Athani Mandapathil
From Magarasi Vazhga · 1976
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- Vani Jairam, P. Susheela
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Magarasi Vazhga1976
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Aththaani mandapaththil muthu muthu dheepam | In the royal hall, pearl-like lamps shine bright |
| Annaththin thogai polae | Like the plumage of a swan |
| Velli minnal kolam | A silver lightning kolam pattern |
| Aththaani mandapaththil muthu muthu dheepam | In the royal hall, pearl-like lamps shine bright |
| Annaththin thogai polae | Like the plumage of a swan |
| Velli minnal kolam | A silver lightning kolam pattern |
| Female | |
| Thaai sonna needhi karpu ennum jothi | Justice spoken by the mother is the light of chastity |
| Thaai sonna needhi karpu ennum jothi | Justice spoken by the mother is the light of chastity |
| Thanthai sonna vedham thanmaana dheepam | The wisdom spoken by the father is the lamp of self-respect |
| Female | |
| Aththaani mandapaththil muthu muthu dheepam | In the royal hall, pearl-like lamps shine bright |
| Annaththin thogai polae | Like the plumage of a swan |
| Velli minnal kolam | A silver lightning kolam pattern |
| Female | |
| Selvam enbathu vantha pinbuthaan | Only after wealth arrives |
| Irunda veettilum dheepam | Is there light even in a dark house |
| Entha paadhaiyum sendru paarkkalaam | One can explore any path |
| Vaazhvil ennathaan paavam | What sin could there be in life? |
| Female | |
| Selvam enbathu vantha pinbuthaan | Only after wealth arrives |
| Irunda veettilum dheepam | Is there light even in a dark house |
| Entha paadhaiyum sendru paarkkalaam | One can explore any path |
| Vaazhvil ennathaan paavam | What sin could there be in life? |
| Female | |
| Ilamaiyin vegam inbamennum raagam | The speed of youth is a melody called pleasure |
| Enna vantha pothum vanthavarai yogam | Whatever comes, fortune smiles upon those who arrive |
| Female | |
| Aththaani mandapaththil muthu muthu dheepam | In the royal hall, pearl-like lamps shine bright |
| Annaththin thogai polae | Like the plumage of a swan |
| Velli minnal kolam | A silver lightning kolam pattern |
| Female | |
| Kodi pengalai boomi kandathu | The earth has seen millions of women |
| Dheivanmaanaval seethai | Yet Sita became divine |
| Kodi paathaigal mannil ullana | Millions of paths exist on this earth |
| Nermai ondruthaan paathai | Yet honesty alone is the true path |
| Female | |
| Kalai magalaanaal kalvi tharum saaram | If one becomes Saraswati, she imparts the essence of education |
| Kulamaagalaanaal manai kalangaaram | If one becomes a virtuous wife, she is the ornament of the home |
| Female | |
| Aththaani mandapaththil muthu muthu dheepam | In the royal hall, pearl-like lamps shine bright |
| Annaththin thogai polae | Like the plumage of a swan |
| Velli minnal kolam | A silver lightning kolam pattern |
| Female | |
| Achcham enbathum naanam enbathum | Fear and bashfulness |
| Panjam theerththathae illai | Have never eradicated poverty |
| Anthi vaanaththu chandhiran ena | Living like the evening sky's moon |
| Vaazhnthu paarppatho thollai | Is full of trouble to experience |
| Female | |
| Kulamagal naanam iraivanin dheepam | A noble woman's modesty is God's own lamp |
| Vazhi thavaraanaal piranthathu paavam | If one strays off the path, being born itself becomes a sin |
| Female | |
| Aththaani mandapaththil muthu muthu dheepam | In the royal hall, pearl-like lamps shine bright |
| Annaththin thogai polae | Like the plumage of a swan |
| Velli minnal kolam | A silver lightning kolam pattern |
அத்தாணி மண்டபத்தில் முத்து முத்து தீபம்
அன்னத்தின் தோகை போலே
வெள்ளி மின்னல் கோலம்
அத்தாணி மண்டபத்தில் முத்து முத்து தீபம்
அன்னத்தின் தோகை போலே
வெள்ளி மின்னல் கோலம்
In the royal hall, pearl-like lamps shine bright
Like the plumage of a swan
A silver lightning kolam pattern
In the royal hall, pearl-like lamps shine bright
Like the plumage of a swan
A silver lightning kolam pattern
தாய் சொன்ன நீதி கற்பு என்னும் ஜோதி
தாய் சொன்ன நீதி கற்பு என்னும் ஜோதி
தந்தை சொன்ன வேதம் தன்மான தீபம்
Justice spoken by the mother is the light of chastity
Justice spoken by the mother is the light of chastity
The wisdom spoken by the father is the lamp of self-respect
அத்தாணி மண்டபத்தில் முத்து முத்து தீபம்
அன்னத்தின் தோகை போலே
வெள்ளி மின்னல் கோலம்
In the royal hall, pearl-like lamps shine bright
Like the plumage of a swan
A silver lightning kolam pattern
செல்வம் என்பது வந்த பின்புதான்
இருண்ட வீட்டிலும் தீபம்
எந்த பாதையும் சென்று பார்க்கலாம்
வாழ்வில் என்னதான் பாவம்
Only after wealth arrives
Is there light even in a dark house
One can explore any path
What sin could there be in life?
