Yamanukku Yaman
From Yamanukku Yaman · 1980
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Music director
- Chakravarthy
- Details
- Yamanukku Yaman1980
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Anda bagirandamellaam aatti vaithu | Ruling over and shaking the entire macrocosm, |
| Haa paarthirukkum haa haa | Ha, watching over it, ha ha, |
| Anda bagirandamellaam aatti vaithu paarthirukkum | Who is this fellow who has made the entire cosmos tremble and watched? |
| Ennidathil vandhavan evan da aa aa aa aa | Who is this guy who has dared to come to my presence? |
| Evan da aa aa aa aa…aaa….aaa…aaa…aa… | Who is he? |
| Male | |
| Aayiram yemanai vendru kaaviyam ezhuthi veitha | He who conquered a thousand Yamas and wrote epic history, |
| Aayiram yemanai vendru kaaviyam ezhuthi veitha | He who conquered a thousand Yamas and wrote epic history, |
| Veeranukku peran ivandaa ha haa | He is the grandson of that brave hero, ha ha! |
| Yemanukku yeman daa aa aa aa aa… | He is the Lord of Death to Yama himself! |
| Male | |
| Ettilum uyir parippen enbadhai kuvithu vaippen | I harvest life everywhere and pile them up, |
| Thottadhai mudikkum yemandaa | I am the Yama who finishes whatever he lays hands on! |
| Male | |
| Ada nee ninaikkum maanidarai pol | Hey, he is not like the ordinary mortals you think of, |
| Ivan aaviyillai maarkandan jaadhi ivandaa | He is not a mere mortal soul; he belongs to the immortal lineage of Markandeya! |
| Aaaa…aaa….aaa…aa…aa… | Ah... |
| Male | |
| Naan ezhudhi vittadhanai | Whatever destiny I write down, |
| Bhrammanum maruppadhillai | Even Lord Brahma does not deny or alter, |
| Maanudan maruppadhevandaa | Who is a mere human to oppose it? |
| Male | |
| Ada yaarezhudhi thandhadhaiyum | Hey, whatever destiny anyone has written, |
| Pesugindra veeran ivan | He is the brave hero who can challenge and question it! |
| Bhramannukkum paattan ivan daa | He is the grandfather even to Lord Brahma himself! |
| Yemanukku yeman da aaa…aa…aa… | He is the Lord of Death to Yama himself! |
| Male | |
| Mannilulla vaithiyargal | Have the doctors on earth |
| Noigal thamai vendrathundu | Conquered diseases? Yes, they have, |
| Maranathai vendrathunduda | But have they ever conquered death? |
| Male | |
| Hahaha un kann edhiril savithri | Hahaha, right before your eyes, the story of Savitri |
| Maangalyam vendra kadhai | Who won back her husband's life and marital thread, |
| Thannaiyae arindhavan ivan da | This man is one who truly knows his ultimate self! |
| Yemanukku yeman da aa aa aa…aaa…aa..aa…aa.. | He is the Lord of Death to Yama himself! |
| Male | |
| Manidhargalin karpammoru | A human's gestation period in the womb |
| Paththu maadham | Is ten months, |
| Aayinum maranathin thaedhi enna | Yet what is the exact date of their death? |
| Ada maaperiya vedhangal puranangal | Hey, what is the grand secret that even the great Vedas, Puranas, |
| Idhigaasam ariyaadha saedhi enna | And epics do not know? |
| Male | |
| Ellarukkum mudivondru un kaiyil iruppadhaai | Boasting that everyone's end is held in your hands, |
