Arthamulla Indhu Madham
From Athirshtam Azhaikirathu · 1976
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- V. Kumar
- Details
- Athirshtam Azhaikirathu1976
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Arthamulla indhu madham enna sonnathu | What did meaningful Hinduism say? |
| Male | |
| Arthamulla indhu madham enna sonnathu | What did meaningful Hinduism say? |
| Adhu avaravar kadamaigalai vaguththu thanthathu | It outlined and assigned duty to each individual. |
| Aasai vanthu vedhiyinai aatti vaiththathu | Desire came and shook up one's destiny. |
| Adhuthaan alliyida neruppai | That is what kindled a fire here |
| Ingae mootti vaiththathu | for us to gather and throw. |
| Male | |
| Arthamulla indhu madham enna sonnathu | What did meaningful Hinduism say? |
| Male | |
| Tharumam unai thaedi un thaaram endru vanthathu | Righteousness came seeking you in the form of your wife. |
| Thaai thanthai deivam ellaam needhaanae endrathu | She considered you as her mother, father, and God. |
| Tharumam unai thaedi un thaaram endru vanthathu | Righteousness came seeking you in the form of your wife. |
| Thaai thanthai deivam ellaam needhaanae endrathu | She considered you as her mother, father, and God. |
| Male | |
| Than thalaiyil un pazhiyai thaangi kondu nindrathu | She stood bearing your blames upon her own head. |
| Thaangum varai thaangi vittu thaalaamal saainthathu | She endured as long as she could, and then collapsed unable to bear it anymore. |
| Male | |
| Arthamulla indhu madham enna sonnathu | What did meaningful Hinduism say? |
| Male | |
| Kattiyaval koduththathellaam vaaikku rushi | Whatever your wife served was tasty to your palate. |
| Adharkku kaiyalavu nee pottaai vaaikkarisi | In return, you offered her a handful of funeral rice. |
| Kattiyaval koduththathellaam vaaikku rushi | Whatever your wife served was tasty to your palate. |
| Adharkku kaiyalavu nee pottaai vaaikkarisi | In return, you offered her a handful of funeral rice. |
| Male | |
| Ullathellaam unakkaaga koduththu sendraal | She gave everything she had for your sake and departed. |
| Ullathellaam unakkaaga koduththu sendraal | She gave everything she had for your sake and departed. |
| Thanakku pottodu poovai mattum eduththu sendraal | She took only her bindi and flowers along with her as she left. |
| Male | |
| Arthamulla indhu madham enna sonnathu…. | What did meaningful Hinduism say? |
| Male | |
| Neruppendru solli solli solli naakkae vendhathadaa | By repeating 'fire' constantly, the tongue itself burned, oh friend. |
| Varugindrathendru solli solli puliyae vanthathadaa | By repeatedly crying 'the tiger is coming', the tiger actually arrived. |
| Neruppendru solli solli solli naakkae vendhathadaa | By repeating 'fire' constantly, the tongue itself burned, oh friend. |
| Varugindrathendru solli solli puliyae vanthathadaa | By repeatedly crying 'the tiger is coming', the tiger actually arrived. |
| Male | |
| Manthiraththil vantha sugam thanthiraththil ponathadaa | The pleasure obtained through magical incantations vanished through trickery. |
| Manthiraththil vantha sugam thanthiraththil ponathadaa | The pleasure obtained through magical incantations vanished through trickery. |
| Kaipidiththa manaiviyidam poi padiththa paavamadaa | It is the sin of telling lies to the wife whose hand you held in marriage. |
| Male | |
| Arthamulla indhu madham enna sonnathu…. | What did meaningful Hinduism say? |
அர்த்தமுள்ள இந்து மதம் என்ன சொன்னது
What did meaningful Hinduism say?
அர்த்தமுள்ள இந்து மதம் என்ன சொன்னது
அது அவரவர் கடமைகளை வகுத்து தந்தது
ஆசை வந்து வேதியனை ஆட்டி வைத்தது
அதுதான் அள்ளியிட நெருப்பை
இங்கே மூட்டி வைத்தது......
