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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Paarkadal Alaimele

From Raja Desingu · 1960

Lyricist
Udumalai Narayanakavi
Singer
M. L. Vasanthakumari
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Details
Raja Desingu1960

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Paarkadal alai melae paambanaiyin melaeUpon the waves of the Milky Ocean, atop the serpent bed,
Palli kondaai ranganaadhaa…You recline, O Lord Ranganatha...
Paarkadal alai melae paambanaiyin melaeUpon the waves of the Milky Ocean, atop the serpent bed,
Palli kondaai ranganaadhaa…You recline, O Lord Ranganatha...
Undhan padhamalar nidham thaedi paravasamodu paadiDaily seeking Your lotus feet, singing in ecstatic devotion,
Padhamalar nidham thaedi paravasamodu paadiSeeking Your lotus feet daily, singing in ecstatic devotion,
Gadhi peravae njaanam nee thaa dhaevaaGrant me wisdom so that I may attain ultimate liberation, O God!
Female
Paarkadal alai melae paambanaiyin melaeUpon the waves of the Milky Ocean, atop the serpent bed,
Palli kondaai ranganaadhaa…You recline, O Lord Ranganatha...
Female
Kaadhaganaana oru somugan kai konduWhen a cruel demon named Somuka took
Kadalidaiyae olitha marai naalumAnd hid the four Vedas deep within the ocean,
Kaadhaganaana oru somugan kai konduWhen a cruel demon named Somuka took
Kadalidaiyae olitha marai naalum pinnumAnd hid the four Vedas deep within the ocean, and further,
Maedhini thaen meelaa… aa… aa… aa…To retrieve the Earth...
Maedhini thaen meelaa paadhagan thaan maalaTo redeem the Earth and ensure the villain met his end,
Meenavathaarang konda thirumaalaeO Thirumal, who assumed the fish incarnation (Matsya)!
Female
Vaanavarum thaanavarum aazhiyamudham kadaindhaWhen the celestials and demons churned the ocean for nectar,
Madhara giri thannai thaangidavaeTo support Mount Mandara from sinking,
Vaanavarum thaanavarum aazhiyamudham kadaindhaWhen the celestials and demons churned the ocean for nectar,
Madhara giri thannai thaangidavae oruTo support Mount Mandara from sinking, with a...
Koonudaiya odu konda… aa…aa….aa…aa..With a humped shell...
Koonudaiya odu konda koormaavadhaaramenaWith a dome-like shell as the giant turtle incarnation (Kurma),
Kola muttraai pugazhum ongidavaeYou rose in beauty and boundless glory!
Female
Eenan iranyaatchanenum padupaaviThe vile sinner named Hiranyaksha,
Ee….ee….ee….ee….ee….aa….aa….aa….aa….aa…..Ee....ee....ee....ee....ee....aa....aa....aa....aa....aa.....
Eenan iranyaatchanenum padupaavi paayaaiThe vile sinner named Hiranyaksha rolled up
Ezhu kadalul maraitha boodhaevi avalAnd hid Goddess Bhudevi in the seven seas;
Dheena ratchagaa sagala jeeva ratchagaaO Savior of the distressed! O Savior of all living beings!
Dheena ratchagaa sagala jeeva ratchagaaO Savior of the distressed! O Savior of all living beings!
Enavae maanilatthai thookkiya varaaga vadivaanavanaeThus You took the form of the Boar (Varaha) and lifted the Earth!
Female
Engirukkiraan hari engirukkiraan'Where is Hari? Where is Hari?
Avan engirukkiraan solladaaWhere is he hiding? Tell me!'
Engirukkiraan endra iraniyan sollaiWhen Hiranya uttered these challenging words,
Idai marithae avan pillai hariHis son interrupted and declared Hari's presence,
Engum iruppaan thoonil ingum iruppaan hari'He is everywhere! He is in this pillar, He is here, Hari!'
Engum iruppaan thoonil ingum iruppaan yena'He is everywhere! He is in this pillar, He is right here!'
Iyambinadhaal naerndha thollai neengavumTo remove the trouble caused by this declaration,
Ponghu sina vanbaanadhu boodha udalum thasaiFierce wrath arose; with a gigantic body and flesh,
Thindrezhndha thondhiyodu manikkudalumWith a massive belly and glowing intestines,
Udhiram sindhavae nagam kondu keerumTearing with sharp claws till blood spilled,
Narasingamaana avathaaranaeYou manifested as the Narasimha incarnation!
Sangu chakra dharanae upakaaranae aadhaaranaeBearer of the Conch and Discus, benefactor, and sole support!
Female
Moovadi man kaettu vandhu mannalandhu vinnalandhuBegging three paces of land, measuring the Earth and the Sky,
Maavali siram alandha vaamananaeO Vamana who measured Mahabali's head!
Moovadi man kaettu vandhu mannalandhu vinnalandhuBegging three paces of land, measuring the Earth and the Sky,
Maavali siram alandha vaamananae thandhaiO Vamana who measured Mahabali's head, because his father's
Aaviyai parithadhanaal sooriya kula vairiyenaLife was taken, becoming the enemy of the Solar dynasty,
Aaviyai parithadhanaal sooriya kula vairiyenaBecause his father's life was taken, becoming the enemy of the Solar dynasty,
Amaindha parasuraaman aanavanaeO Parasurama who stood resolute!
Female
Dhaevargal sirai meetta raavanaadhi uyir maaithaRescuing the devas from captivity and slaying Ravana and others,
Dhaevargal sirai meetta raavanaadhi uyir maaithaRescuing the devas from captivity and slaying Ravana and others,
Dhasaradha sri raama avadhaaranaeO Sri Rama, son of Dasaratha, in incarnation!
Dhasaradha sri raama avadhaaranaeO Sri Rama, son of Dasaratha, in incarnation!
Boovulagilae uzhavor pugazhum kalappai thannaiPraised by the farmers of this earthly world, holding the plow,
Boovulagilae uzhavor pugazhum kalappai thannaiPraised by the farmers of this earthly world, holding the plow,
Puyanthanil thaangi nindra balaraamanae… ae… ae…O Balarama who bore the plow on his shoulder!
Female
Aavani rohiniyil ashtamiyilaeBorn in the Tamil month of Aavani, under Rohini star on Ashtami thithi,
Artta jaama naerathilae avadharithonaeBorn at the hour of midnight,
Aavani rohiniyil ashtamiyilaeBorn in the Tamil month of Aavani, under Rohini star on Ashtami thithi,
Artta jaama naerathilae avadharithonaeBorn at the hour of midnight,
Aayarpaadi maeviya yasodhai nandhalaalaa…O Nandhalala of Yasodha who dwelled in Gokulam!
Aa… aa… aa…Aa... aa... aa...
Aayarpaadi maeviya yasodhai nandhalaalaaO Nandhalala of Yasodha who dwelled in Gokulam,
Pathinaayiram gopiyar paramaanandha lolaaDelighting ten thousand gopis in supreme bliss,
Pathinaayiram gopiyar paramaanandha lolaaDelighting ten thousand gopis in supreme bliss,
Boo baaram theerkka baaradha por muditha seelaaEnding the Mahabharata war to lighten the burden of the Earth,
Boo baaram theerkka baaradha por muditha seelaaEnding the Mahabharata war to lighten the burden of the Earth,
Gopaala kirushnanaana aadhimoolaa paripaalaaO Gopala Krishna, the primal source and protector!
Female
Aavani rohiniyil ashtamiyilaeBorn in the Tamil month of Aavani, under Rohini star on Ashtami thithi,
Artha jaama naerathilae avadharithonaeBorn at the hour of midnight,
Female
Panja paadhagam vaadhudan kodiyaWhere five major sins, evil debates, and horrific
Vanjagam mithra baedhagamDeceits and betrayals among friends prevail,
Panja paadhagam vaadhudan kodiyaWhere five major sins, evil debates, and horrific
Vanjagam mithra baedhagamDeceits and betrayals among friends prevail,
Seiya anjidaadhavar aadidum naadaga maedaiA stage where the fearless perform dark deeds,
Aadiya kaliyugam azhikkavae dharmam thazhaikkavaeTo destroy the reigning Kali Yuga and make righteousness flourish,
Anburuvaagiya kalki avadhaaranaeO Kalki incarnation, who is the embodiment of love!
Singaaranae dhasaavadhaaran neeyaeO Beauteous One, You are the divine Dasavatharam itself!
Female
{Paarkadal alai melae paambanaiyin melae{Upon the waves of the Milky Ocean, atop the serpent bed,
Palli kondaai ranghanaadhaa…} (2)You recline, O Lord Ranganatha...}