| Ennidam perumai enna | Why display such pride to me? |
| Ada indralla naalaiyae unakkum orr mudivundu | Hey, not today, but tomorrow even you will face an end, |
| Yema padhavi enbadhenna ha ha | What is this status of being Yama after all, ha ha! |
| Male | |
| Maranathai vendrathu evandaa | Who is the one who conquered death? |
| Male | |
| Adhai palamurai paarthathivan daa | He is the one who has seen it multiple times! |
| Male | |
| Ulagukku thalaivan ivan daa | He is the ruler of the world! |
| Male | |
| Ada avanukku thalaivan ivan daa | Hey, he is the master even over him! |
| Male :Yemanukku yeman daMale :Evan daa | Male: He is Yama to Yama! Male: Who is he? |
| Male :Yemanukku yeman daMale :Evan daa | Male: He is Yama to Yama! Male: Who is he? |
| Male :Yemanukku yeman daMale :Evan daa | Male: He is Yama to Yama! Male: Who is he? |
| Male :Yemanukku yeman da aaa aa aa aa hahahahaha | Male: He is the Lord of Death to Yama himself, hahahahaha! |
அண்ட பகிரண்டமெல்லாம் ஆட்டி வைத்து
ஆஹ் பார்த்திருக்கும் ஹா ஹா
அண்ட பகிரண்டமெல்லாம் ஆட்டி வைத்து பார்த்திருக்கும்
என்னிடத்தில் வந்தவன்டா எவன் டா ஆ ஆ ஆ ஆ
எவன் டா ஆ ஆ ஆ ஆ...ஆ ஆ ஆ ஆ.......
Ruling over and shaking the entire macrocosm,
Ha, watching over it, ha ha,
Who is this fellow who has made the entire cosmos tremble and watched?
Who is this guy who has dared to come to my presence?
Who is he?
ஆயிரம் எமனை வென்று காவியம் எழுதி வைத்த
ஆயிரம் எமனை வென்று காவியம் எழுதி வைத்த
வீரனுக்குப் பேரன் இவன்டா ஹஹா
எமனுக்கு எமன் டா ஆ ஆ ஆ ஆ.......
He who conquered a thousand Yamas and wrote epic history,
He who conquered a thousand Yamas and wrote epic history,
He is the grandson of that brave hero, ha ha!
He is the Lord of Death to Yama himself!
எட்டிலும் உயிர் பறிப்பேன்
எண்பதைக் குவித்து வைப்பேன்
தொட்டதை முடிக்கும் எமன்டா
I harvest life everywhere and pile them up,
I am the Yama who finishes whatever he lays hands on!
அட நீ நினைக்கும் மானிடரைப் போல்
இவன் ஆவியில்லை மார்கண்டன் ஜாதி இவன்டா
ஆ ஆ ஆ ஆ...ஆ ஆ ஆ ஆ.......
Hey, he is not like the ordinary mortals you think of,
He is not a mere mortal soul; he belongs to the immortal lineage of Markandeya!
Ah...
நான் எழுதி விட்டதனை
பிரம்மனும் மறுப்பதில்லை
மானுடன் மறுப்பதெவன்டா
Whatever destiny I write down,
Even Lord Brahma does not deny or alter,
Who is a mere human to oppose it?
அட யாரெழுதி தந்ததையும்
பேசுகின்ற வீரன் இவன்
பிரம்மனுக்கும் பாட்டன் இவன் டா
எமனுக்கு எமன் டா ஆ ஆ ஆ ஆ...
Hey, whatever destiny anyone has written,
He is the brave hero who can challenge and question it!
He is the grandfather even to Lord Brahma himself!
He is the Lord of Death to Yama himself!
மண்ணிலுள்ள வைத்தியர்கள்
நோய்கள் தமை வென்றதுண்டு
மரணத்தை வென்றதுண்டா
Have the doctors on earth
Conquered diseases? Yes, they have,
But have they ever conquered death?
ஹஹஹா
உன் கண் எதிரில் சாவித்ரி மாங்கல்யம்
வென்ற கதை தன்னையே அறிந்ததிவன்டா
எமனுக்கு எமன் டா ஆ ஆ ஆ...ஆ ஆ ஆ
Hahaha, right before your eyes, the story of Savitri
Who won back her husband's life and marital thread,
This man is one who truly knows his ultimate self!
