Aaru Maname
From Aandavan Kattalai (1964) · 1964
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Aandavan Kattalai (1964)1964
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| { Aaru manamae | Be calmed, oh mind |
| Aaru andha aandavan | Calm down, for that Lord's |
| Kattalai aaru } (2) | Commandments are six |
| Male | |
| Sernthu manithan | For human beings together |
| Vaazhum vagaiku | To live in harmony |
| { Deivathin kattalai aaru } (2) | The commandments of God are six |
| Male | |
| Aaru manamae | Be calmed, oh mind |
| Aaru andha aandavan | Calm down, for that Lord's |
| Kattalai aaru | Commandments are six |
| Male | |
| { Ondrae solvaar | They speak only one thing |
| Ondrae seivaar ullathil | And do only that single thing in their heart |
| Ullathu amaithi inbathil | There is peace in their heart; in pleasure |
| Thunbam thunbathil inbam | Is sorrow, and in sorrow is pleasure |
| Iraivan vagutha niyathi } (2) | This is the rule ordained by God |
| Male | |
| { Solluku seigai | When action equals word |
| Ponnaagum varum | It turns into gold; coming |
| Thunbathil inbam pattagum } (2) | Pleasure in sorrow becomes refined like silk |
| Male | |
| Indha irandu | These two |
| Kattalai arintha manathil | In a mind that understands these commandments |
| { Ella nanmaiyum undaagum } (2) | All goodness shall blossom |
| Male | |
| { Aaru manamae | Be calmed, oh mind |
| Aaru andha aandavan | Calm down, for that Lord's |
| Kattalai aaru } (2) | Commandments are six |
| Male | |
| { Unmaiyai solli | If you speak the truth |
| Nanmaiyai seithaal | And do good deeds |
| Ulagam unnidam mayangum | The world will be enchanted by you |
| Male | |
| Nilai uyarumbothu | When your status rises |
| Panivu kondaal uyirgal | If you remain humble, living beings |
| Unnai vanangum } (2) | Will revere and bow to you |
| Male | |
| { Unmai | Truth |
| Enbathu anbagum | Is love itself |
| Perum panivu | Great humility |
| Enbathu panbagum } (2) | Is noble character |
| Male | |
| Indha naanku | These four |
| Kattalai arintha manathil | In a mind that understands these commandments |
| { Ella nanmaiyum undaagum } (2) | All goodness shall blossom |
| Male | |
| { Aaru manamae | Be calmed, oh mind |
| Aaru andha aandavan | Calm down, for that Lord's |
| Kattalai aaru } (2) | Commandments are six |
| Male | |
| Aasai kobam | Desire, anger, |
| Kalavu kolbavan pesa | And theft — one who possesses these is merely |
| Therintha mirugam | A beast that knows how to speak |
| Male | |
| Anbu nandri | Love, gratitude, |
| Karunai kondavan | And compassion — one who possesses these is |
| Manitha vadivil deivam | A deity in human form |
| Male | |
| Idhil mirugam | In this, the beast |
| Enbathu kalla manam | Is the deceitful mind |
| Uyar deivam enbathu | And the supreme deity is |
| Pillai manam | An innocent, child-like mind |
| Male | |
| Indha aaru | These six |
| Kattalai arintha manathu | A mind that understands these commandments |
| { Aandavan vaazhum | Is a pure white mind |
| Vellai manam } (2) | Where God Himself resides |
| Male | |
| Aaru manamae | Be calmed, oh mind |
| Aaru andha aandavan | Calm down, for that Lord's |
| Kattalai aaru | Commandments are six |
| Male | |
| Sernthu manithan | For human beings together |
| Vaazhum vagaiku | To live in harmony |
| { Deivathin kattalai aaru } (2) | The commandments of God are six |
| Male | |
| Aaru manamae | Be calmed, oh mind |
| Aaru andha aandavan | Calm down, for that Lord's |
| Kattalai aaru | Commandments are six |
{ ஆறு மனமே
ஆறு அந்த ஆண்டவன்
கட்டளை ஆறு } (2)
Be calmed, oh mind
Calm down, for that Lord's
Commandments are six
சேர்ந்து மனிதன்
வாழும் வகைக்கு
{ தெய்வத்தின் கட்டளை
ஆறு } (2)
For human beings together
To live in harmony
The commandments of God are six
ஆறு மனமே
ஆறு அந்த ஆண்டவன்
கட்டளை ஆறு
