Thandavam Podhumaiye
From Ilangeswaran · 1987
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- K. J. Yesudas
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Ilangeswaran1987
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Thandavam podhumaiyae | Enough of this cosmic dance, my Lord. |
| Thandavam podhumaiyae | Enough of this cosmic dance, my Lord. |
| Kailai aandavanae unnai venduvanae | Oh Lord of Mount Kailash, I beg of you. |
| Thiruthandavam podhumaiyae | Enough of this holy cosmic dance, my Lord. |
| Male | |
| Veenaiyil saama vaedham odhiya | When the king who chanted the Sama Veda on the Veena... |
| Vendhan azhumbodhu | ...is weeping, |
| Veenaiyil saama vaedham odhiya | When the king who chanted the Sama Veda on the Veena... |
| Vendhan azhumbodhu | ...is weeping, |
| Male | |
| Netri venneer anindhavan | When he who wears sacred ash on his forehead... |
| Kanneer vadithum vaasal varum bothu | ...comes to your doorstep shedding tears, |
| Male | |
| Thandavam podhumaiyae | Enough of this cosmic dance, my Lord. |
| Kailai aandavanae unnai venduvanae | Oh Lord of Mount Kailash, I beg of you. |
| Thiruthandavam podhumaiyae | Enough of this holy cosmic dance, my Lord. |
| Male | |
| Senjottru kadan theerkka oru thambhiyum | A brother who fought to repay the debt of loyalty, |
| Kaala mughil pol kargitha oru pillaiyum | A son who roared like a dark storm cloud, |
| Senjottru kadan theerkka oru thambhiyum | A brother who fought to repay the debt of loyalty, |
| Kaala mughil pol kargitha oru pillaiyum | A son who roared like a dark storm cloud, |
| Male | |
| Therukaattil poraadi saaindhadhen | Why did they fall after fighting on the battlefield? |
| Endrum saayadha kundranghal nilai saindhadhen | Why did the mountains that never bow down collapse in status? |
| Ivai vinai enbadha illai vidhi enbadha | Shall I call this past karma, or call it destiny? |
| Nitham sathiraadum sivanae un seyal enbadha | Oh Shiva who dances daily, shall I call it your doing? |
| Male | |
| Thandavam podhumaiyae | Enough of this cosmic dance, my Lord. |
| Kailai aandavanae unnai venduvanae | Oh Lord of Mount Kailash, I beg of you. |
| Thiruthandavam podhumaiyae | Enough of this holy cosmic dance, my Lord. |
| Male | |
| Nan pettra magal vaazha nalam paadinen | I sang for the well-being of the daughter I begot, |
| Aval ninaivaaga naal dhorum uyir vaadinen | Remembering her, my soul withers every single day. |
| Nan pettra magal vaazha nalam paadinen | I sang for the well-being of the daughter I begot, |
| Aval ninaivaaga naal dhorum uyir vaadinen | Remembering her, my soul withers every single day. |
| Male | |
| Kuttranghal ver enna naan seidhadhu | What other sins or mistakes have I committed? |
| Endhan suttranghal enai vittu yen ponadhu | Why did my kith and kin abandon me? |
| Kuttranghal ver enna naan seidhadhu | What other sins or mistakes have I committed? |
| Endhan suttranghal enai vittu yen ponadhu | Why did my kith and kin abandon me? |
| Naan thaniyaavadha nenjam thanal aavadha | Must I become isolated? Must my heart turn to burning embers? |
| Endrum kalangadha ilangesan alai paaivadha | Must the king of Lanka, who never wavered, now be tossed like waves? |
| Male | |
| Thandavam podhumaiyae | Enough of this cosmic dance, my Lord. |
| Kailai aandavanae unnai venduvanae | Oh Lord of Mount Kailash, I beg of you. |
| Thiruthandavam podhumaiyae | Enough of this holy cosmic dance, my Lord. |
தாண்டவம் போதுமைய்யே
தாண்டவம் போதுமைய்யே
கைலை ஆண்டவனே உன்னை வேண்டுவனே
திருத்தாண்டவம் போதுமய்யே
Enough of this cosmic dance, my Lord.
Enough of this cosmic dance, my Lord.
Oh Lord of Mount Kailash, I beg of you.
Enough of this holy cosmic dance, my Lord.
வீணையில் சாம வேதம் ஓதிய
வேந்தன் அழும்போது
வீணையில் சாம வேதம் ஓதிய
வேந்தன் அழும்போது
When the king who chanted the Sama Veda on the Veena...
