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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Unnai Nambi

From Thambi Durai · 1997

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Thambi Durai1997

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Unnai nambi vaazhgirenI live trusting in you
Innum enna naadagamWhat is this drama still?
Enna konjam paaradiLook at me a little, oh Goddess
Kangal kondaai aayiramYou possess a thousand eyes
Mangai vendum mangalamThe mangalam (auspiciousness) this woman needs
Ingae thaaraaiyoWill you not bestow it here?
Unnai potrum mandhiramIf I chant the mantra praising you
Sonnaal vaaraaiyoWill you not come?
Female
Unnai nambi vaazhgirenI live trusting in you
Innum enna naadagamWhat is this drama still?
Enna konjam paaradiLook at me a little, oh Goddess
Kangal kondaai aayiramYou possess a thousand eyes
Female
Dhukkam theerkkumYou who destroy sorrow
Durgai neeyae oo paripooraniYou are Durga, oh complete divine mother
Anbaal vaazhthum ambaal neeyaeYou are Amba who blesses with love
Ooo bhavathaaraniOh Bhavatharani, savior of the world
Salangai kulungida nilam adhiraWith anklets jingling and the ground trembling
Nadamaadum naayagiOh heroine who dances
Asurar nadungida vizhi sivakkaWith eyes turning red as demons tremble
Pazhi vaangum bairaviOh Bhairavi who takes vengeance
Female
Vinai purindhavargalThose who committed evil deeds
Podi pada udanaeTo turn them into dust immediately
Kanaigalai thoduthiduShoot your arrows
Enadhuyir kanavanSo that my life-giver husband
Ezhundhu nadandhidaMay rise and walk again
Udhavigal purindhiduExtend your helping hand
Viradham kaathavalShe who maintained her penance
Malar soodida vendumMust wear flowers in her hair again
Vizhi paarammaaOpen your eyes and look, Mother
Female
Unnai nambi vaazhgirenI live trusting in you
Innum enna naadagamWhat is this drama still?
Enna konjam paaradiLook at me a little, oh Goddess
Kangal kondaai aayiramYou possess a thousand eyes
Mangai vendum mangalamThe mangalam (auspiciousness) this woman needs
Ingae thaaraaiyoWill you not bestow it here?
Unnai potrum mandhiramIf I chant the mantra praising you
Sonnaal vaaraaiyoWill you not come?
Female
Unnai nambi vaazhgirenI live trusting in you
Innum enna naadagamWhat is this drama still?
Enna konjam paaradiLook at me a little, oh Goddess
Kangal kondaai aayiramYou possess a thousand eyes
Female
Nenjam kalangudhuMy heart is distressed
Ingu thanjam vazhangida vaaCome to grant refuge here
Ullam urugudhuMy heart is melting
Anbu vellam perugida vaaCome so the flood of love overflows
Female
Dhikku thisai engengumIn every direction and corner
Chakkar vizhi minnaWith your eyes flashing like wheels
Pongi yezhu inginnumRise up even now
Mauna nilai ennaWhy this state of silence?
Female
Pathiniyai vanjiththaSeeing the evil ones
Dhushtargalai kanduWho deceived a chaste woman
Thakka padi thandikkaTo punish them appropriately
Thulli yezhu indruLeap and rise today
Female
Kalai magalum alai magalumOh divine entity to whom
Thalai vanangum porulaeGoddess Saraswati and Goddess Lakshmi bow down
Kula magalin kulam thazhaikkaFor the lineage of this family woman to flourish
Manam irangi arulaeHave mercy and shower grace
Female
Viradhamudan unai naalumShe who worshiped you daily with penance
Vanangiyaval nalam vaazha vaa vaa vaaCome come come so she may live well
Virumba dhinam udhavaadhuWithout helping every day as desired
Iniyum manam porukkaadhu vaa vaa vaaMy heart cannot bear it anymore, come come come

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This devotional song is a powerful prayer directed to the Divine Mother (Durga/Bhairavi). A devoted wife appeals passionately to the Goddess to end her silent drama and intervene in her life. She pleads for the recovery and well-being of her husband, begging the Goddess to destroy the evil forces that deceived them, restore her marital auspiciousness (mangalam), and grant grace so her family line may flourish.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Emoni / Monai (Initial Rhyme/Alliteration)

Mangai vendum mangalam

Matching initial sounds in consecutive or adjacent words/lines, such as 'Mangai' and 'mangalam'.

Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Kalai magalum alai magalum / Thalai vanangum porulae

Matching second consonants across lines, seen in 'Salangai' and 'Nadamaadum' or 'Kalai' and 'Thalai'.

Imagery / Epithet

Salangai kulungida nilam adhira / Nadamaadum naayagi

Rich imagery depicting the fierce cosmic form of Goddess Durga/Bhairavi with flashing eyes and jingling anklets.

Repetition / Anaphora

Vanangiyaval nalam vaazha vaa vaa vaa

Repeated call 'vaa vaa vaa' (come come come) emphasizing urgent emotional plea.

Did you know?

Trivia

The lyrics are written by legendary Tamil poet Vaali, structured in the traditional Tamil devotional hymn style (Amman Paadal) invoking fierce deities like Durga and Bhairavi to seek divine justice and restoration of a husband's life.

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