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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Naan Paasamalar

From Krishnan Vandhaan · 1987

Lyricist
Lyricist Not Known
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Krishnan Vandhaan1987

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Ariyaamal naan seidhaIs it a sin I committed unknowingly,
Oru paavamooA sin for which I suffer today,
Adharkaaga naan indruIs this state my tragic plight?
Padum kolamooWithout knowing, without understanding,
Male
Theriyaamal puriyaamalI stumbled and faltered,
ThadumaarinenSearching for your divine doorstep,
Un thiruvaasal thanai thediI climbed your sacred steps.
Padi yerinenI raised a flower of affection,
Male
Naan paasamalar ondraiWatching over it tenderly,
Paarthu valarthenOh Lord of the Seven Hills,
EzhumalaiyaanaeOh Holy Lord of the Seven Hills,
Thiru ezhumalaiyaanaeThat flower of love has today,
Andha paasamalar indruWithered and fallen away,
Vaadi uthirnthathuOh Lord of the Seven Hills,
EzhumalaiyaanaeI am now yearning helplessly.
Naan yengum padiyaanenI raised a flower of affection,
Male
Naan paasamalar ondraiWatching over it tenderly,
Paarthu valarthenOh Lord of the Seven Hills,
EzhumalaiyaanaeOh Holy Lord of the Seven Hills,
Thiru ezhumalaiyaanaeThinking it was meant for the crops,
Male
Nellukku thaan endruI pumped and poured the water,
Neerai eraithenYet it joined the useless grass, O Lord,
Pullukku sernthathaiyaaIt went to feed the grass, O Lord,
Athu pullukku sernthathaiyaaNeither do I have the paddy now,
Andha nellum enakkillaiNor do I have the grass,
Pullum enakkillaiThe truth has dawned upon me, O Lord,
Unmai purinthathaiyaaThis harsh truth has dawned upon me.
Indha unmai purinthathaiyaaThinking it was meant for the crops,
Male
Nellukku thaan endruI pumped and poured the water,
Neerai eraithenYet it joined the useless grass, O Lord,
Pullukku sernthathaiyaaNeither do I have the paddy now,
Andha nellum enakkillaiNor do I have the grass,
Pullum enakkillaiThe truth has dawned upon me, O Lord,
Unmai purinthathaiyaa{For the good people alone,
Male
{NallavarkendraeThe rain that falls,
Peiyum mazhaiyumIs available to everyone here, is it not?
Ingu ellorkkum undallavaaIs available to everyone here, is it not?} (2)
Ingu ellorkkum undallavaa} (2)Today, that very rain that falls,
Male
Indru ellorkkum peigindraFor everyone else,
Andha mazhaiyumWhy did it not reach me?
Yen ennai seravillaiI do not know why that is so.
Adhu yen endru theriyavillaiA flower of affection,
Male
Paasamalar ondraiI raised and nurtured,
Paarthu valarthenOh Lord of the Seven Hills,
EzhumalaiyaanaeOh Holy Lord of the Seven Hills,
Thiru ezhumalaiyaanaeThat flower of love has today,
Andha paasamalar indruWithered and fallen away,
Vaadi uthirnthathuOh Lord of the Seven Hills,
EzhumalaiyaanaeI am now yearning helplessly.
Naan yengum padiyaanen{Treating me merely as a doorstep,
Male
{Vaasarpadiyaai ennai ninaithuHow many people walked over me?
Sendravar ethanai perHow many climbed and passed over me?
Yeri sendravar ethanai perTreating my heart as mere dirt,
Male
Verum mann enaStepping upon my heart,
Endhan nenjai midhithuHow many people tormented me?
Vaatiyadhu ethanai perHow many people tormented me?} (2)
Ennai vaatiyadhu ethanai per} (2){Printed mere paper (money),
Male
{Achchaditha verum kaagithamIs ruling and tormenting everyone here,
Ingae aatti padaikuthaiyaaIt is tormenting us here, O Lord} (2)
Emmai aatti padaikuthaiyaa} (2)Only when that paper runs out,
Male
Andha kaagitham kaiyilIn one's hands,
Theernthathum pinnaeTrue wisdom is born, O Lord,
Gyanam pirakuthaiyaaIt calls out to reach You, O Lord.
Unnai sera azhaikuthaiyaaA flower of affection,
Male
Paasamalar ondraiI raised and nurtured,
Paarthu valarthenOh Lord of the Seven Hills,
EzhumalaiyaanaeOh Holy Lord of the Seven Hills,
Thiru ezhumalaiyaanaeThat flower of love has today,
Andha paasamalar indruWithered and fallen away,
Vaadi uthirnthathuOh Lord of the Seven Hills,
EzhumalaiyaanaeI am now yearning helplessly,
Naan yengum padiyaanenOh Lord of the Seven Hills,
EzhumalaiyaanaeOh Holy Lord of the Seven Hills.
Thiru ezhumalaiyaanae

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a deeply emotional, devotional lament addressed to Lord Venkateswara (Ezhumalaiyaan). The protagonist reflects upon their life's suffering, questioning if their current misery is the result of sins committed unknowingly. They recount how they lovingly nurtured relationships (symbolized by 'paasamalar'), only to see them wither away in betrayal and disappointment. Using agricultural and worldly metaphors, the protagonist laments pouring their effort ('water') into ungrateful places ('grass' instead of 'crops'), ending up with nothing. Despite the rain of grace falling on everyone, the protagonist feels left out and trampled upon by society, reduced to a mere doorstep for others to walk over. Ultimately, the song offers philosophical introspection on how printed paper (money) controls human life, and how true spiritual wisdom (gyanam) and devotion to God are realized only when material wealth slips away.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)

Naan paasamalar ondrai / Paarthu valarthen

The speaker compares a loved one or relationship to a flower of affection ('paasamalar') that has withered and fallen.

Analogy / Agricultural Metaphor

Nellukku thaan endru / Neerai eraithen / Pullukku sernthathaiyaa

Watering paddy crops but nourishing grass instead symbolizes misplaced effort and unrequited devotion.

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Assonance)

Theriyaamal puriyaamal / Thadumaarinen

Matching initial consonant/vowel sounds in words like 'Theriyaamal' and 'Thadumaarinen'.

Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Nellukku thaan endru / Pullukku sernthathaiyaa

Matching second letters across lines ('Ariyaamal' and 'Adharkaaga', 'Nellukku' and 'Pullukku').

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Trivia

This track features classical philosophical themes popular in Tamil cinema devotional songs, specifically addressing Lord Venkateswara of Tirupati ('Ezhumalaiyaan'). It draws inspiration from ancient proverb-based lyricism where worldly illusions (Maya) and money ('achchaditha kaagitham') are contrasted with divine truth.

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