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a grand devotional hymn describing the ten avatars (Dasavatharam) of Lord Vishnu, starting with a prayer to Lord Ranganatha reclining on the serpent bed Adisesha in the Milky Ocean. The lyricist systematically enumerates each incarnation—Matsya (fish), Kurma (turtle), Varaha (boar), Narasimha (half-man half-lion), Vamana (dwarf Brahmin), Parasurama (warrior with axe), Rama (prince of Ayodhya), Balarama (wielder of the plow), Krishna (the divine lover and guide of Mahabharata), and Kalki (the future avatar of love and righteousness to destroy Kali Yuga). Through vivid Tamil poetic imagery, the song recounts the divine feats associated with each avatar to destroy evil, rescue devotion, and restore righteousness (Dharma) on Earth.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Paarkadal alai melae / Palli kondaai ranganaadhaa...

Matching second consonants across lines, e.g., 'Paarkadal' and 'Palli' (r/l rhyme family) or 'Undhan' and 'Padhamalar'.

Monaai (Alliteration)

Sangu chakra dharanae upakaaranae aadhaaranae

Repetition of initial consonant sounds within a line, such as 'Sangu chakra dharane upakaarane aadhaarane'.

Anaphora / Repetition

Engirukkiraan hari engirukkiraan / Avan engirukkiraan solladaa

Refrain and repeated line structure across stanzas detailing avatar attributes for rhythmic emphasis.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by Udumalai Narayanakavi, a revered Tamil lyricist known as 'Kaviraayar', this song serves as a comprehensive musical narration of Vishnu's Dasavatharam in traditional Carnatic/film music style from the 1960 historical film 'Raja Desingu'.

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