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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Pambu Ena Vembu Ena

From Sakthivel · 1994

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
K. S. Chithra, Chorus
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Sakthivel1994

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Andhamulla sandhamullaIn beautiful and rhythmic pure Tamil,
SenthamizhilIn pure Tamil,
Adiyavar thozhum andhariyae…Oh Goddess of the cosmos, worshipped by your devotees!
Aadhiyena jothiyena needhiyenaAs the primal source, as the divine light, as ultimate justice,
Sudar vida yezhum sundhariyae… ae..ae..Oh beautiful Goddess who rises with a radiant flame!
Chorus
Ammaa azhudhom thozhudhomMother, we wept and worshipped you,
Arulvaai thunai neeyae…Grant us grace, for you are our only support!
Female
Paambu yena vembu yenaAppearing as the serpent and as the sacred neem tree,
Maari varum thaayaeOh Mother Mari who changes forms!
Paambanindha eesanukkuTo Lord Shiva who wears the serpent,
Paadhi udal neeyaeYou are the half of His body!
Female
Paambu yena vembu yenaAppearing as the serpent and as the sacred neem tree,
Maari varum thaayaeOh Mother Mari who changes forms!
Paambanindha eesanukkuTo Lord Shiva who wears the serpent,
Paadhi udal neeyaeYou are the half of His body!
Female
{Manjalodu kungumatthuAdorned with turmeric, kumkum,
Chaandhanindha maayaeAnd sandalwood paste, oh divine enchantress!
Mannan yenum dhatchan madiOn the lap of King Daksha,
Vandhudhitha saeyae} (2)Oh child who was born as a daughter!
Female
Paambu yena vembu yenaAppearing as the serpent and as the sacred neem tree,
Maari varum thaayaeOh Mother Mari who changes forms!
Paambanindha eesanukkuTo Lord Shiva who wears the serpent,
Paadhi udal neeyaeYou are the half of His body!
Chorus
Nee irangi vaaPlease descend and come to us,
Karunai kadalaeOh vast ocean of mercy!
Nenjirangi vaa amudha sudaraeMelt your heart and come, oh nectar-like radiant light!
Nee irangi vaaPlease descend and come to us,
Nenjirangi vaa vaaMelt your heart and come, come!
Female
Paambu yena vembu yenaAppearing as the serpent and as the sacred neem tree,
Maari varum thaayaeOh Mother Mari who changes forms!
Paambanindha eesanukkuTo Lord Shiva who wears the serpent,
Paadhi udal neeyaeYou are the half of His body!
Female
Nenjarindhu seidha pizhaiThere is no mistake committed knowingly in our hearts,
Yedhum illai ammaaNone at all, Mother!
Nenjuruga paadugaiyilWhen we sing with our hearts melting in devotion,
Nirpadhenna summaaWhy do you remain silent without acting?
Unnai andri kai kodukkaApart from you, to extend a helping hand,
Uttra thunai yedhuWhat suitable companion is there for us?
Dhikku thisai attru manamWhen the mind loses direction and aim,
Thathalikkum podhuAnd struggles in deep turmoil,
Chorus
Nanmai tharum kaali…Oh Kaali who bestows goodness!
Female
Aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa….Aaa...aaa...aaa...aaa...aaa....
Nanmai tharum kaaliOh Kaali who bestows goodness!
Aval nambinavar yerkkumShe accepts those who trust in her,
Un irandu sevadiyaiHolding your two sacred red feet,
Uchi thanil yendhumHigh upon the crown of our heads,
Chorus
Mangalangal thandhudhavumGranting auspiciousness and help,
Engal iraiyaeOh our Supreme Almighty Lord!
Ik kanathil theerthu viduIn this very moment, resolve
Engal kuraiyae…All our grievances and shortcomings!
Female
Paambu yena vembu yenaAppearing as the serpent and as the sacred neem tree,
Maari varum thaayaeOh Mother Mari who changes forms!
Paambanindha eesanukkuTo Lord Shiva who wears the serpent,
Paadhi udal neeyaeYou are the half of His body!
Female
Manjalodu kungumatthuAdorned with turmeric, kumkum,
Chaandhanindha maayaeAnd sandalwood paste, oh divine enchantress!
Mannan yenum dhatchan madiOn the lap of King Daksha,
Vandhudhitha saeyaeOh child who was born as a daughter!
Chorus
Nee irangi vaaPlease descend and come to us,
Karunai kadalaeOh vast ocean of mercy!
Nenjirangi vaa amudha sudaraeMelt your heart and come, oh nectar-like radiant light!
Nee irangi vaaPlease descend and come to us,
Nenjirangi vaa vaaMelt your heart and come, come!
Chorus
Aaa…aaa…aa…aa.a…aaa….aa…..Aaa...aaa...aa...aa.a...aaa....aa.....
Aaa…aaa…aa…aa.a…aaa….aa…..Aaa...aaa...aa...aa.a...aaa....aa.....
Female
Manja kuliyalumWith turmeric baths,
Muthu kuviyalumAnd heaps of pearls,
Angam muzhuvadhum pongi paravidumOverflowing and spreading across your whole form,
Sundhariyae o sundhariyaeOh beautiful Goddess, oh beautiful one!
Chorus
Padapada padavenaWith a quick fluttering sound,
Arul mazhai pozhiyattumLet the shower of divine grace pour down,
Sudar vizhi thirandhidu ambigaiyaeOpen your radiant eyes, oh Goddess Ambigai!
Female
Vatta kadhirenaLike the full round sun,
Vanna chudarenaLike a vibrant colorful flame,
Neela karu vizhi nitham oli vidumYour dark blue eyes shine brightly every day,
Sundhariyae o sundhariyaeOh beautiful Goddess, oh beautiful one!
Chorus
Sadasada sadavenaWith a sudden swift clatter,
Thuyarangal sariyattumLet all sorrows crumble and fall away,
Adaikkalam koduthidu sundhariyaeGrant us sanctuary, oh beautiful Goddess!
Female
Dharmam vetri peraFor righteousness to triumph,
Karmam veezhchiyuraFor bad karma to be vanquished,
Simmam yeri varum sooliniyaeOh Goddess who rides a lion holding a trident!
Chorus
En vagai chippudanHolding eight types of divine wealth,
Ezh vagai saagaramAnd the seven vast oceans,
Than vasam kondidum uththamiyaeOh virtuous Goddess who controls everything!
Female
Vaiyam yaavumHolding the entire universe
Oru kaiyil yendhiIn a single hand,
Arul dheivamaagi varum maaliniyaeOh Goddess Maalini who manifests as the deity of grace!
Chorus
Saranam un thiruvadiI surrender at your holy feet,
SankariyaeOh consort of Lord Shankara!
Sagalamum arindhidum saamundiyaeOh Goddess Chamundi who knows all things!
Female
Ishta dheivam yenaComing before us as our beloved deity,
Engal munbu varumOh Supreme Leader, oh Divine Goddess!
Naayagiyae naayagiyae…To circumambulate your holy feet day after day and gain strength,
Chorus
Thiruvadi dhinam dhinamDispelling the inner darkness here,
Valam vara balam tharaSo that we may attain wellness and prosperity,
Irulinai kazhithinguShower your rain of divine grace!
Nalam pera nalam peraFrom head to toe,
Arul mazhai nee pozhivaaiLike a string of divine pearls,
Thalai mudhal kaal varaiDescending rapidly with a rustling sound,
Saram yena muthukkalWith sandalwood and neem leaves fluttering,
Kidukidu kiduvena irangidavaeMay we obtain purity and achieve complete well-being!
Sandhanam veppilai padapada padapadaMother, we wept and worshipped you,
Parisutham kidaithudan sugam peravaeGrant us grace, for you are our only support!
Chorus
Ammaa azhudhom thozhudhomMother, we wept and worshipped you,
Arulvaai thunai neeyaeGrant us grace, for you are our only support!
Ammaa azhudhom thozhudhom
Arulvaai thunai neeyae

