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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thirumal Azhaga

From Mupperum Deviyar · 1987

Lyricist
K. P. Arivanantham
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Mupperum Deviyar1987

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Thirumal azhaga thirumagal thalaivaOh beautiful Lord Thirumal, Lord of Goddess Lakshmi,
Thiruvarul ivalukku tharavendumYou must grant Your divine grace to her.
Vanavil polae mariya ilamaiHer youth, which vanished like a fading rainbow,
Marubadi ivalukku vara vendumMust return to her once again.
Female
Paanjaalikaaga andru thugil thandha kannaaOh Krishna, who granted endless robes to Draupadi on that day,
Ival konda kolam naan peravendum mannaOh King, I wish to take upon myself the plight she bears.
Paanjaalikaaga andru thugil thandha kannaaOh Krishna, who granted endless robes to Draupadi on that day,
Ival konda kolam naan peravendum mannaOh King, I wish to take upon myself the plight she bears.
Female
Andam yaavaiyum undhan kaalgalilOh One who stood measuring all the worlds
Alandhu nindravaneBeneath Your divine feet,
Andru undhan perinai sonna yaanaiyinOh One who relieved the agony of the elephant Gajendra
Thunbam theerthavaneWho called out Your holy name on that day,
Vaadum poongodikae megam pol varugaCome like a raincloud to this wilting flowering vine,
Mangai vaazhvadharkkae anbu thaen tharugaGrant the honey of affection so this maiden may live.
Female
Thirumal azhaga thirumagal thalaivaOh beautiful Lord Thirumal, Lord of Goddess Lakshmi,
Thiruvarul ivalukku tharavendumYou must grant Your divine grace to her.
Vanavil polae mariya ilamaiHer youth, which vanished like a fading rainbow,
Marubadi ivalukku vara vendumMust return to her once again.
Female
Kallaana ondru un kaal theenda kanduHaving seen a stone transform when touched by Your sacred foot,
Ponnanadhendru deiva kadhai ingu unduThere is a divine story told here,
kallai pennenaOh mystical One who turns stone into a woman
Mannai ponnena maattrum maayavaneAnd transforms soil into gold!
Ival maalai soodidaSo that she may wear her wedding garland,
Maargam thandharul seethai naayaganeShow a way and shower grace, oh Lord of Sita!
Female
Thandhai kattalaiyai thalaiyil yettravaneOh One who dutifully bore His father's command on His head,
Endhan vaarthaigalai yerpaai raghavaneAccept my prayerful words, oh Raghavan!
Female
Nallorgal vaazhaSo that the good and righteous may flourish,
Perum kodiyorai kondraaiYou destroyed the most evil tyrants,
Nallorgal vaazhaSo that the good and righteous may flourish,
Perum kodiyorai kondraaiYou destroyed the most evil tyrants,
Narasimma moorthi ennum avadharamkondaaiYou assumed the incarnation known as Lord Narasimha,
Narasimma moorthi ennum avadharamkondaaiYou assumed the incarnation known as Lord Narasimha,
Female
Annai boomiyai kombilAre You not the Varaha form that lifted Mother Earth
yettriya vadivam nee allavaaUpon Your divine tusk?
Indha kanni poovaiyaiWill You not safeguard this youthful maiden,
Vanna paavaiyai neeyum kaathidavaaThis tender and colorful doll?
Neelam poothavane sogam theerthida vaaOh blue-hued Lord, come to erase her sorrow!
Gnyalam kaathavanae sabam neekkidavaaOh Savior of the universe, come to break her curse!
Female
Thirumal azhaga thirumagal thalaivaOh beautiful Lord Thirumal, Lord of Goddess Lakshmi,
Thiruvarul ivalukku tharavendumYou must grant Your divine grace to her.
Vanavil polae mariya ilamaiHer youth, which vanished like a fading rainbow,
Marubadi ivalukku vara vendumMust return to her once again.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a deeply passionate devotional prayer addressed to Lord Vishnu (Thirumal/Krishna/Rama/Narasimha/Varaha). The singer pleads with the Almighty to restore the lost youth, joy, and beauty of a suffering maiden whose life has faded prematurely like a temporary rainbow. By invoking various legendary avatars and mythological deeds of Vishnu—such as saving Draupadi's honor, rescuing Gajendra the elephant, redeeming Ahalya from stone, taking the Narasimha avatar to protect the righteous, and raising the Earth as Varaha—the devotee begs the Lord to intervene, dispel her curse, and bring renewal and happiness back into her life.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upamai (Simile)

Vanavil polae mariya ilamai

Compares the transience and fading of youth to a rainbow ('Vanavil polae mariya ilamai') and asks the Lord to arrive like a raincloud ('megam pol varuga').

Ethirai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Thirumal azhaga thirumagal thalaiva / Thiruvarul ivalukku tharavendum

Matching second consonants in adjacent lines creating rhythm, such as 'Thirumal' and 'Thiruvarul' ('r' sound) or 'Kallaana' and 'Ponnanadhendru' ('l' / 'n' sound patterns).

Allusion (Mythological References)

Paanjaalikaaga andru thugil thandha kannaa

Extensive use of avatars and epics (Krishna saving Draupadi, Vamana measuring worlds, Gajendra Moksham, Rama redeeming Ahalya, Narasimha, and Varaha).

Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)

Vaadum poongodikae megam pol varuga

Refers to the maiden as a wilting flower vine ('Vaadum poongodi') and a colorful doll ('Vanna paavai').

Did you know?

Trivia

From the film 'Mupperum Deviyar' (1987), this track features music composed by M. S. Vishwanathan and sung by veteran playback singer P. Susheela. The lyrics by K. P. Arivanantham weave together Vaishnavite mythology and traditional Tamil devotional literary structures.

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