Saranam Bhava
From Sethu · 1999
- Lyricist
- Lyricist Not Known
- Singer
- Sujatha
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Sethu1999
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Aaaah aaaaa | Aaaah aaaaa |
| Sharanam bhava karunaamayi | Be my refuge, O merciful one |
| Guru deenadayaalo | O Guru, compassionate to the distressed |
| Sharanam bhava karunaamayi | Be my refuge, O merciful one |
| Guru deenadayaalo | O Guru, compassionate to the distressed |
| Female | |
| Karunaa rasa | O essence of compassion |
| Varunaalaya | O ocean of grace |
| Kariraaja krupaalo | O one who showed mercy to Gajendra, the king of elephants |
| Female | |
| Adhuna khalu | Now indeed |
| Vidhina mayi | by destiny upon me |
| Sudhiyaa sura paritham | surrounded by divine wise beings |
| Madhusudhana madhusudhana | O Madhusudhana, slayer of demon Madhu |
| Hara mamaaka duritham | Destroy my miseries and afflictions |
| Female | |
| Sharanam bhava | Be my refuge |
| Karunaamayi | O compassionate one |
| Guru deenadayaalo | O Guru, compassionate to the humble |
| Female | |
| Ghrni mandala mani kundala | Adorned with gem-studded earrings radiant like the sun |
| Phani mandala shayana | O one who slumbers upon the coiled serpent Adisesha |
| Animaadhi suguna bhushana | Adorned with divine virtues and mystical powers |
| Mani mandapa sadhana | Whose abode is a gem-adorned hall |
| Vinatha suta ghana vaahana | Who rides upon Garuda, the son of Vinata |
| Muni maanasa bhavana | Who resides in the meditative minds of sages |
| Madhusudhana madhusudhana | O Madhusudhana, slayer of demon Madhu |
| Hara maamaka duritham | Destroy my miseries and afflictions |
| Female | |
| Sharanam bhava | Be my refuge |
| Karunaamayi | O compassionate one |
| Guru deenadayaalo | O Guru, compassionate to the distressed |
| Sharanam bhava karunaamayi | Be my refuge, O merciful one |
| Guru deenadayaalo | O Guru, compassionate to the distressed |
ஆஅஹ் ஆஆஅ
சரணம் பவ கருணாமயி
குரு தீனதயாலோ
சரணம் பவ கருணாமயி
குரு தீனதயாலோ
Aaaah aaaaa
Be my refuge, O merciful one
O Guru, compassionate to the distressed
Be my refuge, O merciful one
O Guru, compassionate to the distressed
கருணா ரச
வருனாலய
கரிராஜ கிருபாலோ
O essence of compassion
O ocean of grace
O one who showed mercy to Gajendra, the king of elephants
அதுனா க்ஹலு
விதினா மயி
சுதியா சுற பரிதம்
மதுசூதனா மதுசூதனா
ஹர மாமாக துரிதம்
Now indeed
by destiny upon me
surrounded by divine wise beings
O Madhusudhana, slayer of demon Madhu
Destroy my miseries and afflictions
சரணம் பவ
கருணாமயி
குரு தீனதயாலோ
Be my refuge
O compassionate one
O Guru, compassionate to the humble
ஹர்ணி மண்டல மணி குண்டல
பனி மண்டல சயனா
அணிமாதி சுகுண பூஷன
மணி மண்டப சதனா
வினதா சுத கனா வாஹன
முனி மானசா பவனா
மதுசூதனா மதுசூதனா
ஹர மாமாக துரிதம்
Adorned with gem-studded earrings radiant like the sun
O one who slumbers upon the coiled serpent Adisesha
Adorned with divine virtues and mystical powers
Whose abode is a gem-adorned hall
Who rides upon Garuda, the son of Vinata
Who resides in the meditative minds of sages
O Madhusudhana, slayer of demon Madhu
Destroy my miseries and afflictions
சரணம் பவ
கருணாமயி
குரு தீனதயாலோ
சரணம் பவ கருணாமயி
குரு தீனதயாலோ
Be my refuge
O compassionate one
O Guru, compassionate to the distressed
Be my refuge, O merciful one
O Guru, compassionate to the distressed
Aaaah aaaaa
Aaaah aaaaa
Sharanam bhava karunaamayi
Be my refuge, O merciful one
Guru deenadayaalo
O Guru, compassionate to the distressed
Sharanam bhava karunaamayi
Be my refuge, O merciful one
Guru deenadayaalo
O Guru, compassionate to the distressed
Karunaa rasa
O essence of compassion
Varunaalaya
O ocean of grace
Kariraaja krupaalo
O one who showed mercy to Gajendra, the king of elephants
Adhuna khalu
Now indeed
Vidhina mayi
by destiny upon me
Sudhiyaa sura paritham
surrounded by divine wise beings
Madhusudhana madhusudhana
O Madhusudhana, slayer of demon Madhu
Hara mamaaka duritham
Destroy my miseries and afflictions
Sharanam bhava
Be my refuge
Karunaamayi
O compassionate one
Guru deenadayaalo
O Guru, compassionate to the humble
Ghrni mandala mani kundala
Adorned with gem-studded earrings radiant like the sun
Phani mandala shayana
O one who slumbers upon the coiled serpent Adisesha
Animaadhi suguna bhushana
Adorned with divine virtues and mystical powers
Mani mandapa sadhana
Whose abode is a gem-adorned hall
Vinatha suta ghana vaahana
Who rides upon Garuda, the son of Vinata
Muni maanasa bhavana
Who resides in the meditative minds of sages
Madhusudhana madhusudhana
O Madhusudhana, slayer of demon Madhu
Hara maamaka duritham
Destroy my miseries and afflictions
Sharanam bhava
Be my refuge
Karunaamayi
O compassionate one
Guru deenadayaalo
O Guru, compassionate to the distressed
Sharanam bhava karunaamayi
Be my refuge, O merciful one
Guru deenadayaalo
O Guru, compassionate to the distressed
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is a deeply spiritual Sanskrit prayer addressed to Lord Vishnu (Madhusudhana), appealing for refuge and relief from karmic or earthly sufferings. The devotee extols the Lord as an ocean of mercy, recalling His salvation of Gajendra the elephant king and describing His divine attributes—resting upon the sacred serpent Adisesha, riding Garuda, and abiding in the tranquil minds of meditating sages. In the context of the movie Sethu (1999), this serene hymn serves as a poignant backdrop during emotional sequences involving the protagonist's mental asylum life, highlighting the tragic juxtaposition between his fractured consciousness and divine peace.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Antya Prasa (End Rhyme)
“Ghrni mandala mani kundala / Phani mandala shayana”
The usage of matching terminal syllables creates a rhythmic, chant-like quality throughout the stanzas.
Repetition (Anaphora / Refrain)
“Madhusudhana madhusudhana”
The recurring call to 'Madhusudhana' and 'Sharanam bhava' reinforces the central theme of seeking divine sanctuary.
Metaphor & Epithet
“Karunaa rasa Varunaalaya”
Describes the Lord through rich poetic epithets like 'Varunaalaya' (ocean of compassion) and 'Muni maanasa bhavana' (dwelling in the minds of sages).
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja for the critically acclaimed film Sethu (1999) directed by Bala, this Sanskrit stotram features prominently during the mental asylum sequence. Its classical devotional tone contrasts deeply with the raw, tragic plight of the protagonist played by Vikram.
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