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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Paavam Seiyathiru

From Iravin Nizhal · 2022

Lyricist
Kaduveli Sithar
Singers
Niranjana Ramanan, Keerthana Vaidyanathan
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Iravin Nizhal2022

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Paapanjeyyaathiru maname..ae..O mind, do not commit sin...
Paapanjeyyaathiru manameO mind, do not commit sin
Naalai kobanjeyyaatheyamanTomorrow, the wrathful Lord of Death
KondaadipovaanWill carry your soul away in triumph
Paapanjeyyaathiru manameO mind, do not commit sin
Naalai kobanjeyyaatheyamanTomorrow, the wrathful Lord of Death
KondaadipovaanWill carry your soul away in triumph
Paapanjeyyaathiru manameO mind, do not commit sin
Maname… maname…O mind... O mind...
Female
SaabangoduthidalaamoShould one utter curses upon others?
Vidhi thannai nammaale thaduthidalaamoCan fate be prevented by our efforts?
KobandhoduthidalaamoShould one harbor and unleash anger?
Ichai kolla karuthai koduthidalaamoShould one give thought to succumb to lustful desires?
Female
Paapanjeyyaathiru manameO mind, do not commit sin
Naalai kobanjeyyaatheyamanTomorrow, the wrathful Lord of Death
Kondaadi povaanWill carry your soul away in triumph
Paapanjeyyaathiru manameO mind, do not commit sin
Maname… maname…O mind... O mind...
Female
Sollarunjoothu poi mosamUnspeakable deceit, lies, and fraud
Seithaar sutrathai mutraaiCommitted by someone will completely
Thudaithidum naasamDestroy and wipe out their family lineage
Sollarunjoothu poi mosamUnspeakable deceit, lies, and fraud
Seithaar sutrathai mutraaiCommitted by someone will completely
Thudaithidum naasamDestroy and wipe out their family lineage
NallabathivisuvasamGood devotion and true faith
Entha naalum manitharku nanmaiyaam nesamIs love that brings goodness to humanity every single day
Naalum manitharku nanmaiyaam nesamLove that brings goodness to humanity every single day
Female
Paapanjeyyaathiru maname..O mind, do not commit sin...
Maname.. maname…O mind... O mind...
Female
Nallavar thammaithallaatheDo not cast away righteous people
Aram naalettil ondrenumEven one virtue among the thirty-two virtues
NaadithallaatheSeek it and do not reject it
Nallavar thammai thallaatheDo not cast away righteous people
Aram naalettil ondrenumEven one virtue among the thirty-two virtues
NaadithallaatheSeek it and do not reject it
Pollaangil ondrungollaatheDo not embrace even a single evil deed
Ketta poimozhikolgalEvil lies and deceitful words
Poruntha villaatheAre unacceptable and unfitting for life
Pollaangil ondrungollaatheDo not embrace even a single evil deed
Ketta poimozhi kolgalEvil lies and deceitful words
Poruntha villaatheAre unacceptable and unfitting for life
Female
Paapanjeyyaathiru maname..O mind, do not commit sin...
Maname… maname…O mind... O mind...
Female
Paapanjeyyaathiru manameO mind, do not commit sin
Naalai kobanjeyyaatheyamanTomorrow, the wrathful Lord of Death
Kondaadi povaanWill carry your soul away in triumph
Paapanjeyyaathiru manameO mind, do not commit sin
Naalai kobanjeyyaatheyamanTomorrow, the wrathful Lord of Death
Kondaadi povaanWill carry your soul away in triumph
Paapanjeyyaathiru manameO mind, do not commit sin
Maname.. maname…O mind... O mind...
Female
Meignaana paathaiyileruAscend the path of true spiritual wisdom
Sutha vedhaantha vettavelithanai theruUnderstand the vast open realm of pure Vedanta
Aaa.. aaa… aaa… aaa..Ah... ah... ah... ah...
Meignaana paathaiyileruAscend the path of true spiritual wisdom
Sutha vedhaantha vettavelithanai theruUnderstand the vast open realm of pure Vedanta
Agnaana maargathai thooruClear away the path of ignorance
Unnai andinorkkaanandhaTo those who seek refuge in you, bliss
