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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thirumal Perumaikku

From Thirumal Perumai · 1968

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Thirumal Perumai
Movie release year
1968
Lyrics added on
18 Oct 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Thirumaal perumaikku nigaraedhu…
Thirumaal perumaikku nigaraedhu
Undhan thiruvadi nizhalukku inaiyaedhu
Perumaanae undhan thirunaamam
Pathu peyargalil vilangum avathaaram
Thirumaal perumaikku nigaraedhu…
Kadal naduvae veezhndha sadhur vaedham
Thannai kaappadharkkae konda avathaaram
Macha avathaaram
Asurargal kodumaikku mudivaagum
Engal achudhanae undhan avathaaram
Koorma avathaaram
Boomiyai kaathida oru kaalam
Nee punaidhadhu mattroru avathaaram
Varaaga avathaaram
Naaraayanaa ennum thiru naamam
Nilai naattida innum oru avathaaram
Narasimma avathaaram
Maavali siram thannil kaal vaithu
Indha mannum vinnum alandha avathaaram
Vaamana avathaaram
Thaai thandhai sollae uyar vaedham
Endru saattriyadhum oru avathaaram
Parasuraamar avathaaram
Oruvanukku ulagil oru thaaram
Enum uyarvinai kaattiya avathaaram
Raama avathaaram
Ragu kulam kondadhu oru raaman
Pinbu yedhu kulam kandadhu pala raaman
Balaraaman
Arasu murai vazhi neri kaakka
Nee adainthathu innoru avathaaram
Kannan avathaaram
Vidhi nadandhadhena madhi mudindhadhena
Vinaiyin payanae uruvaaga
Nilai marandhavarum neri izhandhavarum
Unarum vannam thelivaaga
Innal ozhithu puvi kaakka
Nee edukka vendum oru avathaaram
Kalki avathaaram
Thirumaal perumaikku nigaraedhu
Undhan thiruvadi nizhalukku inaiyaedhu
Thirumaal perumaikku nigaraedhu
Nigaraedhu… nigaraedhu…
What can ever equal the glory of Lord Thirumal?
What can ever equal the glory of Lord Thirumal?
What can compare to the shelter of your holy feet?
O Lord, your divine name
Shines in ten forms through your incarnations.
What can ever equal the glory of Lord Thirumal?
When the four Vedas sank into the ocean depths,
The form you took to protect and save them—
Was the Matsya incarnation.
To put an end to the cruelty of the demons,
O our Lord Achyuta, the form you assumed—
Was the Kurma incarnation.
To protect and rescue the earth in another age,
You took another divine form—
The Varaha incarnation.
To uphold and prove the holy name of Narayana,
You appeared in yet another form—
The Narasimha incarnation.
Placing your foot on King Mahabali's head,
Measuring the earth and the heavens—
Was the Vamana incarnation.
To proclaim that a parent's word is the supreme truth,
Was the purpose of one incarnation—
The Parashurama incarnation.
One devoted wife for one man in this world,
Teaching that noble ideal through your life—
The Rama incarnation.
The Raghu clan was blessed with Rama,
And later the Yadu clan saw Balarama,
Lord Balarama!
To uphold righteous rule and justice,
You arrived in another incarnation—
The Krishna incarnation.
When fate runs its course and human wisdom fails,
When the consequences of deeds take shape,
So that those who forgot their place and lost their virtue
May realize and understand the truth clearly,
To end all suffering and save this earth,
You must take one more incarnation—
The Kalki incarnation.
What can ever equal the glory of Lord Thirumal?
What can compare to the shelter of your holy feet?
What can ever equal the glory of Lord Thirumal?
What can equal it? What can ever equal it?
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic devotional hymn from the movie Thirumal Perumai (1968) praises the supreme grandeur of Lord Vishnu (Thirumal) and systematically describes the Dashavatara (ten divine incarnations). Lyricist Kannadasan beautifully captures the cosmic purpose behind each avatar: saving the Vedas as Matsya, supporting the cosmos as Kurma, rescuing the Earth as Varaha, protecting devotion as Narasimha, humbling pride as Vamana, honoring parental duty as Parashurama, establishing ideal morality as Rama, maintaining order as Balarama, restoring righteousness as Krishna, and finally, the prophecy of Kalki to cleanse world suffering. The overall theme highlights that no divine grace compares to the shelter of Lord Thirumal's feet, celebrating how God manifests periodically across ages to destroy evil, preserve righteousness, and guide humanity toward ultimate liberation.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Rhetorical Question

“Thirumaal perumaikku nigaraedhu…”

The opening line 'Thirumaal perumaikku nigaraedhu' asks 'What can equal the glory of Thirumal?', emphasizing that His glory is incomparable.

Ethukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

“Kadal naduvae veezhndha sadhur vaedham”

The second letters 'd' in 'Kadal' and 'Thannai' (with consonant harmony) or 'r' in 'Oruvanukku' and 'Enum' align with traditional Tamil poetic rules.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

“Pathu peyargalil vilangum avathaaram”

Repeated structural refrain with 'avathaaram' at the end of every stanza to build rhythmic structure.

Antithesis / Contrast

“Indha mannum vinnum alandha avathaaram”

Contrasting 'mannum' (earth/ground) and 'vinnum' (sky/heaven) to show the infinite span measured by Vamana.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by K. V. Mahadevan and rendered powerfully by T. M. Soundararajan, this song acts as a musical summary of the Dashavatara in Vaishnavite tradition. Lyricist Kannadasan successfully packaged complex Puranic lore into crisp, highly memorable poetic Tamil lines that remain a benchmark in Tamil film music devotional writing.

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