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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Rama Pathame Gnanaoli

From Bhaktha Sabari · 1960

Lyricist
Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
Singer
P. B. Sreenivas
Music director
Pendyala Nageswara Rao
Movie name
Bhaktha Sabari
Movie release year
1960
Lyrics added on
28 Apr 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Raama paathamae nyaana oli
Hari naama geedhamae motcha vazhi
Raama paathamae nyaana oli
Hari naama geedhamae motcha vazhi
Thaamasa gunamae theernthidumae
Thavamongidumae oru naal oru tharamae
Sonnaalae raguraama kadhai
Thannaalae varum inba nilai
Sriramanaa pavaharanaa raamaa
Thaaraga naamaa sriraama
Sriramanaa pavaharanaa raamaa
Thaaraga naamaa sriraama…
Aasaiyendra oru paasa kayittril
Aadugindra pamparamaai suzhandrae
Oosalaadi thiriyaathae manamae
Maasillaatha sugavaazhvu ninaiyumae
Sonnaalae raguraama kadhai
Thannaalae varum inba nilai…
Sriramanaa pavaharanaa raamaa
Thaaraga naamaa sriraama
Sriramanaa pavaharanaa raamaa
Thaaraga naamaa sriraama…
Rama's holy feet are the light of wisdom,
Singing the praise of Lord Hari is the path to salvation.
Rama's holy feet are the light of wisdom,
Singing the praise of Lord Hari is the path to salvation.
All darkness and laziness will fade away,
And spiritual strength will grow, if even once a day,
You merely speak the story of Raghurama,
A state of true bliss will arrive on its own...
O Sri Ramana, remover of worldly sorrows, O Rama!
O Sri Rama, whose holy name delivers us all!
O Sri Ramana, remover of worldly sorrows, O Rama!
O Sri Rama, whose holy name delivers us all!
Bound by the rope of attachment called desire,
Spinning endlessly like a whirring top,
Do not waver and wander, O mind!
Think instead of a pure and joyful life!
If you merely speak the story of Raghurama,
A state of true bliss will arrive on its own...
O Sri Ramana, remover of worldly sorrows, O Rama!
O Sri Rama, whose holy name delivers us all!
O Sri Ramana, remover of worldly sorrows, O Rama!
O Sri Rama, whose holy name delivers us all!
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This devotional track from the film 'Bhaktha Sabari' highlights the transformative power of chanting Lord Rama's name and taking refuge at His sacred feet. It explains that true wisdom and salvation (moksha) are achieved not through worldly attachments, but through pure spiritual devotion that dispels tamas (sloth and ignorance) and brings inner clarity. The lyrics urge the human mind to stop oscillating restlessly like a spinning top tied by ropes of desire and material bonds. By turning one's thoughts toward Raghurama's sacred life story and repeating His liberating 'Taraka' name, a seeker effortlessly attains supreme, stainless bliss and freedom from earthly sins.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai / Rupaka)

Aasaiyendra oru paasa kayittril / Aadugindra pamparamaai suzhandrae

Desire is metaphorically described as a binding rope ('paasa kayiru'), and the restless mind is compared to a top ('pamparam') spinning out of control.

Second-Letter Rhyme (Edhugai)

Sonnaalae raguraama kadhai / Thannaalae varum inba nilai

Rhyming of the second consonant ('s'/'n') between 'Aasaiyendra' and 'Oosalaadi', as well as 'Sonnaalae' and 'Thannaalae'.

Alliteration (Monaai) and Internal Rhythm

Sriramanaa pavaharanaa raamaa / Thaaraga naamaa sriraama

Repetition of soft and rhythmic nasal sounds ('na', 'raa', 'ma') creates a melodious, chant-like devotional quality.

Refrain / Anaphora

Raama paathamae nyaana oli / Hari naama geedhamae motcha vazhi

The deliberate repetition of lines emphasizing Rama's feet and name reinforces the song's primary devotional intent.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Bhaktha Sabari' (1960) was a mythological-devotional film directed by W. T. Sathyanathan, retelling the legendary Ramayana episode of the elderly devotee Sabari. The soundtrack, composed by Pendyala Nageswara Rao with lyrics by Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass, remains a hallmark of classical-devotional cinema from that era, rendered with deep emotional resonance by legendary singer P. B. Srinivas.

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