Maamvazhi kooruShow them the grand supreme path
Female
Paapanjeyyaathiru manameO mind, do not commit sin
Naalai kobanjeyyaatheyamanTomorrow, the wrathful Lord of Death
Kondaadi povaanWill carry your soul away in triumph
Paapanjeyyaathiru manameO mind, do not commit sin
Maname… maname…O mind... O mind...
Paapanjeyyaathiru maname..O mind, do not commit sin...
Female
Nalla vazhithanai naaduSeek the righteous path
Entha naalum paramanai nathiye theduSeek the Supreme Lord every day like a flowing river
Nalla vazhithanai naaduSeek the righteous path
Entha naalum paramanai nathiye thedu.. theduSeek the Supreme Lord every day like a flowing river... seek
Vallavar koottathir kooduJoin the company of enlightened noble souls
Antha vallalai nenjinilThat supreme benefactor in your heart
VaazhthikondaaduPraise and celebrate Him
Female
Paapanjeyyaathiru manameO mind, do not commit sin
Paapanjeyyaathiru manameO mind, do not commit sin
Naalai kobanjeyyaatheyamanTomorrow, the wrathful Lord of Death
Kondaadi povaanWill carry your soul away in triumph
Paapanjeyyaathiru manameO mind, do not commit sin
Naalai kobanjeyyaatheyamanTomorrow, the wrathful Lord of Death
Kondaadi povaanWill carry your soul away in triumph
Paapanjeyyaathiru maname…O mind, do not commit sin...
Paapanjeyyaathiru maname…O mind, do not commit sin...
Maname… maname…O mind... O mind...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Paapanjeyyaathiru Maname is an ancient Tamil Siddhar poem composed by Kaduveli Sithar, set to music by A. R. Rahman for Parthiban's single-shot film 'Iravin Nizhal' (2022). The poem serves as a profound moral awakening addressed directly to human consciousness. It sternly cautions the mind against engaging in sin, anger, deceit, or lustful greed. It reminds mankind of the inevitability and unpredictability of death, emphasizing that Yaman (Lord of Death) can claim life at any moment, leaving no room for redemption once time runs out. The song urges spiritual seekers to elevate themselves onto the path of true divine wisdom (Meignanam) and pure philosophical expansiveness (Vettaveli). By rejecting deceitful words, practicing virtue, harboring true love for fellow humans, and seeking the company of the wise, one can transcend worldly suffering and achieve ultimate liberation.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Apostrophe (Munnilai Paraval)

Paapanjeyyaathiru maname

The entire poem directly addresses the poet's own mind ('Maname') as an external entity to deliver philosophical counsel.

Edukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Meignaana paathaiyileru / Agnaana maargathai thooru

Matching second consonants across lines to create rhythmic resonance, seen in 'Meignaana' and 'Agnaana'.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Sutha vedhaantha vettavelithanai theru

'Vettaveli' (open empty space) is used metaphorically in Siddha tradition to describe the boundless, formless reality of the Supreme Consciousness.

Personification

Naalai kobanjeyyaatheyaman Kondaadipovaan

Death ('Yaman') is personified as a triumphant figure waiting to angrily carry away mortal life.

Did you know?

Trivia

The lyricist Kaduveli Sithar was one of the celebrated 18 Tamil Siddhars (spiritual mystics) who lived around the 15th century. Known for using accessible language to communicate profound advice on morality and mortality, his verses often warning against hypocrisy and sinful living are famous in Tamil literature. A. R. Rahman adapted this classic literary work into a haunting, acoustic choral piece for R. Parthiban's 'Iravin Nizhal' (2022), which entered the Asia Book of Records as the world's first non-linear single-shot feature film.

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