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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Anbe Sivam

From Aalai Kandu Mayangathe · 1958

Lyricist
Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
Singers
S. C. Krishnan, P. Leela
Music director
S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
Details
Aalai Kandu Mayangathe1958

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Anbe sivam ulagil aramae thavamLove is God, and righteousness is penance in this world.
Arivaalae UyarnthaalaeIf one rises through wisdom,
Adhuvae sugam adhuvae sugamThat indeed is bliss, that indeed is bliss.
Chorus
Anbe sivam ulagil aramae thavamLove is God, and righteousness is penance in this world.
Arivaalae UyarnthaalaeIf one rises through wisdom,
Adhuvae sugamThat indeed is bliss.
Male
Panpaana ulagaththil pagal veshakkaararkalIn a cultured world, to hypocrites who wear guises,
Pazhagavae naamum idam kodukkalaamaaShould we give room to mix and mingle?
Female :Bhagavaanai yaemaattra evanaalum mudiyaathuFemale: No one can deceive the Almighty Lord,
Pagaiyaali aanaalum kodukkalaamaaEven if they are foes, should we ruin them?
Chorus
Anbe sivam ulagil aramae thavamLove is God, and righteousness is penance in this world.
Arivaalae uyarnthaalaeIf one rises through wisdom,
Adhuvae sugamThat indeed is bliss.
Male
Kannmoodiththanamaana katchigal thondriyaeWhen blind and irrational factions emerge,
Kalagam seithida idamum kodukkalaamaaShould we give space for them to create chaos?
Female :Katchiyin peyaraalae dhatchanai vaangiyaeFemale: Collecting donations in the name of political parties,
Kaalam kazhippavarai kedukkalaamaaShould we destroy those who waste their time doing so?
Chorus
Anbe sivam ulagil aramae thavamLove is God, and righteousness is penance in this world.
Arivaalae uyarnthaalaeIf one rises through wisdom,
Adhuvae sugamThat indeed is bliss.
Male
Koyilin soththukkuTo the property belonging to the temple,
Kuzhi thondavae varumThose who come to dig a pit to ruin it,
Paavikalukkae idamum kodukkalaamaShould we give space to such sinners?
Female :Koyilil deivamae irunthidil ketkattumFemale: If God truly resides in the temple, let Him listen;
Kula thurogiyaanalum kedukkalaamaaEven if one is a traitor to their own kin, should we destroy them?
Chorus
Anbe sivam ulagil aramae thavamLove is God, and righteousness is penance in this world.
Arivaalae uyarnthaalaeIf one rises through wisdom,
Adhuvae sugamThat indeed is bliss.
Male
Paattaali makkalin pachai raththathilaeIn the fresh blood of the hard-working labor class,
Padakottavae idamum kodukkalaamaaShould we give space for exploiters to sail their boats?
Female :Padakottinaalumae paashaana puyalinaalFemale: Even if they sail boats, in a poisonous storm,
Pali vaangum naamathai kedukkalaamaaShould we ruin the reputation that seeks retribution?
Male
Thannaiyae ninaiyaatha pudhu panakkaararinOf the newly rich who do not self-reflect,
Tharpugazhukkae idam kodukkalaamaaShould we yield space to their self-boasting?
Female :Tharpugazhum naattinil sagajamaai ponathaalFemale: Since self-boasting has become common in this country,
Thaanaaga naam sendru kedukkalaamaaShould we go out of our way to destroy it?
Chorus
Anbe sivam ulagil aramae thavamLove is God, and righteousness is penance in this world.
Arivaalae uyarnthaalaeIf one rises through wisdom,
Adhuvae sugamThat indeed is bliss.
Male
Karaiyaanin veettilae karunaagam vaazhnthidaInside the mound built by termites, for a lethal black cobra to reside,
Kannaalae paarththum idam kodukkalaamaaShould we give space even after seeing it with our own eyes?
Female :Iraivanin sirushttiyilFemale: In God's creation,
Idhuvumor leelaiyenaConsidering this as just another divine play,
Ennaamal naamathai kedukkalaamaaWithout thinking so, should we ruin it?
Chorus
Arivaayadaa ulagai arivaayadaaKnow the world, O man, know the world!
Aniyaaya seyal yaavum therivaayadaaUnderstand all the unjust actions taking place!
Male
Thaen paayum naattilae eppozhuthum pattiniIn a land where honey flows, there is constant starvation;
Kobamen gunamena alaivathu aagaathaiyyaaWandering around making anger one's trait is not good, sir!
Singam sangara swaamy sentamizhai unarnthidaTo understand the pure Tamil of the great lion Sankaradas Swamigal,
Yaarukkum vayathingu pogaathaiyyaaNo one ever gets too old, sir!
Chorus
Anbe sivam ulagil aramae thavamLove is God, and righteousness is penance in this world.
Arivaalae uyarnthaalaeIf one rises through wisdom,
Adhuvae sugamThat indeed is bliss.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic song features a debate-style philosophical discourse between a male and female singer. The chorus emphasizes the core message: love is divinity, virtue is penance, and true happiness is achieved when society elevates itself through wisdom. The male singer questions whether society should tolerate corruption, hypocrisy, exploitation of laborers, temple theft, and toxic influences. In response, the female singer offers a compassionate, pragmatic view, suggesting that vengeance is not the solution and that divine justice will take its course. Ultimately, the song serves as a powerful commentary on social ethics, calling on humanity to realize the injustices of the world and seek guidance in wisdom and classic Tamil moral values.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethukai (Second Letter Rhyming)

Anbe sivam ulagil aramae thavam / Arivaalae Uyarnthaalae

The second letter 'n' matches in 'Anbe' and 'Arivaalae', establishing a classic Tamil rhyming pattern.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Karaiyaanin veettilae karunaagam vaazhnthida

Repetition of the initial 'Ka' sound across 'Karaiyaanin' and 'karunaagam'.

Metaphor

Paattaali makkalin pachai raththathilae Padakottavae idamum kodukkalaamaa

Exploiting the hard work and suffering of laborers is metaphorically described as 'sailing a boat in their blood'.

Did you know?

Trivia

This philosophical song references 'Singam Sangara Swamy' (Sankaradas Swamigal), who is revered as the father of modern Tamil theatre, paying tribute to his deep contributions to Tamil literature and drama.

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