa..aaaaOh charmer of my mind...
Mana moganaa..aaa..aaOh charmer of my mind...
En uyir kannaa..aaahaa…Oh my life, my Krishna...
Kaarmugil vanna vaaraiyoo..Oh dark cloud-complexioned one, won't you come?
Kodhaiyin kuralai kelaaiyoo..Won't you listen to the voice of this maiden?
Female
Purushothamanae un udhattilOh supreme among men, on your lips,
Pullaanguzhalaai thavalvenaaShall I crawl like a flute?
Un suvaasa kaatraagiBecoming the air of your breath,
Uyir petru vaazhvenaaShall I gain life and live?
Female
Paarththibanae un paarvaiyilaeOh radiant king, in your gentle gaze,
Paarkadal amudham peruvenaaShall I receive nectar from the cosmic ocean?
Pasi thagam marapennaForgetting hunger and thirst,
Gokula thootathilaeIn the gardens of Gokulam,
Gopiyar aavenaa…Shall I become one of the Gopis?
Female
Vaazhkkai ennumIn this ocean
Kadalil thinamumCalled life, daily,
Valiyin melae alai adikkaAs waves of pain crash over,
Idhayam ennum padagu adhilThe boat called my heart
Thadumaari modhidudhaeStumbles and collides against them.
Female
Thooyavanae thuduppugal pottuOh pure one, using your oars,
Karaiyinil ettrividuvaaiyaaWill you carry me safely to the shore,
Nadukkadalil viduvaayaaOr will you abandon me in the middle of the sea?
Vaseegaraa mannavanaeOh mesmerizing king,
En vedhanai theeraayooWon't you heal my agony?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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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