Be calmed, oh mind
Calm down, for that Lord's
Commandments are six
{ ஒன்றே சொல்வார்
ஒன்றே செய்வார் உள்ளத்தில்
உள்ளது அமைதி இன்பத்தில்
துன்பம் துன்பத்தில் இன்பம்
இறைவன் வகுத்த நியதி } (2)
They speak only one thing
And do only that single thing in their heart
There is peace in their heart; in pleasure
Is sorrow, and in sorrow is pleasure
This is the rule ordained by God
{ சொல்லுக்கு
செய்கை பொன்னாகும்
வரும் துன்பத்தில் இன்பம்
பத்தாகும் } (2)
When action equals word
It turns into gold; coming
Pleasure in sorrow becomes refined like silk
இந்த இரண்டு
கட்டளை அறிந்த மனதில்
{ எல்லா நன்மையும்
உண்டாகும் } (2)
These two
In a mind that understands these commandments
All goodness shall blossom
{ ஆறு மனமே
ஆறு அந்த ஆண்டவன்
கட்டளை ஆறு } (2)
Be calmed, oh mind
Calm down, for that Lord's
Commandments are six
{ உண்மையைச்
சொல்லி நன்மையைச்
செய்தால் உலகம்
உன்னிடம் மயங்கும்
If you speak the truth
And do good deeds
The world will be enchanted by you
நிலை உயரும்
போது பணிவு கொண்டால்
உயிர்கள் உன்னை
வணங்கும் } (2)
When your status rises
If you remain humble, living beings
Will revere and bow to you
{ உண்மை என்பது
அன்பாகும் பெரும் பணிவு
என்பது பண்பாகும்} (2)
Truth
Is love itself
Great humility
Is noble character
இந்த நான்கு
கட்டளை அறிந்த மனதில்
{ எல்லா நன்மையும்
உண்டாகும் } (2)
These four
In a mind that understands these commandments
All goodness shall blossom
{ ஆறு மனமே
ஆறு அந்த ஆண்டவன்
கட்டளை ஆறு } (2)
Be calmed, oh mind
Calm down, for that Lord's
Commandments are six
ஆசை கோபம்
களவு கொள்பவன்
பேசத்தெரிந்த மிருகம்
Desire, anger,
And theft — one who possesses these is merely
A beast that knows how to speak
அன்பு நன்றி
கருணை கொண்டவன்
மனித வடிவில் தெய்வம்
Love, gratitude,
And compassion — one who possesses these is
A deity in human form
இதில் மிருகம்
என்பது கள்ள மனம்
உயர் தெய்வம் என்பது
பிள்ளை மனம்
In this, the beast
Is the deceitful mind
And the supreme deity is
An innocent, child-like mind
இந்த ஆறு
கட்டளை அறிந்த
மனது
{ ஆண்டவன் வாழும்
வெள்ளை மனம் } (2)
These six
A mind that understands these commandments
Is a pure white mind
Where God Himself resides
ஆறு மனமே
ஆறு அந்த ஆண்டவன்
கட்டளை ஆறு
Be calmed, oh mind
Calm down, for that Lord's
Commandments are six
சேர்ந்து மனிதன்
வாழும் வகைக்கு
{ தெய்வத்தின் கட்டளை
ஆறு } (2)
For human beings together
To live in harmony
The commandments of God are six
ஆறு மனமே
ஆறு அந்த ஆண்டவன்
கட்டளை ஆறு
Be calmed, oh mind
Calm down, for that Lord's
Commandments are six
{ Aaru manamae
Be calmed, oh mind
Aaru andha aandavan
Calm down, for that Lord's
Kattalai aaru } (2)
Commandments are six
Sernthu manithan
For human beings together
Vaazhum vagaiku
To live in harmony
{ Deivathin kattalai aaru } (2)
The commandments of God are six
Aaru manamae
Be calmed, oh mind
Aaru andha aandavan
Calm down, for that Lord's
Kattalai aaru
Commandments are six
{ Ondrae solvaar
They speak only one thing
Ondrae seivaar ullathil
And do only that single thing in their heart
Ullathu amaithi inbathil
There is peace in their heart; in pleasure
Thunbam thunbathil inbam
Is sorrow, and in sorrow is pleasure
Iraivan vagutha niyathi } (2)
This is the rule ordained by God
{ Solluku seigai
When action equals word
Ponnaagum varum
It turns into gold; coming
Thunbathil inbam pattagum } (2)
Pleasure in sorrow becomes refined like silk
Indha irandu
These two
Kattalai arintha manathil
In a mind that understands these commandments
{ Ella nanmaiyum undaagum } (2)
All goodness shall blossom
{ Aaru manamae
Be calmed, oh mind
Aaru andha aandavan
Calm down, for that Lord's
Kattalai aaru } (2)
Commandments are six
{ Unmaiyai solli
If you speak the truth
Nanmaiyai seithaal
And do good deeds
Ulagam unnidam mayangum
The world will be enchanted by you
Nilai uyarumbothu
When your status rises
Panivu kondaal uyirgal
If you remain humble, living beings
Unnai vanangum } (2)
Will revere and bow to you
{ Unmai
Truth
