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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Narayana Endru

From Subrabatham · 1977

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Subrabatham1977

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Naarayanaavendru naavaara solvorkkuFor those who chant Narayana wholeheartedly,
Theeraatha vinai ellaam theernthividum arivaayoDo you know that all their endless sins and afflictions will end?
Male
Unnaiththaan neeyarivaaiYou know only about yourself,
Unnaiththaan neeyarivaaiYou know only about yourself,
Ulagengum naanarivaenI know about the whole world.
Unaivida kavalai kondorThose who have more worries than you,
Ulagengum kodiyunduThere are crores of them across the world!
Male
Unnaiththaan neeyarivaaiYou know only about yourself.
Male
Adiyavar yaavarukkum annamidaTo feed all the devotees of God,
Thirudiyathan maganin thalai eduththaanHe severed his own son's head when he stole food;
Adiyavar yaavarukkum annamidaTo feed all the devotees of God,
Thirudiyathan maganin thalai eduththaanHe severed his own son's head when he stole food;
Thalaiyattra meaniyathu vananga kandaanHe saw that headless body bowing down in devotion,
Thalaiyattra meaniyathu vananga kandaanHe saw that headless body bowing down in devotion,
Thalaivan kabirthaasan kalangi nindraanThe leader Kabir Das stood there deeply moved and tearful,
Thalaivan kabirthaasan kalangi nindraanThe leader Kabir Das stood there deeply moved and tearful.
Male
Unnaiththaan neeyarivaaiYou know only about yourself,
Ulagengum naanarivaenI know about the whole world.
Unaivida kavalai kondorThose who have more worries than you,
Ulagengum kodiyunduThere are crores of them across the world!
Male
Unnaiththaan neeyarivaaiYou know only about yourself.
Female
Aa….aa….aa….aah….aa….Aa... aa... aa... aah... aa...
Female
Kannanai kadhaliththu urugi nindraanLoving Lord Krishna, he melted in devotion;
Mannanaiththaan manathu mayangi nindraalHer mind was mesmerized, yet she was bound to the king.
Kannanai kadhaliththu urugi nindraanLoving Lord Krishna, he melted in devotion;
Mannanaiththaan manathu mayangi nindraalHer mind was mesmerized, yet she was bound to the king.
Kannanai nenjil enniKeeping Krishna in her heart,
Visham kudiththaal visham kuduththaalShe drank poison when given poison;
Female
Kannanai nenjil enniKeeping Krishna in her heart,
Visham kudiththaal visham kuduththaalShe drank poison when given poison;
Adhu kannan kudiththathupol maara kandaalShe saw it transform as if Krishna Himself had drunk it!
Kannanai nenjil enniKeeping Krishna in her heart,
Visham kudiththaal visham kuduththaalShe drank poison when given poison;
Adhu kannan kudiththathupol maara kandaalShe saw it transform as if Krishna Himself had drunk it!
Bharatha bhoomiyilae pudhu meeraa kadhaiyallavaa….aa…aa…Is this not a new story of Meera in the land of Bharat?
Bharatha bhoomiyilae pudhu meeraa kadhaiyallavaa….Is this not a new story of Meera in the land of Bharat?
Male
Arasarkuriya porul thanaiyeduththuTaking the state wealth belonging to the king,
Azhagiya ramanukku kovil kandaanHe built a temple for the beautiful Lord Rama;
Arasarkuriya porul thanaiyeduththuTaking the state wealth belonging to the king,
Azhagiya ramanukku kovil kandaanHe built a temple for the beautiful Lord Rama;
Male
Mannavan kobam kondu sirai pidiththaanThe king grew furious and imprisoned him,
Mannavan kobam kondu sirai pidiththaanThe king grew furious and imprisoned him,
Mayanga savukkadiththu vilangumittaanWhipped him till he fainted and put him in chains,
Mayanga savukkadiththu vilangumittaanWhipped him till he fainted and put him in chains.
Male
Devanukkae nesan avanthaanHe was truly a beloved friend of God,
Ramanukke dasan ramadasanRamadasa, the humble servant of Lord Rama;
Devanukkae nesan avanthaanHe was truly a beloved friend of God,
Ramanukke dasan ramadasanRamadasa, the humble servant of Lord Rama.
Female
Maami kodumai kandu manathu nonthaalPained at heart by the cruelty of her mother-in-law,
Maayavan kaaladiyil paninthu nindraalShe surrendered at the lotus feet of the mysterious Lord Vishnu;
Maami kodumai kandu manathu nonthaalPained at heart by the cruelty of her mother-in-law,
Maayavan kaaladiyil paninthu nindraalShe surrendered at the lotus feet of the mysterious Lord Vishnu;
Female
Maamiyavalai katti thooniladiththaalThe mother-in-law tied her to a pillar and beat her,
Devan thunaikku vanthu karam koduththaanGod came to her rescue and extended His helping hand;
Maamiyavalai katti thooniladiththaalThe mother-in-law tied her to a pillar and beat her,
Devan thunaikku vanthu karam koduththaanGod came to her rescue and extended His helping hand.
Female
Thambi nee idhaiyarivaaoO brother, do you know this?
Idhu jakkupaai kadhaiyarivaaiKnow that this is the story of Jakkubai!
Thambi nee idhaiyarivaaoO brother, do you know this?
Idhu jakkupaai kadhaiyarivaaiKnow that this is the story of Jakkubai!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from the film Subrabatham (1977), composed by M. S. Viswanathan and written by Kannadasan, offers a deep philosophical perspective on human suffering and divine grace. The lyricist addresses a self-absorbed individual, reminding them that millions of people in the world endure sorrows far greater than theirs. To emphasize endurance through faith, the lyrics recount the trials of famed Bhakti saints: Kabir Das, Mirabai, Bhadrachala Ramadasu, and Saint Jakkubai.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Allusion (Purana / Historical Reference)

Thalaivan kabirthaasan kalangi nindraan

Refers to famous historical saints of the Bhakti movement (Kabir, Meera, Ramadas, Jakkubai) to illustrate endurance through extreme suffering.

Monaai (Initial Alliteration)

Kannanai kadhaliththu urugi nindraan

Repetition of the initial 'K' sound across words creates melodic rhythm.

Epizeuxis / Repetition

Unnaiththaan neeyarivaai

Emphatic repetition of the phrase 'Unnaiththaan neeyarivaai' highlights the narrowness of self-centered grief.

Did you know?

Trivia

Kannadasan cleverly compresses four separate regional folk traditions and Bhakti saint legends (Kabir from North India, Meera from Rajasthan, Ramadasa from Telangana/Andhra, and Jakkubai from Maharashtra/South India) into a single philosophical narrative song.

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