Maadu Meikum Kanne Lyrics

Maadu Meikum Kanne is a popular Carnatic keerthana about the all-encompassing Lord Krishna. With a plethora of mythological stories and songs about all stages of his life, this kriti talks about a conversation between his mother, Yashodha, and him when he was part of the Yadhava clan more than 5000 years ago. Yashoda always found a spark in the child’s eyes who was ever smiling and nurtured him until he was a grown adult after which she had to let go of him for fighting the Kauravas against Pandavas.

Maadu Meikum Kanne song lyrics in tamil and english portrays The mischievous god, Krishna, is a prankster who started young, right from the time he was a newborn. He was grown as a cow herd boy in his community and the song, Maadu Meikkum Kanne, set in Sahana raga in Adi Thalam (4/4 time signature in western classical music), that translates to ‘the boy or Kanna who handles the cow herds’, is the best way Oothukkadu Venkata Kavi could have described. Let’s talk in depth about this beautiful dialogue between the god and his mother, Yashodha, who is trying to convince him to stay put and keep him in her vicinity, instead of going into the dangerous woods to play with his friends and graze the cows, just like how our mothers tell us when we throw tantrums, when we were young.

Madu Meikkum Kanne Composer: Oothukadu Venkata Subbaiyer

A visionary to the Carnatic Music, prevalent from the 17th century, Venkata Kavi, is an ardent Bhaktha of Lord Krishna. When he was looking for a Guru, his mother asked him to go to the Oothukadu Krishna that felt right for the poet then. Since that incident where he claims to have felt Krsihna’s presence, he was later referred to as Oothukkadu Venkata Kavi. 

With hundreds of songs in his name, the poet has made a mark in the music industry, in sanskrit and tamil. As of today’s date, more than 500 songs are prevalent, thanks to his family descendants who passed on his scripts for generations together. His musical proficiency combined with his devotion toward Krishna and many other gods made way to a variety of musical forms including keerthanas, tillanas and Kavadicchindu (a traditional musical form sung in praise of Lord Muruga while the devotees carry two attached semi circular pieces made of wood or steel adorned with peacock feathers and more, resembling a temple’s skyscraping tower). 

Though the poet was a scholar and amazing at what he does, he always yearned for Krishna’s attention in person. The famous Carnatic track, “Alaipayudhe Kanna” set in Kannada raga, for instance, portrays his frustration especially in the lines, “idhu thagumo, idhu muraiyo, idhu dharmamthaano” during his last few days on earth. However, Maadu Meikum Kanne by Oothukadu Venkata Subbaiyer composed much earlier and it is his imagination of a cute banter between the mischievous Krishna and his mother, Yashoda begging him not to go into the dangerous woods.

Maadu Meikum Kanne Ragam: Sahana

Some say Sahana is a raga that helps you to sleep and Maadu Meikum Kanne is a beautiful track to listen to while sleeping. Instead of counting sheep, you might have cows, Lord Krishna and Yashodha’s plight in your dreams. Now to tell you a little about Sahana raga, it is a janya derived from the 28th Melakartha ragam, Harikambhoji. The Hindustani equivalent of this peaceful scale would be Bageshree and Bhimplasi. Despite having all the seven notes, Sahana is not considered as a Melakartha raga for the simple reason of it being in a zigzag pattern. In Carnatic music terms, Sahana is also called the Ubhaya Vakra Sampoorna Raga. 

The ascending and descending notes of this raga are as follows: 

Arohana: s r2 g3 m1 p m1 d2 n2 S

Avarohana: S n2 d2 p m1 g3 m1 r2 g3 r2 s

An elaboration of these notes would be Shadjam, Chathusruthi Rishabam, Anthara Gandharam, Shuddha Madhyamam, Panchamam, Chathushruthi Daivatham, and Kaisiki Nishadham. Note that the lowest Shadjam is referred to as ‘s’ and the highest note as ‘S’. Now lets look into Maadu Meikum Kanne lyrics in tamil and english.

Maadu Meikum Kanne Lyrics in Tamil

பல்லவி

மாடு மேய்க்கும் கண்ணே, நி போக வேண்டாம் சொன்னே
போக வேணும் தாயே, தடை சொல்லாதே நியே

சரணம்

காச்சின பாலுதரேன், கல்கண்டு சீனி தரேன்
கை நிறைய வெண்ணை தரேன், வெலியில் போக வேண்டாம்
(மாடு மேய்க்கும் கண்ணே நி போக வேண்டாம்)

காச்சின பாலும் வேண்டாம், கல்கண்டு சீனி வேண்டாம்
உல்லாசமாய் மாடு மேய்த்து, ஒரு நொடியில் திரும்பிடுவேன்
(போக வேணும் தாயே தடை சொல்லாதே நியே)

யமுனா நதிக்கரையில் எப்பொழுதும் கள்வர் பயம்
கள்வர் வந்து உன்னை அடித்தால், கலங்கிடுவாய் கண்மணியே
(மாடு மேய்க்கும் கண்ணே நி போக வேண்டாம் சொன்னே)

கள்ளனுக்கோர் கள்ளன் உண்டோ கண்டதுண்டோ சொல்லும் அம்மே
கள்வர் வந்து என்னை அடித்தால், கண்ட துண்டம் செய்திடுவேன்
(போக வேணும் தாயே தடை சொல்லாதே நியே)