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a soul-stirring devotional hymn from the movie Sakthivel (1994), directed by K. S. Ravikumar with music composed by Ilaiyaraaja and lyrics penned by the legendary Vaali. The song is dedicated to Mother Goddess Mariamman (an incarnation of Shakti/Parvati), invoking her under various divine epithets such as Sundhari, Kaali, Ambigai, and Chamundi. The devotee fervently pleads for protection, mercy, and deliverance from affliction, describing her divine form, her sacred attributes like turmeric and neem, and her power to eradicate darkness and sorrow.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Onomatopoeia (Irattai Kilaravi / Anukaranasabda)

Padapada padavena / Arul mazhai pozhiyattum

Rhythmic sound-imitative words like 'padapada', 'sadasada', and 'kidukidu' are used to vividly express the speed and force of divine grace pouring down and sorrows crumbling away.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Karunai kadalae / Nenjirangi vaa amudha sudarae

The Goddess is metaphorically addressed as an ocean of mercy ('Karunai kadalae') and a nectar flame ('Amudha sudarae').

Ethirai (Second-letter rhyme)

Paambu yena vembu yena / Paambanindha eesanukku

Rhyming of the second consonant across lines ('Paambu' and 'Paadhi', 'Nanmai' and 'Unnai').

Did you know?

Trivia

Although the music director for Sakthivel (1994) is Ilaiyaraaja, devotional folk-style tracks in Tamil cinema often draw upon traditional temple songs (Amman Pattu) elements. Lyricist Vaali integrated high classical Tamil epithets alongside traditional folk imagery like neem leaves (vembu) and turmeric (manjal).

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