Enbathu anbagum
Is love itself
Perum panivu
Great humility
Enbathu panbagum } (2)
Is noble character
Indha naanku
These four
Kattalai arintha manathil
In a mind that understands these commandments
{ Ella nanmaiyum undaagum } (2)
All goodness shall blossom
{ Aaru manamae
Be calmed, oh mind
Aaru andha aandavan
Calm down, for that Lord's
Kattalai aaru } (2)
Commandments are six
Aasai kobam
Desire, anger,
Kalavu kolbavan pesa
And theft — one who possesses these is merely
Therintha mirugam
A beast that knows how to speak
Anbu nandri
Love, gratitude,
Karunai kondavan
And compassion — one who possesses these is
Manitha vadivil deivam
A deity in human form
Idhil mirugam
In this, the beast
Enbathu kalla manam
Is the deceitful mind
Uyar deivam enbathu
And the supreme deity is
Pillai manam
An innocent, child-like mind
Indha aaru
These six
Kattalai arintha manathu
A mind that understands these commandments
{ Aandavan vaazhum
Is a pure white mind
Vellai manam } (2)
Where God Himself resides
Aaru manamae
Be calmed, oh mind
Aaru andha aandavan
Calm down, for that Lord's
Kattalai aaru
Commandments are six
Sernthu manithan
For human beings together
Vaazhum vagaiku
To live in harmony
{ Deivathin kattalai aaru } (2)
The commandments of God are six
Aaru manamae
Be calmed, oh mind
Aaru andha aandavan
Calm down, for that Lord's
Kattalai aaru
Commandments are six
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Aaru Manamae' from the 1964 film Aandavan Kattalai is a monumental philosophical song authored by lyricist Kannadasan. The lyrics center on six divine commandments necessary for humanity to coexist peacefully and attain spiritual harmony. Through a progressive narrative structure—expanding from two, to four, and finally to six commandments—the song expounds upon integrity in word and deed, the acceptance of joy and sorrow as intertwined divine laws, speaking truth, practicing humility, and harboring compassion. The song famously contrasts human moral states: a person controlled by lust, wrath, and greed is described as merely a speaking animal, whereas a person adorned with love, gratitude, and mercy represents a deity in human form. Ultimately, Kannadasan teaches that an untainted, innocent, child-like mind ('vellai manam') is the true sanctuary where God resides.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Pun / Siledai (Double Entendre)
“Aaru manamae / Aaru andha aandavan / Kattalai aaru”
The word 'Aaru' serves a dual meaning throughout the song: as a noun meaning the numeral 'six' (referring to the six commandments) and as a verb meaning 'to be pacified / comforted' (addressing the agitated human mind).
Antithesis / Muran
“Thunbam thunbathil inbam / Iraivan vagutha niyathi”
Pairing opposing concepts such as pleasure (inbam) and sorrow (thunbam) to illustrate the dualities inherent in human existence and divine law.
Metaphor / Uruvakam
“Aasai kobam kalavu kolbavan pesa therintha mirugam”
Directly equating a morally corrupt person to a 'speaking animal' and a compassionate person to 'a god in human form', as well as comparing a pure mind to a child's mind.
Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Unmaiyai solli / Nanmaiyai seithaal”
The classic Tamil poetic convention of matching second letters in adjacent lines (e.g., 'Unmaiyai' and 'Nanmaiyai').
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy and sung by T. M. Soundararajan, this song is regarded as one of Kannadasan's greatest philosophical masterpieces. It uses the linguistic depth of Tamil homonyms, particularly the word 'Aaru', to impart moral lessons that are central to the theme of the movie 'Aandavan Kattalai'.
Keep listening
More from Aandavan Kattalai (1964)
Aandavan Kattalai (1964)
Aandavan Kattalai (1964)
Aandavan Kattalai (1964)
Aandavan Kattalai (1964)
Aandavan Kattalai (1964)