He is the Lord of Death to Yama himself!
மனிதர்களின் கர்ப்பமொரு பத்து மாதம்
ஆயினும் மரணத்தின் தேதி என்ன
அட மாபெரிய வேதங்கள் ப்ராணங்கள்
இதிகாசம் அறியாத சேதி என்ன
A human's gestation period in the womb
Is ten months,
Yet what is the exact date of their death?
Hey, what is the grand secret that even the great Vedas, Puranas,
And epics do not know?
எல்லார்க்கும் முடிவொன்று
உன் கையில் இருப்பதாய்
எண்ணிடும் பெருமை என்ன
அட இன்றல்ல நாளையே உனக்கும் ஓர் முடிவுண்டு
எம பதவி என்பதென்ன ஹ்ஹா
Boasting that everyone's end is held in your hands,
Why display such pride to me?
Hey, not today, but tomorrow even you will face an end,
What is this status of being Yama after all, ha ha!
மரணத்தை வென்றதெவன்டா
Who is the one who conquered death?
அதை பலமுறை பார்த்ததிவன் டா
He is the one who has seen it multiple times!
உலகுக்கு தலைவன் இவன் டா
He is the ruler of the world!
அட அவனுக்கு தலைவன் இவன் டா
Hey, he is the master even over him!
Male: He is Yama to Yama! Male: Who is he?
Male: He is Yama to Yama! Male: Who is he?
Male: He is Yama to Yama! Male: Who is he?
Male: He is the Lord of Death to Yama himself, hahahahaha!
எமனுக்கு எமன் டா ஆண்
: எவன் டா
எமனுக்கு எமன் டா ஆண் :
எவன் டா
எமனுக்கு எமன் டா ஆ ஆ ஆ ஆ ஹஹஹா
Anda bagirandamellaam aatti vaithu
Ruling over and shaking the entire macrocosm,
Haa paarthirukkum haa haa
Ha, watching over it, ha ha,
Anda bagirandamellaam aatti vaithu paarthirukkum
Who is this fellow who has made the entire cosmos tremble and watched?
Ennidathil vandhavan evan da aa aa aa aa
Who is this guy who has dared to come to my presence?
Evan da aa aa aa aa…aaa….aaa…aaa…aa…
Who is he?
Aayiram yemanai vendru kaaviyam ezhuthi veitha
He who conquered a thousand Yamas and wrote epic history,
Aayiram yemanai vendru kaaviyam ezhuthi veitha
He who conquered a thousand Yamas and wrote epic history,
Veeranukku peran ivandaa ha haa
He is the grandson of that brave hero, ha ha!
Yemanukku yeman daa aa aa aa aa…
He is the Lord of Death to Yama himself!
Ettilum uyir parippen enbadhai kuvithu vaippen
I harvest life everywhere and pile them up,
Thottadhai mudikkum yemandaa
I am the Yama who finishes whatever he lays hands on!
Ada nee ninaikkum maanidarai pol
Hey, he is not like the ordinary mortals you think of,
Ivan aaviyillai maarkandan jaadhi ivandaa
He is not a mere mortal soul; he belongs to the immortal lineage of Markandeya!
Aaaa…aaa….aaa…aa…aa…
Ah...
Naan ezhudhi vittadhanai
Whatever destiny I write down,
Bhrammanum maruppadhillai
Even Lord Brahma does not deny or alter,
Maanudan maruppadhevandaa
Who is a mere human to oppose it?
Ada yaarezhudhi thandhadhaiyum
Hey, whatever destiny anyone has written,
Pesugindra veeran ivan
He is the brave hero who can challenge and question it!
Bhramannukkum paattan ivan daa
He is the grandfather even to Lord Brahma himself!
Yemanukku yeman da aaa…aa…aa…
He is the Lord of Death to Yama himself!
