Alaipayuthe Kanna (Oothukkadu Venkata Kavi) Meaning — Line by Line

அலைபாயுதே கண்ணா

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Meaning — Line by Line

Every verse of Alaipayuthe Kanna (Oothukkadu Venkata Kavi) with its English meaning. Tap any word to hear it, or ▶ to recite the verse.

Verse 1#

அலைபாயுதே கண்ணா என் மனம் மிகவே அலைபாயுதே உன் ஆனந்த மோகன வேணுகானம்

alaipāyudhē kaṇṇā en manam migavē alaipāyudhē un ānanda mōhana vēṇugānam

MeaningMy mind surges and tosses like the waves, O Kanna (Krishna) — it surges, restless, for the blissful, enchanting music of Your flute. (This is the famous Tamil kriti of Oothukkadu Venkata Kavi, in raga Kanada.)

Verse 2#

நிலைபெயராது சிலைபோலவே நின்று நேரிழை யவளோடும் நீ குழல் ஊதி கலகலவென்று சிரித்து வந்தென் முன் நிற்கும் தருணம் இது மிகவே

nilaipeyarādhu silaipōlavē ninṟu nērizhai yavaḷōḍum nī kuzhal ūdhi kalakalavenṟu siriththu vandhen mun niṟkum taruṇam idhu migavē

MeaningI long for that moment when, standing as still as a statue without stirring, You play the flute beside the well-adorned maiden, and then come laughing merrily to stand before me — how greatly I yearn for it!

Verse 3#

தெளிந்த நிலவு பட்டப் பகல்போல் எரியுதே உன் திகழ் முகம் சதுர் முகம் மறையுதே குளிர்ந்த அமுதைப் பருகி நீ எனக்களித்தாய் குறை யொன்றுமில்லை மறை மூர்த்தி கண்ணா கரிய மேனி யுடைய கண்ணா நீ எனக்குக் கனிந்த மொழியை அளித்திடு கண்ணா இனி யொரு கணமும் தரியேன் கண்ணா என் கண்ணா உன்னை இனி இனி பிரியேனே

theḷindha nilavu paṭṭap pagalpōl eriyudhē un thigazh mugam sadhur mugam maṟaiyudhē kuḷirndha amudhaip parugi nī enakkaḷiththāy kuṟai yonṟumillai maṟai mūrthi kaṇṇā kariya mēni yuḍaiya kaṇṇā nī enakkuk kanindha mozhiyai aḷiththiḍu kaṇṇā ini yoru kaṇamum thariyēn kaṇṇā en kaṇṇā unnai ini ini piriyēnē

MeaningThe clear moonlight blazes bright as broad day; Your radiant face puts even four-faced Brahma's to shame. Having drunk deep of the cool nectar of Your music, You have given that very bliss to me — now there is nothing at all that I lack, O Kanna, embodiment of the Vedas! O dark-hued Kanna, grant me Your sweet, tender words. I cannot bear to be apart from You even for a single moment more, O my Kanna — never, never again will I be parted from You!

Word-by-Word Breakdown

அலைபாயுதே

alaipāyudhē

It surges / tosses like waves (the mind is restless with longing).

கண்ணா

kaṇṇā

O Kanna (Krishna).

என் மனம் மிகவே அலைபாயுதே

en manam migavē alaipāyudhē

My mind surges greatly like restless waves (for You).

உன் ஆனந்த மோகன வேணுகானம்

un ānanda mōhana vēṇugānam

(Because of) Your blissful, enchanting music of the flute (venu-gana).

நிலைபெயராது சிலைபோலவே நின்று

nilaipeyarādhu silaipōlavē ninṟu

Standing motionless, like a statue, without stirring from the spot.

நேரிழையவளோடும் நீ குழல் ஊதி

nērizhaiyavaḷōḍum nī kuzhal ūdhi

Playing the flute beside the well-adorned maiden (Radha / the gopi).

கலகலவென்று சிரித்து வந்தென் முன் நிற்கும் தருணம்

kalakalavenṟu siriththu vandhen mun niṟkum taruṇam

The moment when You come laughing merrily and stand before me.

தெளிந்த நிலவு பட்டப் பகல்போல் எரியுதே

theḷindha nilavu paṭṭap pagalpōl eriyudhē

The clear moonlight blazes (bright) like broad daylight.

உன் திகழ் முகம் சதுர் முகம் மறையுதே

un thigazh mugam sadhur mugam maṟaiyudhē

Your radiant face puts even the four-faced Brahma's face to shame (eclipses it).

குளிர்ந்த அமுதைப் பருகி நீ எனக்களித்தாய்

kuḷirndha amudhaip parugi nī enakkaḷiththāy

Having drunk the cool nectar (of Your music), You have given (that bliss) to me.

குறை யொன்றுமில்லை மறை மூர்த்தி கண்ணா

kuṟai yonṟumillai maṟai mūrthi kaṇṇā

There is no lack of anything (in me now), O Kanna, embodiment of the Vedas.

கரிய மேனியுடைய கண்ணா

kariya mēniyuḍaiya kaṇṇā

O Kanna of the dark (blue) complexion.

கனிந்த மொழியை அளித்திடு கண்ணா

kanindha mozhiyai aḷiththiḍu kaṇṇā

Grant me Your sweet, tender words, O Kanna.

இனி யொரு கணமும் தரியேன் கண்ணா

ini yoru kaṇamum thariyēn kaṇṇā

I can no longer bear (to be apart) even for a single moment, O Kanna.

உன்னை இனி இனி பிரியேனே

unnai ini ini piriyēnē

I shall never, never again be parted from You!

Origin & History

Source: Tamil kriti of Oothukkadu Venkata Kavi, in raga Kanada, Adi tala (18th century CE)

Author: Oothukkadu Venkata Kavi (Venkata Subbaiyer)

Period: 18th century CE

Oothukkadu Venkata Kavi, a saint and composer devoted to Lord Krishna at Oothukkadu near Thanjavur, poured his love for the Lord into hundreds of kritis. In 'Alaipayuthe Kanna' he gives voice to the soul's overwhelming longing for Krishna — the mind tossing like waves at the music of the flute — in the mood of the gopis who could not bear to be apart from Him. The song, long treasured, has become one of the most popular of all Tamil Krishna kritis.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is 'Alaipayuthe Kanna'?▼

It is a famous Tamil kriti (devotional song) on Lord Krishna by Oothukkadu Venkata Kavi, set in raga Kanada. Its title means 'it surges like waves' — describing the devotee's mind tossing restlessly with longing for Krishna at the sound of His flute. It is among the most loved Krishna songs in Carnatic music.

Who was Oothukkadu Venkata Kavi?▼

Oothukkadu Venkata Kavi (also Venkata Subbaiyer, 18th century) was a great Tamil composer-saint and devotee of Lord Krishna, from Oothukkadu near Thanjavur. He composed hundreds of kritis in Tamil and Sanskrit of remarkable musical and devotional depth, many rediscovered and popularised in modern times.

What does the song express?▼

It expresses madhura bhakti — the soul's restless, loving longing for Krishna. The devotee's mind surges like waves at the enchanting music of His flute, yearning to see Him play beside the gopis and come laughing near; having tasted the nectar of His presence, the devotee feels complete and vows never to part from Him.

When is it sung?▼

It is sung in devotion to Lord Krishna, especially during Krishna Janmashtami, and is a much-loved item in Carnatic music concerts and Bharatanatyam. As a heartfelt prayer of longing and love, it may be sung whenever the devotee yearns for the nearness of Krishna.

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