...is weeping,
When the king who chanted the Sama Veda on the Veena...
...is weeping,
நெற்றி வெந்நீர் அணிந்தவன்
கண்ணீர் வடித்தும் வாசல் வரும்போது
When he who wears sacred ash on his forehead...
...comes to your doorstep shedding tears,
தாண்டவம் போதுமைய்யே
கைலை ஆண்டவனே உன்னை வேண்டுவனே
திருத்தாண்டவம் போதுமய்யே
Enough of this cosmic dance, my Lord.
Oh Lord of Mount Kailash, I beg of you.
Enough of this holy cosmic dance, my Lord.
செஞ்சோற்று கடன் தீர்க்க ஒரு தம்பியும்
காள முகில் போல கர்ஜித்த ஒரு பிள்ளையும்
செஞ்சோற்று கடன் தீர்க்க ஒரு தம்பியும்
காள முகில் போல கர்ஜித்த ஒரு பிள்ளையும்
A brother who fought to repay the debt of loyalty,
A son who roared like a dark storm cloud,
A brother who fought to repay the debt of loyalty,
A son who roared like a dark storm cloud,
தெருக்காட்டில் போராடி சாய்ந்ததேன்
என்றும் சாயாத குன்றங்கள் நிலை சாய்ந்ததேன்
இவை வினை என்பதா இல்லை விதி என்பதா
நித்தம் சதிராடும் சிவனே உன் செயல் என்பதா
Why did they fall after fighting on the battlefield?
Why did the mountains that never bow down collapse in status?
Shall I call this past karma, or call it destiny?
Oh Shiva who dances daily, shall I call it your doing?
தாண்டவம் போதுமைய்யே
கைலை ஆண்டவனே உன்னை வேண்டுவனே
திருத்தாண்டவம் போதுமய்யே
Enough of this cosmic dance, my Lord.
Oh Lord of Mount Kailash, I beg of you.
Enough of this holy cosmic dance, my Lord.
நான் பெற்ற மகள் வாழ நலம் பாடினேன்
அவள் நினைவாக நாள்தோறும் உயிர் வாடினேன்
நான் பெற்ற மகள் வாழ நலம் பாடினேன்
அவள் நினைவாக நாள்தோறும் உயிர் வாடினேன்
I sang for the well-being of the daughter I begot,
Remembering her, my soul withers every single day.
I sang for the well-being of the daughter I begot,
Remembering her, my soul withers every single day.
குற்றங்கள் வேறென்ன நான் செய்தது
எந்தன் சுற்றங்கள் எனை விட்டு ஏன் போனது
குற்றங்கள் வேறென்ன நான் செய்தது
எந்தன் சுற்றங்கள் எனை விட்டு ஏன் போனது
நான் தனியாவதா நெஞ்சம் தணலாவதா
என்றும் கலங்காத இலங்கேசன் அலை பாய்வதா
What other sins or mistakes have I committed?
Why did my kith and kin abandon me?
What other sins or mistakes have I committed?
Why did my kith and kin abandon me?
Must I become isolated? Must my heart turn to burning embers?
Must the king of Lanka, who never wavered, now be tossed like waves?
தாண்டவம் போதுமைய்யே
கைலை ஆண்டவனே உன்னை வேண்டுவனே
திருத்தாண்டவம் போதுமய்யே....
Enough of this cosmic dance, my Lord.
Oh Lord of Mount Kailash, I beg of you.
Enough of this holy cosmic dance, my Lord.
Thandavam podhumaiyae
Enough of this cosmic dance, my Lord.
Thandavam podhumaiyae
Enough of this cosmic dance, my Lord.
Kailai aandavanae unnai venduvanae
Oh Lord of Mount Kailash, I beg of you.
Thiruthandavam podhumaiyae
Enough of this holy cosmic dance, my Lord.
Veenaiyil saama vaedham odhiya
When the king who chanted the Sama Veda on the Veena...
Vendhan azhumbodhu
...is weeping,
Veenaiyil saama vaedham odhiya
When the king who chanted the Sama Veda on the Veena...
Vendhan azhumbodhu
...is weeping,
Netri venneer anindhavan
When he who wears sacred ash on his forehead...
Kanneer vadithum vaasal varum bothu
...comes to your doorstep shedding tears,
Thandavam podhumaiyae
Enough of this cosmic dance, my Lord.
