Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Pandavar Thammile

From Pandavar Vanavasam · 1961

Lyricist
Kuyilan
Singer
Seerkazhi Govindarajan
Music director
Ghantasala
Details
Pandavar Vanavasam1961

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Paandavar thammilaeAmong the Pandavas,
Iniyavaanaam nagulanaiNakula, who is sweet and pleasant,
Panayamena vaithizhandhenaeI placed him as a wager and lost him.
Male
Villendhu thozhaanThe bow-wielding companion,
Vinnaendhum perum pugazhaanWhose immense fame reaches the sky,
Vijayanum gouravarkkae adimaiyaananaeVijaya (Arjuna) too has become a slave to the Kauravas.
Male
Padaiyellaam nadungidum madhagari beemanaiBhima, like a fierce elephant that makes whole armies tremble,
Pagadaiyil vaithizhandhenaeI placed as a stake in the dice game and lost.
Amaidhiyae uruvaai dharumamae uyiraaiHe who is the embodiment of peace, with righteousness as his soul,
Avaniyil avadharithavanThe one who took birth on this earth,
Thannaiyae thottru vittaanaeHas lost even himself!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

These poignant lines depict the heartbreaking anguish of King Yudhishthira during the infamous game of dice in the Mahabharata. Drowned in despair, he laments losing his beloved brothers one by one to the treacherous Kauravas: first the sweet Nakula, then the mighty archer Arjuna whose fame touches the skies, and then the unstoppable Bhima who instills fear in whole armies. Finally, he laments how the righteous king himself—the very embodiment of peace and virtue—staked and lost his own freedom.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi Ani)

Vinnaendhum perum pugazhaan

Describes Arjuna's fame as touching the sky ('Vinnaendhum perum pugazhaan'), poetically exaggerating his widespread renown.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Padaiyellaam nadungidum madhagari beemanai

Bhima is directly equated to a rutting, formidable elephant ('madhagari') that terrifies entire enemy armies.

Initial Alliteration (Moonaai)

Villendhu thozhaan / Vinnaendhum perum pugazhaan

The repetition of the initial syllable 'Vi' in 'Villendhu' and 'Vinnaendhum' provides a pleasing musical harmony.

Did you know?

Trivia

This dramatic song depicts the catastrophic turning point in the Mahabharata where Yudhishthira loses everything in the game of dice. The powerful vocals of classical maestro Seerkazhi Govindarajan combined with Ghantasala's emotive score perfectly express the deep grief and regret of the Pandava king.

Keep listening

More from Pandavar Vanavasam