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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Mogathai Kondru Vidu

From Ini Oru Sudhanthiram · 1987

Lyricist
Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyaar
Singers
K. J. Yesudas, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Gangai Amaran
Details
Ini Oru Sudhanthiram1987

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Mogathai kondru vidu allaalKill off this infatuation, or else
Endhan moochai niruthi viduStop my breath completely.
Mogathai kondru vidu allaalKill off this infatuation, or else
Endhan moochai niruthi viduStop my breath completely.
Female
Dhegathai saaithu vidu allaalFell this body to the ground, or else
Adhil sindhanai maaithu viduEradicate the thoughts within it.
Mogathai kondru vidu allaalKill off this infatuation, or else
Endhan moochai niruthi viduStop my breath completely.
Female
Bandhathai neeki vidu allaalSever my worldly attachments, or else
Uyir baarathai pokki viduRelieve the heavy burden of my life.
Bandhathai neeki vidu allaalSever my worldly attachments, or else
Uyir baarathai pokki viduRelieve the heavy burden of my life.
Female
Sindhai thelivaakku allaalGrant clarity to my mind, or else
Idhai setha udalaakkuTurn this form into a corpse.
Sindhai thelivaakku allaalGrant clarity to my mind, or else
Idhai setha udalaakku..setha udalaakkuTurn this form into a corpse... turn it into a corpse.
Female
Mogathai kondru vidu allaalKill off this infatuation, or else
Endhan moochai niruthi viduStop my breath completely.
Female
Thoondir puluvinai polLike a worm squirming on a fish hook,
Veliyae sudar vilakkinai polLike a lamp flame flickering in the open wind,
Neenda pozhuthaagaFor a agonizingly long time,
Enadhu nenjam thudithadhadiMy heart throbbed in distress, oh my dear.
Female
Koondu kiliyinai polLike a bird trapped inside a cage,
Thanimai kondu migavunondhenI suffered deeply in my solitude.
Vendum porulai ellaamAll the material things I once desired,
Manadhu veruthu vittadhadiMy mind has grown to detest, oh my dear.
Veruthu vittadhadiHas grown to detest entirely.
Male
Mogathai kondru vidu allaalKill off this infatuation, or else
Endhan moochai niruthi viduStop my breath completely.
Dhegathai saaithu vidu allaalFell this body to the ground, or else
Adhil sindhanai maaithu viduEradicate the thoughts within it.
Mogathai kondru vidu allaalKill off this infatuation, or else
Endhan moochai niruthi viduStop my breath completely.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

"Mogathai Kondru Vidu" is a famous passionate devotional poem composed by Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyar, in which he appeals intensely to the Supreme Mother (Parasakti) for spiritual liberation. The poet expresses profound existential anguish caused by worldly desires, mind chatter, and material attachment. He presents an ultimatum to the Divine: either grant him total mental clarity and eradicate his inner infatuations, or end his physical life, as living in mental chaos is akin to death. To depict his inner turmoil, Bharathiyar employs powerful imagery, comparing his restless mind to a worm caught on a hook, a flame exposed to violent winds, and a bird trapped in a cage. The song marks a moment of absolute detachment (Vairagya) where all earthly desires are rejected in favor of divine wisdom and ultimate freedom.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upamai (Simile)

Thoondir puluvinai pol / Veliyae sudar vilakkinai pol / Koondu kiliyinai pol

Compares the suffering of the mind to a squirming fish-hook worm, a flickering lamp flame in the wind, and a caged bird using the comparative marker 'pol'.

Ethirai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Mogathai / Dhegathai

The second consonant sound matches across initial lines ('g' sound in Mogathai and Dhegathai).

Anaphora / Repetition

Mogathai kondru vidu allaal

The phrase 'vidu allaal' (do this, or else) is repeated at the end of alternating lines to emphasize the urgency of the poet's ultimatum to the Divine.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written originally by Subramanya Bharathiyar as a prayer to Parasakthi, this poem is widely sung in Carnatic music concerts. It was featured in the 1987 Tamil film 'Ini Oru Sudhanthiram', which had a score composed by Gangai Amaran.

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