Kailai aandavanae unnai venduvanae
Oh Lord of Mount Kailash, I beg of you.
Thiruthandavam podhumaiyae
Enough of this holy cosmic dance, my Lord.
Senjottru kadan theerkka oru thambhiyum
A brother who fought to repay the debt of loyalty,
Kaala mughil pol kargitha oru pillaiyum
A son who roared like a dark storm cloud,
Senjottru kadan theerkka oru thambhiyum
A brother who fought to repay the debt of loyalty,
Kaala mughil pol kargitha oru pillaiyum
A son who roared like a dark storm cloud,
Therukaattil poraadi saaindhadhen
Why did they fall after fighting on the battlefield?
Endrum saayadha kundranghal nilai saindhadhen
Why did the mountains that never bow down collapse in status?
Ivai vinai enbadha illai vidhi enbadha
Shall I call this past karma, or call it destiny?
Nitham sathiraadum sivanae un seyal enbadha
Oh Shiva who dances daily, shall I call it your doing?
Thandavam podhumaiyae
Enough of this cosmic dance, my Lord.
Kailai aandavanae unnai venduvanae
Oh Lord of Mount Kailash, I beg of you.
Thiruthandavam podhumaiyae
Enough of this holy cosmic dance, my Lord.
Nan pettra magal vaazha nalam paadinen
I sang for the well-being of the daughter I begot,
Aval ninaivaaga naal dhorum uyir vaadinen
Remembering her, my soul withers every single day.
Nan pettra magal vaazha nalam paadinen
I sang for the well-being of the daughter I begot,
Aval ninaivaaga naal dhorum uyir vaadinen
Remembering her, my soul withers every single day.
Kuttranghal ver enna naan seidhadhu
What other sins or mistakes have I committed?
Endhan suttranghal enai vittu yen ponadhu
Why did my kith and kin abandon me?
Kuttranghal ver enna naan seidhadhu
What other sins or mistakes have I committed?
Endhan suttranghal enai vittu yen ponadhu
Why did my kith and kin abandon me?
Naan thaniyaavadha nenjam thanal aavadha
Must I become isolated? Must my heart turn to burning embers?
Endrum kalangadha ilangesan alai paaivadha
Must the king of Lanka, who never wavered, now be tossed like waves?
Thandavam podhumaiyae
Enough of this cosmic dance, my Lord.
Kailai aandavanae unnai venduvanae
Oh Lord of Mount Kailash, I beg of you.
Thiruthandavam podhumaiyae
Enough of this holy cosmic dance, my Lord.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Thandavam Podhumaiyae' is a poignant devotional lament sung from the perspective of Ravana (Ilangeswaran), the ruler of Lanka, pleading with his supreme deity, Lord Shiva. Ravana, once an invincible king, grand scholar of the Sama Veda, and master of the Veena, finds himself completely devastated by the horrors of war. Having lost his valiant brother Kumbhakarna and his heroic son Indrajit in battle, and abandoned by his relatives, he approaches Shiva in total surrender and grief. In this moving piece penned by lyricist Vaali, Ravana questions whether his tragic downfall is the result of relentless karma, inescapable fate, or Lord Shiva's destructive cosmic dance (Thandavam). Heartbroken and humbled, the once-unshakeable King of Lanka begs Shiva to cease his fierce dance and grant mercy to his burning soul.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Ethukai (Second Letter Rhyming)
“Kuttranghal ver enna naan seidhadhu / Endhan suttranghal enai vittu yen ponadhu”
The second consonant 'ttra' rhymes across adjacent lines, creating a classic Tamil rhythmic flow.
Simile (Upamai)
“Kaala mughil pol kargitha oru pillaiyum”
Compares the son (Indrajit) roaring in battle to the thunderous roar of a dark raincloud.
Rhetorical Question
“Ivai vinai enbadha illai vidhi enbadha”
Ravana asks reflective philosophical questions expressing his angst and helplessness before destiny.
Anaphora / Refrain
“Thandavam podhumaiyae”
Repetition of the pleading line 'Thandavam podhumaiyae' throughout the song underscores Ravana's desperation.
Did you know?
Trivia
This song presents Ravana not merely as a mythological antagonist, but as a deeply tragic, learned devotee of Lord Shiva. According to Ramayana lore, Ravana created the Ravana Veena using his own nerves and bones to chant the Sama Veda, pleasing Lord Shiva. Lyricist Vaali masterfully captures this tragic classical persona in this song.
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