கோவர்தன கிரியில், கோரமான மிருகங்கள் உண்டு
கரடி புலியை கண்டால், கலங்கிடுவாய் கண்மணியே
(மாடு மேய்க்கும் கண்ணே நி போக வேண்டாம் சொன்னே)

காட்டு மிருகங்கள் எல்லாம், என்னை கண்டால் ஓடி வரும்
குட்டம் குட்டமாக வந்தால், வேட்டை ஆடி ஜெயித்திடுவேன்
(போக வேணும் தாயே தடை சொல்லாதே நியே)

பாசமுள்ள நந்த கோபர், பாலன் எங்கே என்று கேட்டால்
என்ன பதில் சொல்வேனடா, என்னுடைய கண்மணியே
(மாடு மேய்க்கும் கண்ணே நி போக வேண்டாம் சொன்னே)

பலருடன் விதியிலே பந்துஅடுரன் என்று சொல்லேன்
தேடி என்னை வருகையிலே ஓடி வந்து நின்றிடுவன்
(போக வேணும் தாயே தடை சொல்லாதே நியே)

Maadu Meikum Kanne Lyrics in English

Pallavi

Madu meykkum kanne, nee poga vendam chonnen
Poga Vendum thaye , thadai chollathe neeye

Charanam

Kaichina Paalum Tharen
Karkandu Cheeni Tharen
Kaiyil Vennai Urutti Tharen
Veiyyilile Poga Vendam

Kaichina Paalum Vendam
Karkandu Cheeni Vendam
Ullasamai Maadu Meithu
Oru Nodiyil Thirumbiduven

Yamuna Nadhi Karayil Eppozhudum Kalvar Bhayam,
Kalvar Vandu Unai Adithal Kalangiduvai Kanmaniye

Kalvarukku Kalvarundo Kandadhundo Sollum Amma ,
Kalvar Vandhu Yenai Adithal Kanda Thundam Aakiduven

Govardhana Giriyil Ghoramana Mirugangal Undu
Singam Puli Karadi Vandhal Kalangiduvai Kanmaniye

Kaatu Mirigangal Ellam Ennai Kandal Odi Varum,
Kootamaga Odi Vandal Vettai Aadi Venriduven

Priyamulla Nanda Gopar Baalan Enge Enru Kettal ,
Ennavenru Solliduven Yekkamudan Thediduvar

Veediyile Baalrudan Pandhu Vilayadugiran ,
Kanne Enru Nee Kural Koduthal
Oodi Vandu Ninriduven

Maadu Meikum Kanne Meaning

Pallavi Meaning

The first verse of the song Maadu Meikum Kanne by Oothukadu Venkata Subbaiyer is the mother calling her son, a beloved cowherd boy (Maadu Meikum Kanne), asking him not to go (Poga vendam sonnen). Krishna replies that He has to, to his mother and asks her not to stop him.

Charanam Meaning

The first Charanam talks about a mother who would bribe us with our favorites sometimes to coax us. To Krishna, Yashodha tempts him with boiled milk, sugary candies and thick butter in his hands. She begs him not to go out in the sun and play at home.

The second Charanam is Krishna’s response to this saying he doesn’t want milk, sugar or candies but instead wants to take the cows into the wild. He promises her to return in no time, reassuring her about his safety.

The third verse is her giving more threats hoping that her son will stay home. She tells about the robbers waiting across the banks of Yamuna. She says that these robbers would come after him to threaten and come after him to beat him up.

The fourth verse is again a response to this: He is the thief of thieves and will tear them into pieces if anyone messes with him or tries to lay a finger on him.

In the fifth Charanam, Yashodha talks about the fierce animals that roam around the mountain regions of Govardhana which will scare him.

The sixth verse is a response to her threats about wild animals. Krishna says animals would come running to him when they see him. In case, they come as a herd to attack him, He would hunt each one down and win them over.

The seventh verse is the true worry of a mother. She wonders how she would respond when the loving Nanda Gopas ask where Krishna is, who would search for him frantically with anguish.

The final verse is Krishna reassuring Yashoda that he would be playing in the streets with his ‘boys’ and when she calls him out, He would come back running into her arms.

Famous Versions of Maadu Meikum Kanne

Maadu Meikum Kanne song is sung and performed by starwarts of Carnatic and Bharathanatiyam. Recently, we got to see Abishek (Abby on Instagram) performing an impromptu version of this song along with Aruna Sairam that made waves in the classical music scene. Other significant versions include the adorable dance performance of the 8 year old Arshita Murugadoss and the 6-year old Maya Swaminathan, and a dance version of Rukmini Vijayakumar performing with her students, where she played Yashodha and her students played the role of Lord Krishna in turns. Some notable singers’ versions include S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Uthara Unnikrishnan, Apoorva Jayaraman and K. J. Yesudas.

Conclusion

Maadu Meikum Kanne is a beautiful Carnatic song that music lovers have enjoyed for centuries together whether it is for the mother-son emotional value or the complex melody. Learning to sing this song can be challenging, but it is definitely worth it. Master this beautiful excerpt of the Maya Kannan (another name for the Mysterious Krishna) with ease. To learn this song, you can try listening to the myriad versions mentioned in this blog or learn it from the masters of Music Master online or in person, while getting HIS blessings in abundance.

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