Meela Adimai Umakke
From Sundara Murthy Nayanar · 1967
- Lyricist
- Sundara Murthy Nayanar
- Singer
- Seerkazhi Govindarajan
- Music director
- S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
- Details
- Sundara Murthy Nayanar1967
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Meelaa adimai umakkae aalaai | I am an irredeemable slave, serving only You, |
| Pirarai vendathae | Seeking nothing from any other. |
| Moolathee pol ullae kanandru | Glowing like an inner elemental fire, |
| Mugathaal migavaadi | My face is completely withered. |
| Male | |
| Aalaai irukkum adiyaar thangal | When Your devoted servants, who are your subjects, |
| Allal sonnakaal | Speak to You of their deep distress, |
| Aalaai irukkum adiyaar thangal | When Your devoted servants, who are your subjects, |
| Allal sonnakaal | Speak to You of their deep distress, |
| Vaalaang iruppeer thiruvaarureer | O Lord of Thiruvarur, You remain quietly indifferent, |
| Vaazhnthu podheerae | May You prosper! |
| Vaalaang iruppeer thiruvaarureer | O Lord of Thiruvarur, You remain quietly indifferent, |
| Vaazhnthu podheerae vaazhndhu podheerae | May You prosper, may You prosper! |
| Male | |
| Vittru kolveer ottriyallaen | Sell me off if You wish; I am not a pledged property, |
| Virumbhi aatpatten | I willingly became Your servant. |
| Kuttram ondrunseithathillai | I have committed no fault whatsoever, |
| Koththai aakkineer | Yet You made me a bondservant suffering in bondage. |
| Male | |
| Yetru kadikael en kanna kondeer | O Lord of the fierce bull vehicle, You took away my eye, |
| Neerae pazhipatteer | By doing so, You brought blame upon Yourself! |
| Yetru kadikael en kanna kondeer | O Lord of the fierce bull vehicle, You took away my eye, |
| Neerae pazhipatteer | By doing so, You brought blame upon Yourself! |
| Mattrai kannthaan thaara thozhindhaal | If You refuse to grant me even my other eye, |
| Vaazhndhu podheerae | May You prosper! |
| Mattrai kannthaan thaara thozhindhaal | If You refuse to grant me even my other eye, |
| Vaazhndhu podheerae vaazhndhu podheerae | May You prosper, may You prosper! |
மீளா அடிமை உமக்கே ஆளாய்ப்
பிறரை வேண்டாதே
மூளாத் தீப்போல் உள்ளே கனன்று
முகத்தால் மிகவாடி
I am an irredeemable slave, serving only You,
Seeking nothing from any other.
Glowing like an inner elemental fire,
My face is completely withered.
ஆளாய் இருக்கும் அடியார் தங்கள்
அல்லல் சொன்னக்கால்
ஆளாய் இருக்கும் அடியார் தங்கள்
அல்லல் சொன்னக்கால்
வாளாங் கிருப்பீர் திருவா ரூரீர்
வாழ்ந்து போதீரே வாழ்ந்து போதீரே
வாளாங் கிருப்பீர் திருவா ரூரீர்
வாழ்ந்து போதீரே வாழ்ந்து போதீரே
When Your devoted servants, who are your subjects,
Speak to You of their deep distress,
When Your devoted servants, who are your subjects,
Speak to You of their deep distress,
O Lord of Thiruvarur, You remain quietly indifferent,
May You prosper!
O Lord of Thiruvarur, You remain quietly indifferent,
May You prosper, may You prosper!
விற்றுக் கொள்வீர் ஒற்றி யல்லேன்
விரும்பி ஆட்பட்டேன்
குற்றம் ஓன்றுஞ் செய்த தில்லை
கொத்தை ஆக்கினீர்
Sell me off if You wish; I am not a pledged property,
I willingly became Your servant.
I have committed no fault whatsoever,
Yet You made me a bondservant suffering in bondage.
எற்றுக் கடிகேள் என்கண் கொண்டீர்
நீரே பழிப்பட்டீர்
எற்றுக் கடிகேள் என்கண் கொண்டீர்
நீரே பழிப்பட்டீர்
மற்றைக் கண்தான் தாரா தொழிந்தால்
வாழ்ந்து போதீரே வாழ்ந்து போதீரே......
மற்றைக் கண்தான் தாரா தொழிந்தால்
வாழ்ந்து போதீரே வாழ்ந்து போதீரே......
