பெண் : யமுனை ஆற்றிலே
ஈர காற்றிலே
கண்ணனோடு தான் ஆட..
பார்வை பூத்திட
பாதை பார்த்திட
பாவை ராதையோ வாட
குழு : யமுனை ஆற்றிலே
ஈர காற்றிலே
கண்ணனோடு தான் ஆட..
பார்வை பூத்திட
பாதை பார்த்திட
பாவை ராதையோ வாட
பெண் : இரவும் போனது
பகலும் போனது
மன்னன் இல்லையே கூட..
இளைய கன்னியின்
இமைத்திடாத கண்
இங்கும் அங்குமே தேட….
குழு : இரவும் போனது
பகலும் போனது
மன்னன் இல்லையே கூட..
இளைய கன்னியின்
இமைத்திடாத கண்
இங்கும் அங்குமே தேட….
பெண் : {ஆயர்பாடியில்
கண்ணன் இல்லையோ..ஓ..
ஆசை வைப்பதே
அன்பு தொல்லையோ…} (2)
பாவம் ராதா…
குழு : யமுனை ஆற்றிலே
ஈர காற்றிலே
கண்ணனோடுதான் ஆட..
பெண் : பார்வை பூத்திட
பாதை பார்த்திட
பாவை ராதையோ வாட
Female : Yamunai aatrilae
Eera kaatrilae
Kannanodu dhaan aada
Paarvai poothida
Paadhai paarthida
Paavai raadhaiyo vaada
Chorus : Yamunai aatrilae
Eera kaatrilae
Kannanodu dhaan aada
Paarvai poothida
Paadhai paarthida
Paavai raadhaiyo vaada
Female : Iravum ponathu
Pagalum ponathu
Mannan illayae kooda
Ilaiya kanniyin
Imaithidaatha kan
Ingum angumae thaeda
Chorus : Iravum ponathu
Pagalum ponathu
Mannan illayae kooda
Ilaiya kanniyin
Imaithidaatha kan
Ingum angumae thaeda
Female : {Aayarpaadiyil kannan illaiyo
Aasai vaippathae anbu thollaiyo} (2)
Paavam raadhaa..
Chorus : Yamunai aatrilae
Eera kaatrilae
Kannanodu dhaan aada
Female : Paarvai poothida
Paadhai paarthida
Paavai raadhaiyo vaada
Female: By the Yamuna river,
In the gentle breeze,
She danced with Krishna…
As her eyes bloomed with love,
Waiting on the path,
Poor Radha withered away.
Chorus: By the Yamuna river,
In the gentle breeze,
She danced with Krishna…
As her eyes bloomed with love,
Waiting on the path,
Poor Radha withered away.
Female: The night has passed,
The day has passed,
Yet her beloved king hasn’t come…
The young maiden’s sleepless eyes
Wander everywhere in search.
Chorus: The night has passed,
The day has passed,
Yet her beloved king hasn’t come…
The young maiden’s sleepless eyes
Wander everywhere in search.
Female: {In the village of cowherds,
Is Krishna nowhere to be found? Oh…
To desire love — is it a sweet trouble?} (2)
Poor Radha…
Chorus: By the Yamuna river,
In the gentle breeze,
She danced with Krishna…
Female: As her eyes bloomed with love,
Waiting on the path,
Poor Radha withered away.
Meaning of the song
Yamunai Aatrile captures the poignant sorrow of separation through the classical motif of Radha yearning for Krishna along the tranquil banks of the Yamuna River. Composed with a gentle, melancholic cadence, the song evokes a serene yet deeply wistful mood. The lyrical imagery is painted with delicate natural details: a cool, moisture-laden breeze drifting off the river waters, watchful eyes blooming with patient anticipation, and an unblinking gaze scanning empty pathways as days slip seamlessly into nights. Drawing deeply from Vaishnavite bhakti lore and the pastoral realm of Ayarpadi, the song uses the archetypal separation of Radha from her beloved to mirror the ache of human romance. The lyrical narrative tenderly questions whether pure affection inevitably invites torment, presenting longing not merely as sheer pain, but as an enduring and devoted emotional state. The piece beautifully bridges classical mythology with personal emotion, embodying the timeless aesthetic of love endured through patient waiting.
Difficult words and phrases
- யமுனை (Yamunai): The sacred Yamuna River, central to Hindu mythology and Krishna's pastoral life
- பாவை (Paavai): A gentle maiden or young woman, commonly used in classical Tamil poetry
- வாட (Vaada): To wither, languish, or fade away in sorrow and distress
- இமைத்திடாத (Imaithidaatha): Unblinking or motionless without shutting the eyelids, indicating intense focus
- ஆயர்பாடி (Aayarpaadi): Gokulam, the pastoral settlement of cowherds where Krishna spent his youth
- தொல்லை (Thollai): Affliction, torment, or trouble; here referring to the sweet distress of love