செல்வம் என்பது வந்த பின்புதான்
இருண்ட வீட்டிலும் தீபம்
எந்த பாதையும் சென்று பார்க்கலாம்
வாழ்வில் என்னதான் பாவம்
Only after wealth arrives
Is there light even in a dark house
One can explore any path
What sin could there be in life?
இளமையின் வேகம் இன்பமென்னும் ராகம்
என்ன வந்த போதும் வந்தவரை யோகம்
The speed of youth is a melody called pleasure
Whatever comes, fortune smiles upon those who arrive
அத்தாணி மண்டபத்தில் முத்து முத்து தீபம்
அன்னத்தின் தோகை போலே
வெள்ளி மின்னல் கோலம்
In the royal hall, pearl-like lamps shine bright
Like the plumage of a swan
A silver lightning kolam pattern
கோடிப் பெண்களைப் பூமி கண்டது
தெய்வமானவள் சீதை
கோடிப் பாதைகள் மண்ணில் உள்ளன
நேர்மை ஒன்றுதான் பாதை
The earth has seen millions of women
Yet Sita became divine
Millions of paths exist on this earth
Yet honesty alone is the true path
கலை மகளானால் கல்வி தரும் சாரம்
குலமகளானால் மனைக் கலங்காரம்
If one becomes Saraswati, she imparts the essence of education
If one becomes a virtuous wife, she is the ornament of the home
அத்தாணி மண்டபத்தில் முத்து முத்து தீபம்
அன்னத்தின் தோகை போலே
வெள்ளி மின்னல் கோலம்
In the royal hall, pearl-like lamps shine bright
Like the plumage of a swan
A silver lightning kolam pattern
அச்சம் என்பதும் நாணம் என்பதும்
பஞ்சம் தீர்த்ததே இல்லை
அந்தி வானத்து சந்திரன் என
வாழ்ந்து பார்ப்பதோ தொல்லை
Fear and bashfulness
Have never eradicated poverty
Living like the evening sky's moon
Is full of trouble to experience
குலமகள் நாணம் இறைவனின் தீபம்
வழி தவறானால் பிறந்தது பாவம்
A noble woman's modesty is God's own lamp
If one strays off the path, being born itself becomes a sin
பெண்கள் :
அத்தாணி மண்டபத்தில் முத்து முத்து தீபம்
அன்னத்தின் தோகை போலே
வெள்ளி மின்னல் கோலம்
In the royal hall, pearl-like lamps shine bright
Like the plumage of a swan
A silver lightning kolam pattern
Aththaani mandapaththil muthu muthu dheepam
In the royal hall, pearl-like lamps shine bright
Annaththin thogai polae
Like the plumage of a swan
Velli minnal kolam
A silver lightning kolam pattern
Aththaani mandapaththil muthu muthu dheepam
In the royal hall, pearl-like lamps shine bright
Annaththin thogai polae
Like the plumage of a swan
Velli minnal kolam
A silver lightning kolam pattern
Thaai sonna needhi karpu ennum jothi
Justice spoken by the mother is the light of chastity
Thaai sonna needhi karpu ennum jothi
Justice spoken by the mother is the light of chastity
Thanthai sonna vedham thanmaana dheepam
The wisdom spoken by the father is the lamp of self-respect
Aththaani mandapaththil muthu muthu dheepam
In the royal hall, pearl-like lamps shine bright
Annaththin thogai polae
Like the plumage of a swan
Velli minnal kolam
A silver lightning kolam pattern
Selvam enbathu vantha pinbuthaan
Only after wealth arrives
Irunda veettilum dheepam
Is there light even in a dark house
Entha paadhaiyum sendru paarkkalaam
One can explore any path
Vaazhvil ennathaan paavam
What sin could there be in life?