Mannilulla vaithiyargal
Have the doctors on earth
Noigal thamai vendrathundu
Conquered diseases? Yes, they have,
Maranathai vendrathunduda
But have they ever conquered death?
Hahaha un kann edhiril savithri
Hahaha, right before your eyes, the story of Savitri
Maangalyam vendra kadhai
Who won back her husband's life and marital thread,
Thannaiyae arindhavan ivan da
This man is one who truly knows his ultimate self!
Yemanukku yeman da aa aa aa…aaa…aa..aa…aa..
He is the Lord of Death to Yama himself!
Manidhargalin karpammoru
A human's gestation period in the womb
Paththu maadham
Is ten months,
Aayinum maranathin thaedhi enna
Yet what is the exact date of their death?
Ada maaperiya vedhangal puranangal
Hey, what is the grand secret that even the great Vedas, Puranas,
Idhigaasam ariyaadha saedhi enna
And epics do not know?
Ellarukkum mudivondru un kaiyil iruppadhaai
Boasting that everyone's end is held in your hands,
Ennidam perumai enna
Why display such pride to me?
Ada indralla naalaiyae unakkum orr mudivundu
Hey, not today, but tomorrow even you will face an end,
Yema padhavi enbadhenna ha ha
What is this status of being Yama after all, ha ha!
Maranathai vendrathu evandaa
Who is the one who conquered death?
Adhai palamurai paarthathivan daa
He is the one who has seen it multiple times!
Ulagukku thalaivan ivan daa
He is the ruler of the world!
Ada avanukku thalaivan ivan daa
Hey, he is the master even over him!
Male :Yemanukku yeman daMale :Evan daa
Male: He is Yama to Yama! Male: Who is he?
Male :Yemanukku yeman daMale :Evan daa
Male: He is Yama to Yama! Male: Who is he?
Male :Yemanukku yeman daMale :Evan daa
Male: He is Yama to Yama! Male: Who is he?
Male :Yemanukku yeman da aaa aa aa aa hahahahaha
Male: He is the Lord of Death to Yama himself, hahahahaha!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song presents a dramatic, philosophical musical confrontation between Lord Yama (the God of Death) and a legendary hero who boldly defies mortality. Lord Yama asserts his supreme authority over human fate, boasting that even Lord Brahma respects his divine decrees and that no mortal can escape his grasp. In response, the hero counters Yama's arrogance by citing mythical figures like Markandeya (who gained immortality through devotion) and Savitri (who reclaimed her husband's life from Yama), demonstrating that wisdom, courage, and self-knowledge can overcome even death. The lyrical dialogue, masterfully penned by Kannadasan, explores deep metaphysical themes of time, destiny, and cosmic hierarchy. By calling the hero 'Yamanukku Yaman' (the Yama to Yama himself), the song highlights that even the deity of death is bound by time and subject to higher spiritual truths, delivering an empowering anthem of human defiance against fate.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Muran (Antithesis)
“Noigal thamai vendrathundu / Maranathai vendrathunduda”
Contrasts doctors successfully conquering diseases with their complete inability to conquer death itself.
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Aayiram yemanai vendru kaaviyam ezhuthi veitha”
Uses repetition of initial vowel sound ('Aayiram' / 'Aatti') across lines for rhythmic emphasis.
Metaphor
“Bhramannukkum paattan ivan daa”
Metaphorically calls the hero the 'grandfather to Lord Brahma' to signify superior ancient wisdom and stature.
Allusion (Puranic References)
“Ivan aaviyillai maarkandan jaadhi ivandaa”
References the mythological story of Markandeya, the eternal youth who defeated Yama through devotion to Lord Shiva.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Yamanukku Yaman' (1980) starring Sivaji Ganesan is a Tamil fantasy film adapted from the 1977 Telugu hit 'Yama Gola'. Lyricist Kannadasan infused classic mythological references like Savitri, Markandeya, and Brahma to create a witty yet deeply philosophical battle of words between a mortal and the Lord of Death.
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