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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Paalile Vennai

From Devi Sri Karumari Amman · 1974

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singers
L. R. Eswari, Vani Jairam
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Devi Sri Karumari Amman1974

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Paalilae vennai unduButter exists within milk,
Paarkkumpothu theriyumaaIs it visible just by looking at it?
Paar muzhuthum sakthi unduDivine Sakthi exists throughout the entire world,
Paavi kannil puriyumaa…..Can a sinner's eye ever understand it?...
Female
Paalilae vennai unduButter exists within milk,
Paarkkumpothu theriyumaaIs it visible just by looking at it?
Paar muzhuthum sakthi unduDivine Sakthi exists throughout the entire world,
Paavi kannil puriyumaa…..Can a sinner's eye ever understand it?...
Female
Neril sakthi thannaiThe divine Sakthi itself in person,
Neeyum kaatta mudiyumaa….mudiyumaaCan you show her directly?... Can you?
Nerilae sakthi thannaiThe divine Sakthi itself in person,
Neeyum kaatta mudiyumaaCan you show her directly?
En nenjilae avalai vaithaenI have placed her inside my heart,
Niraiththu nirkkum uruvamaaiAs a form that fully fills it.
Female
Sakthiyaam ammanukkuFor the Goddess who is Sakthi,
Thaththuvangal nooradiPhilosophies exist by the hundreds of feet!
Sakthiyaam ammanukkuFor the Goddess who is Sakthi,
Thaththuvangal nooradiPhilosophies exist by the hundreds of feet!
Antha thaththuvaththai unarnthu kollaTo realize and comprehend that wisdom philosophy,
Sakthi unakku yaedhadiWhere do you have the power, woman?
Female
Naalaikku nadapathellaamEverything that will happen tomorrow,
Naanarivaen keladiI know it beforehand, listen woman!
Naalaikku nadapathellaamEverything that will happen tomorrow,
Naanarivaen keladiI know it beforehand, listen woman!
En naavilae varuvathellaamWhatever comes upon my tongue,
Nadakka vaippaen naanadiI will make it come to pass, woman!
Female
Ammanin peyarai solliIn the name of the Goddess,
Aal vizhungum pennadiYou are a woman who swallows people whole!
Ammanin peyarai solliIn the name of the Goddess,
Aal vizhungum pennadiYou are a woman who swallows people whole!
Antha ammanae neril vanthaalIf that Mother Goddess comes in person,
Adangi pogum sangathiThis affair of yours will be subdued!
Female
Aaththa en maariyammaaMother Mariyamma,
Aadugindraal ennidamDances divine inside me!
Aaththa en maariyammaaMother Mariyamma,
Aadugindraal ennidamDances divine inside me!
Nee paarththaal pol pesugindraaiYou speak as if you have seen her directly,
Bakthiyillai unnidamThere is no true devotion in you!
Bakthiyillai unnidamThere is no true devotion in you!
Female
Maariyai aattuvathuIs making Mari dance divine,
Manthira kolaaDone by a magical stick?
Maariyai aattuvathuIs making Mari dance divine,
Manthira kolaaDone by a magical stick?
Antha manthiraththai unnidaththilaeDid she teach that magic secret,
Solli thanthaalaaUnto you?
Female
Kaariyaththai naanarivaenI have known how things work,
Aayiram naalaaFor a thousand days!
Kaariyaththai naanarivaenI have known how things work,
Aayiram naalaaFor a thousand days!
Adhan karanaththai ketkaTo inquire about its deep reason,
Unnai anuppi vaiththaalaaDid she send you here?
Female
Mannil ullaal sakthiSakthi resides in the earth,
Female :En manathil undu bakthiDevotion resides in my heart!
Female :Mannil ullaal sakthiSakthi resides in the earth,
Female :En manathil undu bakthiDevotion resides in my heart!
Female
Kannil ullaal sakthiSakthi resides in the eye,
Female :En karuththil undu bakthiDevotion resides in my consciousness!
Female :Kannil ullaal sakthiSakthi resides in the eye,
Female :En karuththil undu bakthiDevotion resides in my consciousness!
Female
Vilangavilai unakkuYou have not understood it,
Female :Aval vendiyaval enakkuShe is desired and dear to me!
Female :Kandathundo avalaiHave you ever seen her?
Female :En kannil ullaal avalaeShe resides inside my very eyes!
Female
Andamaagai agilamaagiAs the universe and as the cosmos,
Amarnthirukkum ammanai neeThe Goddess who sits enthroned,
Kandathaaga koorugindraYou claim to have seen her,
Kaarigai un karpanaiO woman, it is mere imagination!
Female
Aadhiyaagi anthamaagiBecoming the beginning and the end,
Aalugindra sakthiyaiThe Sakthi who rules everything,
Naathiyaaya naathiyaagiBecoming the sovereign refuge,
Naadu kaakkum deviyaiThe Goddess who protects the land,
Female
Sothidaththil aada vittuMaking her dance in astrology and fortune-telling,
Sodhanai seithaayadiYou tested her, woman!
Yaaridaththil aarudaththaiTo whom have you come to perform fortune-telling?
Aada vanthaai paaradi….Look and think, woman!...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic song features a spirited musical and philosophical duel between two female perspectives: one representing genuine, internal devotional faith (Bakthi) and the other representing fortune-telling, rituals, and claims of supernatural possession or direct vision of Goddess Mariyamman. The lyrics contrast inner devotion with superficial claims, arguing that true divine energy (Sakthi) pervades the universe subtly—just as butter resides unseen within milk until churned—rather than being a spectacle to be displayed or exploited for fortune-telling.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai)

Paalilae vennai undu

Comparing the invisible presence of Sakthi throughout the cosmos to butter hidden unchurned inside milk ('Paalilae vennai undu').

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Paalilae vennai undu

Repetition of initial consonant/vowel sounds across lines (e.g., 'Paalilae', 'Paarkkumpothu', 'Paar', 'Paavi').

Edugai (Second Letter Rhyming)

Andamaagai agilamaagi

Rhyming of the second letter across successive lines (e.g., 'Andamaagai', 'Amarnthirukkum', 'Kandathaaga').

Did you know?

Trivia

This track from the 1974 devotional movie 'Devi Sri Karumari Amman' presents an iconic duet between two legendary singers, L. R. Eswari and Vani Jairam, composed by the duo Shankar-Ganesh with lyrics by the celebrated poet A. Maruthakasi.

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