Ambigaapathi Seidha Pizhai
From Karpukkarasi · 1957
- Lyricist
- A. Maruthakasi
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- G. Ramanathan
- Details
- Karpukkarasi1957
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Ambikapathi seitha pizhai maattra | To rectify the mistake made by Ambikapathi, |
| Kambanai azhaiththapothu | When poet Kamban was called upon, |
| Attiyindri veedhiyilae kottik kizhangu | Without hesitation, selling water lily tubers in the street, |
| Vittru kuttram theerththaai | You cleared the fault and redeemed it. |
| Male | |
| Thumbai malar idhayaththil | In the heart pure as a white Thumbai flower, |
| Thooya kalaiyarangathil | In the pristine stage of fine arts, |
| Thulangukindraai thenpulaththaar vaakkilellaam | You shine brilliantly; in all the words of the southern people, |
| Thiru nadanam purigindraai thiruvae pottri | You perform your divine dance, praise be to you, O auspicious Goddess! |
| Male | |
| Arunthava peru mannar paramparaiyil | Born in the esteemed lineage of great kings who performed deep penance, |
| Pirantha kaviyarasae pottri | Praise be to you, O King among poets! |
| Tharankaaththu mozhi kaaththu thanmaanang kaaththu nindra | Who protected honor, protected the language, and protected self-respect, |
| Thamizh makkal thalaivaa pottri pottri | O Leader of the Tamil people, praise be to you, praise be to you! |
அம்பிகாபதி செய்த பிழை மாற்றக்
கம்பனை அழைத்தபோது
அட்டியின்றி வீதியிலே கொட்டிக் கிழங்கு
விற்றுக் குற்றம் தீர்த்தாய்
To rectify the mistake made by Ambikapathi,
When poet Kamban was called upon,
Without hesitation, selling water lily tubers in the street,
You cleared the fault and redeemed it.
தும்பை மலர் இதயத்தில்
தூயக் கலையரங்கத்தில்
துலங்குகின்றாய் தென்புலத்தார் வாக்கிலெல்லாம்
திரு நடனம் புரிகின்றாய் திருவே போற்றி
In the heart pure as a white Thumbai flower,
In the pristine stage of fine arts,
You shine brilliantly; in all the words of the southern people,
You perform your divine dance, praise be to you, O auspicious Goddess!
அருந்தவப் பெரு மன்னர் பரம்பரையில்
பிறந்த கவியரசே போற்றி
தரங்காத்து மொழி காத்து தன்மானங் காத்து நின்ற
தமிழ் மக்கள் தலைவா போற்றி போற்றி
Born in the esteemed lineage of great kings who performed deep penance,
Praise be to you, O King among poets!
Who protected honor, protected the language, and protected self-respect,
O Leader of the Tamil people, praise be to you, praise be to you!
Ambikapathi seitha pizhai maattra
To rectify the mistake made by Ambikapathi,
Kambanai azhaiththapothu
When poet Kamban was called upon,
Attiyindri veedhiyilae kottik kizhangu
Without hesitation, selling water lily tubers in the street,
Vittru kuttram theerththaai
You cleared the fault and redeemed it.
Thumbai malar idhayaththil
In the heart pure as a white Thumbai flower,
Thooya kalaiyarangathil
In the pristine stage of fine arts,
Thulangukindraai thenpulaththaar vaakkilellaam
You shine brilliantly; in all the words of the southern people,
Thiru nadanam purigindraai thiruvae pottri
You perform your divine dance, praise be to you, O auspicious Goddess!
Arunthava peru mannar paramparaiyil
Born in the esteemed lineage of great kings who performed deep penance,
Pirantha kaviyarasae pottri
Praise be to you, O King among poets!
Tharankaaththu mozhi kaaththu thanmaanang kaaththu nindra
Who protected honor, protected the language, and protected self-respect,
Thamizh makkal thalaivaa pottri pottri
O Leader of the Tamil people, praise be to you, praise be to you!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is a grand eulogy from the 1957 movie Karpukkarasi that blends devotion to the Goddess of Arts (Saraswati/Tamil Thai) with praise for the legendary Tamil poet Kamban and Tamil pride. It references the famous literary legend where Kamban humbled himself to sell 'kottik kizhangu' (tubers) on the street to redeem a blunder made by his son Ambikapathi. The lyricist praises the noble spirit that resides in the pure white heart of artists and southern speakers, honoring those who safeguarded the Tamil language, honor, and self-respect throughout history.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamai)
“Thumbai malar idhayaththil”
Compares the pure heart of an artist to a white Thumbai (Leucas aspera) flower, signifying innocence and artistic clarity.
Repetition / Anaphora (Adukkuthodar)
“Tharankaaththu mozhi kaaththu thanmaanang kaaththu nindra”
The word 'kaaththu' (protected) is repeated rhythmically to emphasize the continuous protection of dignity, language, and self-respect.
Epiphora (Iyaibu)
“Thamizh makkal thalaivaa pottri pottri”
The repetition of 'pottri' (praise) at the ends of lines creates a devotional cadence characteristic of classical Tamil praise poetry (Stotram).
Did you know?
Trivia
The song refers to the popular Tamil folklore surrounding the court poet Kamban and his son Ambikapathi. Music director G. Ramanathan composed this classical-style track for 'Karpukkarasi' (1957), sung with powerful diction by T. M. Soundararajan, featuring lyrics penned by the renowned poet A. Maruthakasi.
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