What did meaningful Hinduism say?
It outlined and assigned duty to each individual.
Desire came and shook up one's destiny.
That is what kindled a fire here
for us to gather and throw.
அர்த்தமுள்ள இந்து மதம் என்ன சொன்னது
What did meaningful Hinduism say?
தருமம் உனைத் தேடி உன் தாரம் என்று வந்தது
தாய் தந்தை தெய்வம் எல்லாம் நீதானே என்றது
தருமம் உனை தேடி உன் தாரம் என்று வந்தது
தாய் தந்தை தெய்வம் எல்லாம் நீதானே என்றது
Righteousness came seeking you in the form of your wife.
She considered you as her mother, father, and God.
Righteousness came seeking you in the form of your wife.
She considered you as her mother, father, and God.
தன் தலையில் உன் பழியைத் தாங்கிக் கொண்டு நின்றது
தாங்கும் வரை தாங்கி விட்டு தாளாமல் சாய்ந்தது
She stood bearing your blames upon her own head.
She endured as long as she could, and then collapsed unable to bear it anymore.
அர்த்தமுள்ள இந்து மதம் என்ன சொன்னது
What did meaningful Hinduism say?
கட்டியவள் கொடுத்ததெல்லாம் வாய்க்கு ருசி
அதற்கு கையளவு நீ போட்டாய் வாய்க்கரிசி
கட்டியவள் கொடுத்ததெல்லாம் வாய்க்கு ருசி
அதற்கு கையளவு நீ போட்டாய் வாய்க்கரிசி
Whatever your wife served was tasty to your palate.
In return, you offered her a handful of funeral rice.
Whatever your wife served was tasty to your palate.
In return, you offered her a handful of funeral rice.
உள்ளதெல்லாம் உனக்காக கொடுத்து சென்றாள்
உள்ளதெல்லாம் உனக்காக கொடுத்து சென்றாள்
தனக்கு பொட்டோடு பூவை மட்டும் எடுத்து சென்றாள்
She gave everything she had for your sake and departed.
She gave everything she had for your sake and departed.
She took only her bindi and flowers along with her as she left.
அர்த்தமுள்ள இந்து மதம் என்ன சொன்னது
What did meaningful Hinduism say?
நெருப்பென்று சொல்லி சொல்லி நாக்கே வெந்ததடா
வருகின்றதென்று சொல்லி சொல்லி புலியே வந்ததடா
நெருப்பென்று சொல்லி சொல்லி நாக்கே வெந்ததடா
வருகின்றதென்று சொல்லி சொல்லி புலியே வந்ததடா
By repeating 'fire' constantly, the tongue itself burned, oh friend.
By repeatedly crying 'the tiger is coming', the tiger actually arrived.
By repeating 'fire' constantly, the tongue itself burned, oh friend.
By repeatedly crying 'the tiger is coming', the tiger actually arrived.
மந்திரத்தில் வந்த சுகம் தந்திரத்தில் போனதடா
மந்திரத்தில் வந்த சுகம் தந்திரத்தில் போனதடா
கைப்பிடித்த மனைவியிடம் பொய் படித்த பாவமடா
The pleasure obtained through magical incantations vanished through trickery.
The pleasure obtained through magical incantations vanished through trickery.
It is the sin of telling lies to the wife whose hand you held in marriage.
அர்த்தமுள்ள இந்து மதம் என்ன சொன்னது......
What did meaningful Hinduism say?
Arthamulla indhu madham enna sonnathu
What did meaningful Hinduism say?
Arthamulla indhu madham enna sonnathu
What did meaningful Hinduism say?
Adhu avaravar kadamaigalai vaguththu thanthathu
It outlined and assigned duty to each individual.
Aasai vanthu vedhiyinai aatti vaiththathu
Desire came and shook up one's destiny.
Adhuthaan alliyida neruppai
That is what kindled a fire here
Ingae mootti vaiththathu
for us to gather and throw.
Arthamulla indhu madham enna sonnathu
What did meaningful Hinduism say?
