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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Sinam Kamam Poi Kalavu

From Ashok Kumar · 1941

Lyricist
Udumalai Narayanakavi
Singer
M. K. Thiyagaraja Bagavathar
Music director
Alandur Sivasubramaniyam
Details
Ashok Kumar1941

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Sinam kaamam poi kalavuAnger, lust, lies, and theft
Vanja nenjarDeceitful-hearted ones
Suya nalamae kondu oonDriven purely by self-interest
Thindru udal valarppaar…aa…aa…Eat meat and nourish their bodies... aa... aa...
Sinam kaamam poi kalavuAnger, lust, lies, and theft
Vanja nenjarDeceitful-hearted ones
Suya nalamae kondu oonDriven purely by self-interest
Thindru udal valarppaar…aa…aa…Eat meat and nourish their bodies... aa... aa...
Male
Thaniyirundhu unavu kollaaEven after seeing that a crow never eats its food alone
Kaagam kandumSeeing the crow
Thannuyir pol mannuyiraiThey fail to treat other living beings
Paaraar…aa…aa… aa…aa…aaAs their own life... aa... aa... aa... aa... aa...
Aa…aa…aa… aa…aa…aa…ma…Aa... aa... aa... aa... aa... aa... ma...
Aa…..aa…aa… aa…aa…aa..maAa..... aa... aa... aa... aa... aa.. ma
Thaemaangani irukka kaanjirangaaWhile sweet mangoes are available, toxic strychnine fruit
Yunna yennumThey desire to eat
Thaemaangani irukka kaanjirangaaWhile sweet mangoes are available, toxic strychnine fruit
Yunna ennumThey desire to eat
Akka sadarthama kiranghugindren…hae…Alas, I am bewildered and distressed... hae...
Hae…ae… hae…ae…ae…Hae... ae... hae... ae... ae...
Hae…ae…ae…ae…aa…aa…Hae... ae... ae... ae... aa... aa...
Aa…aa…aa… aa…aa…aa naa…naana…Aa... aa... aa... aa... aa... aa naa... naana...
Aa..aa…aa… aa…aa…aaAa.. aa... aa... aa... aa... aa
Karunai vinnae punidha enO sky of mercy, my holy
Gunakkundrae…ae…ae…ya…ya…aa…aa…Mountain of virtue... ae... ae... ya... ya... aa... aa...
Karunai vinnae punidha yenO sky of mercy, my holy
Gunakkundrae…ae…ae…Mountain of virtue... ae... ae...
Buddha moorthi…ee…aa…aa…aa…Lord Buddha... ee... aa... aa... aa...
Bodhi nizhalamarndhavanae…ae…ae…ae…O One seated under the shade of the Bodhi tree... ae... ae... ae...
Aru kann paaraai…aa…aa…Gaze upon me with eyes of grace... aa... aa...
Aa…aa…aa…aa…aa…aa…aa…Aa... aa... aa... aa... aa... aa... aa...
Aa…aa…aa… aa…aa…aaAa... aa... aa... aa... aa... aa
Aa…aa…aa… aa…aa…aa..aa…aa…aa..Aa... aa... aa... aa... aa... aa.. aa... aa... aa..
Male
Paarulagil uzhandru nondhen nondhenWandering in this earthly world, I suffered and grieved
Paarulagil uzhandru nondhen nondhenWandering in this earthly world, I suffered and grieved
Paabhavinai purindhazhindhen vandhenCommitting sinful deeds, I ruined myself and came here
Kaarirul maayai kidandhen thandhenLying trapped in dark illusion, I surrendered
Kaarirul maayai kidandhen thandhenLying trapped in dark illusion, I surrendered
Kamalappadham marandhalaindhen endhaaiForgetting your lotus feet, I wandered aimlessly, O Lord
Garba vaasa minitthaalaen thaalaenI cannot endure remaining in the womb cycle anymore
Garba vaasa minitthaalaen thaalaenI cannot endure remaining in the womb cycle anymore
Karma bandha piravi meelaen meelaenI cannot liberate myself from the karmic cycle of rebirths
Male
Arpudha buddha moorthi naalum naalumO wondrous Lord Buddha, day after day
Arpudha buddha moortthi naalum naalumO wondrous Lord Buddha, day after day
Arpudha buddha moortthi naalum naalumO wondrous Lord Buddha, day after day
Adimai kondennai ini aalum aalumTake me as your humble servant and govern me from now on
Adimai kondennai ini aalum aalumTake me as your humble servant and govern me from now on
Male
Paarulagil uzhandru nondhenWandering in this earthly world, I suffered
Nondhen…aa…oo…aaa…Grieved... aa... oo... aaa...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from the 1941 Tamil movie Ashok Kumar reflects on human moral decay and the soul's earnest search for spiritual liberation under Lord Buddha's divine grace. The speaker laments how people fall into vices like anger, lust, lying, and greed, selfishly seeking worldly pleasures without empathy, unlike even a humble crow that shares its food. Instead of savoring divine virtue (sweet mangoes), humans foolishly choose bitter, toxic desires (kanjiranga fruit). In the second half, the devotee turns toward Lord Buddha, praising him as a sky of compassion and a mountain of pure virtue seated under the Bodhi tree. Desperate to escape the painful cycle of karmic rebirths, dark illusion, and worldly suffering, the speaker surrenders at the lotus feet of the Buddha, begging to be accepted as a servant and guided toward eternal peace.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai / Uruvagam)

Thaemaangani irukka kaanjirangaa Yunna ennum / Karunai vinnae punidha yen Gunakkundrae...ae...ae... Buddha moorthi...ee...aa...aa...aa... Bodhi nizhalamarndhavanae...ae...ae...ae... Aru kann paaraai...aa...aa... Aa...aa...aa...aa...aa...aa...aa... Aa...aa...aa... aa...aa...aa Aa...aa...aa... aa...aa...aa..aa...aa...aa.. Paarulagil uzhandru nondhen nondhen Paarulagil uzhandru nondhen nondhen Paabhavinai purindhazhindhen vandhen Kaarirul maayai kidandhen thandhen Kaarirul maayai kidandhen thandhen Kamalappadham marandhalaindhen endhaai Garba vaasa minitthaalaen thaalaen Garba vaasa minitthaalaen thaalaen Karma bandha piravi meelaen meelaen Arpudha buddha moorthi naalum naalum Arpudha buddha moortthi naalum naalum Arpudha buddha moortthi naalum naalum Adimai kondennai ini aalum aalum Adimai kondennai ini aalum aalum Paarulagil uzhandru nondhen Nondhen…aa…oo…aaa…

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Trivia

Ashok Kumar (1941) is a historic Tamil feature film starring M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar (MKT) and T. R. Rajakumari, directed by Raja Chandrasekhar. The film was based on the Buddhist legend of Prince Kunala, the son of Emperor Ashoka.

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