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Raja Mukthi album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Nee Palli Ezhundhaal Alladhu Uyirgal Urakkam Theliyumo

From Raja Mukthi · 1948

Lyricist
Papanasam Sivan
Singer
M. K. Thiyagaraja Bagavathar
Music director
C. R. Subbaraman
Movie name
Raja Mukthi
Movie release year
1948
Lyrics added on
27 Apr 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Nee palli ezhundhaalalladhu uyirgal
Urakkam theliyumo vittalaa
Nee palli ezhundhaalalladhu uyirgal
Urakkam theliyumo vittalaa
Nee palli ezhundhaalalladhu uyirgal
Urakkam theliyumo…oo…oo…oo…
Hae pannaga sayanaa
Hae pannaga sayanaa
Karunai pozhi
Pangaja dhala nayanaa
Hae pannaga sayanaa
Karunai pozhi
Pangaja dhala nayanaa prabo
Nee palli ezhundhaalalladhu uyirgal
Urakkam theliyumo
Aadhavan madhikkoli tharuvadhum nee
Aadhavan madhikkoli tharuvadhum nee
Naal vaedha porulum nee maadhavanae
Aadhavan madhikkoli tharuvadhum nee
Naal vaedha porulum nee maadhavanae
Ponnaadhanae en mana mogamagalavum
Naadhanae en mana mogamagalavum
Jodhi vadivam kanden
Manam vizhi kuliravum
Jodhi vadivam kanden
Manam vizhi kuliravum
Nee palli ezhundhaalalladhu uyirgal
Urakkam theliyumo …oo..oo..ooo…
Unless you awaken, can living beings
ever wake from their slumber, O Vittala?
Unless you awaken, can living beings
ever wake from their slumber, O Vittala?
Unless you awaken, can living beings
ever wake from their slumber? Oh...
O Lord who rests upon the serpent,
O Lord who rests upon the serpent,
shower your grace,
O lotus-eyed Lord!
O Lord who rests upon the serpent,
shower your grace,
O lotus-eyed Lord, O Supreme Master!
Unless you awaken, can living beings
ever wake from their slumber?
You are the one who gives light to the sun and the moon,
You are the one who gives light to the sun and the moon,
You are the essence of the four Vedas, O Madhava!
You are the one who gives light to the sun and the moon,
You are the essence of the four Vedas, O Madhava!
O golden Lord, so that the illusions of my mind may fade,
O Lord, so that the illusions of my mind may fade,
I beheld your radiant form of light,
soothing both my heart and my eyes,
I beheld your radiant form of light,
soothing both my heart and my eyes!
Unless you awaken, can living beings
ever wake from their slumber? Oh...
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This devotional hymn belongs to the Thirupalliezhuchi (ceremonial wake-up song) tradition, addressed to Lord Vitthala (Vishnu). The song expresses the philosophical idea that human soul-slumber or spiritual ignorance cannot end until the divine consciousness awakens within. The devotee hails the deity as the lotus-eyed Lord reclining on the serpent Ananta, who grants illumination to the sun and moon and embodies the wisdom of the four Vedas. Beholding the radiant form of the Lord brings spiritual clarity and removes the delusions of the mind (moham). The visual vision of the Divine light fills the seeker's mind and eyes with serene coolness, symbolising ultimate peace and liberation.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Thirupalliezhuchi (Spiritual Awakening Motif)

Nee palli ezhundhaalalladhu uyirgal

A traditional Tamil literary genre where awakening the deity symbolizes waking humanity from spiritual slumber.

Metaphor (Upamana)

Pangaja dhala nayanaa

Comparing the Lord's eyes to soft lotus petals ('Pangaja dhala nayanaa').

Anaphora / Refrain

Aadhavan madhikkoli tharuvadhum nee

Repetition of lines to build emotional and musical intensity in devotional worship.

Ethirai (Second letter assonance/rhyme)

Naal vaedha porulum nee maadhavanae

Use of matching consonant sounds in line openings such as 'Aadhavan' and 'Naal vaedha'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Raja Mukthi (1948) featured singing superstar M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar (MKT) alongside M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) and Bhanumathi. The lyrics were written by Papanasam Sivan, often hailed as the 'Tamil Tyagaraja' for his monumental contributions to Carnatic music and Tamil cinema.

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