Tharumam unai thaedi un thaaram endru vanthathu
Righteousness came seeking you in the form of your wife.
Thaai thanthai deivam ellaam needhaanae endrathu
She considered you as her mother, father, and God.
Tharumam unai thaedi un thaaram endru vanthathu
Righteousness came seeking you in the form of your wife.
Thaai thanthai deivam ellaam needhaanae endrathu
She considered you as her mother, father, and God.
Than thalaiyil un pazhiyai thaangi kondu nindrathu
She stood bearing your blames upon her own head.
Thaangum varai thaangi vittu thaalaamal saainthathu
She endured as long as she could, and then collapsed unable to bear it anymore.
Arthamulla indhu madham enna sonnathu
What did meaningful Hinduism say?
Kattiyaval koduththathellaam vaaikku rushi
Whatever your wife served was tasty to your palate.
Adharkku kaiyalavu nee pottaai vaaikkarisi
In return, you offered her a handful of funeral rice.
Kattiyaval koduththathellaam vaaikku rushi
Whatever your wife served was tasty to your palate.
Adharkku kaiyalavu nee pottaai vaaikkarisi
In return, you offered her a handful of funeral rice.
Ullathellaam unakkaaga koduththu sendraal
She gave everything she had for your sake and departed.
Ullathellaam unakkaaga koduththu sendraal
She gave everything she had for your sake and departed.
Thanakku pottodu poovai mattum eduththu sendraal
She took only her bindi and flowers along with her as she left.
Arthamulla indhu madham enna sonnathu….
What did meaningful Hinduism say?
Neruppendru solli solli solli naakkae vendhathadaa
By repeating 'fire' constantly, the tongue itself burned, oh friend.
Varugindrathendru solli solli puliyae vanthathadaa
By repeatedly crying 'the tiger is coming', the tiger actually arrived.
Neruppendru solli solli solli naakkae vendhathadaa
By repeating 'fire' constantly, the tongue itself burned, oh friend.
Varugindrathendru solli solli puliyae vanthathadaa
By repeatedly crying 'the tiger is coming', the tiger actually arrived.
Manthiraththil vantha sugam thanthiraththil ponathadaa
The pleasure obtained through magical incantations vanished through trickery.
Manthiraththil vantha sugam thanthiraththil ponathadaa
The pleasure obtained through magical incantations vanished through trickery.
Kaipidiththa manaiviyidam poi padiththa paavamadaa
It is the sin of telling lies to the wife whose hand you held in marriage.
Arthamulla indhu madham enna sonnathu….
What did meaningful Hinduism say?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This philosophical song reflects on moral accountability, marital devotion, and the severe karmic consequences of deception. It invokes the principles of Hindu philosophy to question a husband who took his devoted wife for granted. The lyrics illustrate how a wife gives up everything, treats her husband as her whole universe, and silently bears his misdeeds until her death.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Arthamulla indhu madham / Adhu avaravar kadamaigalai”
Matching second consonants across lines, such as 'Arthamulla' and 'Adhu', or 'Tharumam' and 'Thaai'.
Monaai (Alliteration)
“Tharumam unai thaedi un thaaram endru vanthathu”
Repetition of initial consonant sounds across words in a single line, such as 'Tharumam', 'thaedi', 'thaaram'.
Wordplay / Juxtaposition
“Kattiyaval koduththathellaam vaaikku rushi / Adharkku kaiyalavu nee pottaai vaaikkarisi”
A sharp contrast between 'Vaaikku rushi' (tasty food for the mouth) and 'Vaaikkarisi' (rice placed in the mouth during funeral rites).
Idiomatic Allusion
“Varugindrathendru solli solli puliyae vanthathadaa”
Referencing the classic fable of crying wolf ('puli vanthathadaa') to signify self-fulfilling negative prophecies and deceit.
Did you know?
Trivia
Although the opening line 'Arthamulla Indhu Madham' shares its exact title with Kannadasan's iconic multi-volume book on Hindu spiritual philosophy, this song was actually written by his contemporary and competitor, lyricist Vaali.
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