O Lord of the fierce bull vehicle, You took away my eye,
By doing so, You brought blame upon Yourself!
O Lord of the fierce bull vehicle, You took away my eye,
By doing so, You brought blame upon Yourself!
If You refuse to grant me even my other eye,
May You prosper!
If You refuse to grant me even my other eye,
May You prosper, may You prosper!
Meelaa adimai umakkae aalaai
I am an irredeemable slave, serving only You,
Pirarai vendathae
Seeking nothing from any other.
Moolathee pol ullae kanandru
Glowing like an inner elemental fire,
Mugathaal migavaadi
My face is completely withered.
Aalaai irukkum adiyaar thangal
When Your devoted servants, who are your subjects,
Allal sonnakaal
Speak to You of their deep distress,
Aalaai irukkum adiyaar thangal
When Your devoted servants, who are your subjects,
Allal sonnakaal
Speak to You of their deep distress,
Vaalaang iruppeer thiruvaarureer
O Lord of Thiruvarur, You remain quietly indifferent,
Vaazhnthu podheerae
May You prosper!
Vaalaang iruppeer thiruvaarureer
O Lord of Thiruvarur, You remain quietly indifferent,
Vaazhnthu podheerae vaazhndhu podheerae
May You prosper, may You prosper!
Vittru kolveer ottriyallaen
Sell me off if You wish; I am not a pledged property,
Virumbhi aatpatten
I willingly became Your servant.
Kuttram ondrunseithathillai
I have committed no fault whatsoever,
Koththai aakkineer
Yet You made me a bondservant suffering in bondage.
Yetru kadikael en kanna kondeer
O Lord of the fierce bull vehicle, You took away my eye,
Neerae pazhipatteer
By doing so, You brought blame upon Yourself!
Yetru kadikael en kanna kondeer
O Lord of the fierce bull vehicle, You took away my eye,
Neerae pazhipatteer
By doing so, You brought blame upon Yourself!
Mattrai kannthaan thaara thozhindhaal
If You refuse to grant me even my other eye,
Vaazhndhu podheerae
May You prosper!
Mattrai kannthaan thaara thozhindhaal
If You refuse to grant me even my other eye,
Vaazhndhu podheerae vaazhndhu podheerae
May You prosper, may You prosper!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This profound devotional hymn from the Seventh Thirumurai composed by Sundaramurthi Nayanar (Sundarar) is addressed to Lord Shiva of Thiruvarur. Sundarar expresses his intimate bond with Lord Shiva through 'Nindastuthi' (praise through irony and affectionate censure). Having lost his eyesight after violating a sacred vow, Sundarar describes his agonizing anguish, comparing his pain to an unseen smoldering fire while declaring that he remains devoted strictly to Shiva without begging from anyone else. In the second movement of the poem, Sundarar sarcastically scolds Lord Shiva for remaining impassive when His loyal devotees cry out in affliction, sarcastically wishing Him well ('Vaazhnthu podheerae'). He points out that he became Shiva's slave out of pure love, yet the Lord blinded him and earned disrepute. With loving defiance, Sundarar demands the restoration of his sight, demonstrating the unique 'Sakhya Bhava' (friendship attitude) he shared with the Divine.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Nindastuthi (Irony/Praise through censure)
“Vaalaang iruppeer thiruvaarureer Vaazhnthu podheerae”
The phrase 'Vaazhnthu podheerae' (May you prosper!) is used sarcastically to scold Lord Shiva for remaining indifferent to His devotee's intense suffering.
Upamai (Simile)
“Moolathee pol ullae kanandru”
The devotee's internal emotional agony is compared to an unseen, smoldering inner fire ('Moolathee pol').
Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Vittru kolveer ottriyallaen / Kuttram ondrunseithathillai”
Rhyming of the second consonant 'ttru' in 'Vittru' and 'Kuttram' creates a strong rhythmic structure.
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Moolathee pol ullae kanandru Mugathaal migavaadi”
The repetition of the 'M' sound in 'Moolathee' and 'Mugathaal' enhances the musicality of the line.
Did you know?
Trivia
This hymn is part of the Paadal Petra Sthalam literature in the 7th Thirumurai. According to Saivite tradition, Sundarar lost his vision when he broke a promise made to his wife Sangiliyar at Thiruvotriyur. Journeying towards Thiruvarur in total darkness, he sang this emotionally charged pathagam demanding Lord Shiva to return his vision, showcasing the rare privilege of 'Thozhan' (friendship) with the Supreme Being.
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