Selvam enbathu vantha pinbuthaan
Only after wealth arrives
Irunda veettilum dheepam
Is there light even in a dark house
Entha paadhaiyum sendru paarkkalaam
One can explore any path
Vaazhvil ennathaan paavam
What sin could there be in life?
Ilamaiyin vegam inbamennum raagam
The speed of youth is a melody called pleasure
Enna vantha pothum vanthavarai yogam
Whatever comes, fortune smiles upon those who arrive
Aththaani mandapaththil muthu muthu dheepam
In the royal hall, pearl-like lamps shine bright
Annaththin thogai polae
Like the plumage of a swan
Velli minnal kolam
A silver lightning kolam pattern
Kodi pengalai boomi kandathu
The earth has seen millions of women
Dheivanmaanaval seethai
Yet Sita became divine
Kodi paathaigal mannil ullana
Millions of paths exist on this earth
Nermai ondruthaan paathai
Yet honesty alone is the true path
Kalai magalaanaal kalvi tharum saaram
If one becomes Saraswati, she imparts the essence of education
Kulamaagalaanaal manai kalangaaram
If one becomes a virtuous wife, she is the ornament of the home
Aththaani mandapaththil muthu muthu dheepam
In the royal hall, pearl-like lamps shine bright
Annaththin thogai polae
Like the plumage of a swan
Velli minnal kolam
A silver lightning kolam pattern
Achcham enbathum naanam enbathum
Fear and bashfulness
Panjam theerththathae illai
Have never eradicated poverty
Anthi vaanaththu chandhiran ena
Living like the evening sky's moon
Vaazhnthu paarppatho thollai
Is full of trouble to experience
Kulamagal naanam iraivanin dheepam
A noble woman's modesty is God's own lamp
Vazhi thavaraanaal piranthathu paavam
If one strays off the path, being born itself becomes a sin
Aththaani mandapaththil muthu muthu dheepam
In the royal hall, pearl-like lamps shine bright
Annaththin thogai polae
Like the plumage of a swan
Velli minnal kolam
A silver lightning kolam pattern
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Aththaani Mandapaththil from Magarasi Vazhga (1976) presents a poetic debate between opposing worldviews—one representing moral righteousness, traditional virtues, self-respect, and chastity, and the other advocating for material wealth, youth, and practical freedom. Written by Kannadasan and set to tune by M. S. Viswanathan, the song uses rich imagery of royal halls, divine grace, and cultural allegories. Ultimately, the song reinforces that while worldly temptations and paths are many, moral integrity, honesty, and family virtues remain the true lights guiding human existence.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Adukku Thodar (Repetition)
“Aththaani mandapaththil muthu muthu dheepam”
The word 'muthu' is repeated for poetic emphasis to describe the lamp's pearl-like radiance.
Uvamai (Simile)
“Annaththin thogai polae”
Compares the visual beauty of the kolam pattern directly to the plumage of a swan using 'polae'.
Uruvagam (Metaphor)
“Thaai sonna needhi karpu ennum jothi”
Metaphorically equates moral righteousness and parental teachings directly to divine lamps and wisdom.
Iyaibu (Parallelism)
“Thanthai sonna vedham thanmaana dheepam”
Uses parallel structural phrasing contrasting mother's justice with father's wisdom.
Did you know?
Trivia
This track from Magarasi Vazhga (1976) showcases a philosophical debate style (patti mandram format) common in Kannadasan's compositions, set in a duet format between legend singers P. Susheela and Vani Jairam under M. S. Viswanathan's musical direction.
Keep listening
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