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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Naadhar Mudi Melirukkum

From Thiruvarutchelvar · 1967

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Thiruvarutchelvar1967

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Naadhar mudi melirukkumO good cobra resting on the Lord's head,
Nalla paambae…O good snake...
Male
Naadhar mudi melirukkumO good cobra resting on the Lord's head,
Nalla paambaeO good snake,
Unakku nalla peyar vaithavar yaarWho named you 'good snake'?
Sollu paambaeTell me, O snake.
Naadhar mudi melirukkum nalla paambaeO good snake resting on the Lord's head,
Unakku nalla peyar vaithavar yaarWho named you 'good snake'?
Sollu paambaeTell me, O snake.
Aadhi sivan thalai amarndha aanavamaaIs it pride from resting on Lord Shiva's head?
Aadhi sivan thalai amarndha aanavamaaIs it pride from resting on Lord Shiva's head?
Avan angam ellaam vilaiyaadum dhairiyamaaOr the boldness to play across all His body?
Avan angam ellaam vilaiyaadum dhairiyamaaOr the boldness to play across all His body?
Male
Naadhar mudi melirukkumO good cobra resting on the Lord's head,
Nalla paambaeO good snake,
Unakku nalla peyar vaithavar yaarWho named you 'good snake'?
Sollu paambaeTell me, O snake.
Male
Oor kodutha paal kudithuYou drank the milk offered by the town,
Uyir valarthaaiAnd sustained your life.
Paal unda suvai maarum munnaeBefore the taste of that milk faded away,
Nandri marandhaaiYou forgot your gratitude!
Male
Oor kodutha paal kudithuYou drank the milk offered by the town,
Uyir valarthaaiAnd sustained your life.
Paal unda suvai maarum munnaeBefore the taste of that milk faded away,
Nandri marandhaaiYou forgot your gratitude!
Vanjamattra thondarukkaeTo a guiltless and pure devotee,
Vanjanai seidhaaiYou committed treachery.
Vanjamattra thondarukkaeTo a guiltless and pure devotee,
Vanjanai seidhaaiYou committed treachery.
Avar pinju magan nenjinukkaeInto the chest of his young child,
nanju koduthaaiYou injected poison!
Avar pinju maghan nenjinukkaeInto the chest of his young child,
Nanju koduthaaiYou injected poison!
Male
Peyarukku thagundhaar polLive up to your name ('Good Snake'),
Maari viduChange yourself!
Engal pillaiyai marubadiyum vaazha viduLet our child live again!
Peyarukku thagundhaar polLive up to your name ('Good Snake'),
Maari viduChange yourself!
Engal pillaiyai marubadiyum vaazha viduLet our child live again!
Male
Nenjam maari vidu pillaiyai vaazha viduChange your heart, let the child live!
Nenjam maari vidu pillaiyai vaazha viduChange your heart, let the child live!
Nenjam maari vidu pillaiyai vaazha viduChange your heart, let the child live!
Nenjam maari vidu pillaiyai vaazha viduChange your heart, let the child live!
Nenjam maari vidu pillaiyai vaazha viduChange your heart, let the child live!
Nenjam maari vidu pillaiyai vaazha viduChange your heart, let the child live!
Nenjam maari vidu pillaiyai vaazha viduChange your heart, let the child live!
Male
Sangamam androru muthamizh paadiyaI swear on Shankara, who sang pure Tamil in the Sangam era,
Sankaran meedhinil aanaiI swear upon Lord Shankara,
Sanga pulavargal naavil adangiyaI swear on refined Tamil residing on the tongues of Sangam poets,
Senthamizh meedhinil aanaiI swear upon that pure Tamil,
Mangalam kungumam manjal nirandhaI swear upon Goddess Shankari, filled with auspicious vermillion and turmeric,
Sankari meedhinil aanaiI swear upon Goddess Shankari,
Maadhoru baagan soodiya naaga paambaeO cobra worn by the half-female Lord Shiva,
Un mael aanaiI place an oath upon you,
Dhevan meedhil aanaiI swear upon the Lord,
Avan thiruvadi meedhum aanaiI swear upon His holy feet,
Thirumarai meedhil aanaiI swear upon the holy scriptures,
En thirunaavin mel aanaiI swear upon my divine tongue,
Pan mel aanai sol mel aanaiI swear upon melody, I swear upon words,
En mel aanai un mel aanai…I swear upon myself, I swear upon you...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a soul-stirring devotional appeal sung in the film 'Thiruvarutchelvar' during an episode portraying Thirunavukkarasar (Appar). In the legend, Appar cures the son of Appudhi Adigal after the young boy dies from a fatal snakebite. The song directly addresses the snake that bit the innocent child, questioning its arrogance, lack of gratitude, and cruelty despite being considered sacred on Lord Shiva's crown.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyming)

Vanjamattra thondarukkae / Vanjanai seidhaai

The repetition of the second consonant 'n' in consecutive lines creates internal musical rhythm ('Vanjamattra' / 'Vanjanai' / 'Nanju').

Adukkuthooradhu / Repetition (Anaphora)

Pan mel aanai sol mel aanai / En mel aanai un mel aanai…

The frantic repetition of 'aanai' (oath) and 'Nenjam maari vidu' emphasizes intense emotional pleading and divine command.

Irony / Rhetorical Question

Unakku nalla peyar vaithavar yaar / Sollu paambae

The poet addresses the snake as 'Nalla paambae' (Good Snake) while highlighting its treacherous action of biting an innocent child.

Did you know?

Trivia

This iconic song from the 1967 film 'Thiruvarutchelvar' features music composed by K. V. Mahadevan, with lyrics written by Kannadasan, portraying the devotional power of Saint Appar (played by Sivaji Ganesan).

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