Buddan Yesu
From Chandhrodhayam · 1966
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Chandhrodhayam1966
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| { Buthan yesu | Buddha, Jesus, |
| Ganthi piranthadhu | And Gandhi were born |
| Boomiyil etharkaaga | On this earth, for what purpose? |
| Thozha ezhai namakaaga } (2) | My friend, it was for us poor people! |
| Male | |
| Gangai yamunai | Ganges, Yamuna, |
| Kaveri vaigai oduvathu | Cauvery, and Vaigai flow, |
| Etharkaaga naalum uzhaithu | Why? For those who labor every day |
| Thaagam edutha thozhargal namakaaga | And grow thirsty, for us comrades! |
| Male | |
| Kelvikuripol | Like a question mark, |
| Muthugu valainthu | Bending our backs, |
| Uzhaipathu etharkaaga | Why do we toil? |
| Maanam ondrae perithena | Considering honor as the ultimate virtue, |
| Enni pizhaikum namakaaga | For us who live believing so! |
| Male | |
| Buthan yesu | Buddha, Jesus, |
| Ganthi piranthadhu | And Gandhi were born |
| Boomiyil etharkaaga | On this earth, for what purpose? |
| Thozha ezhai namakaaga | My friend, it was for us poor people! |
| Male | |
| { Nizhal vendumbothu | When shade is needed, |
| Maram ondru undu pagai | There is a tree; when enmity |
| Vanthabothu thunai ondru undu } (2) | Arrives, there is a companion. |
| Male | |
| Irul vanthabothu | When darkness arrives, |
| Vilakondru undu ethirkaalam | There is a lamp; a future |
| Ondru ellorkum undu | Is present for everyone. |
| Male | |
| Unmai enbathu | What is called truth |
| Endrum ullathu deivathin | Is eternal and is God's |
| Mozhiyaagum nanmai enbathu | Own language; goodness |
| Naalai varuvathu nambikai oliyaagum | Coming tomorrow is the light of hope. |
| Male | |
| Buthan yesu | Buddha, Jesus, |
| Ganthi piranthadhu | And Gandhi were born |
| Boomiyil etharkaaga | On this earth, for what purpose? |
| Thozha ezhai namakaaga | My friend, it was for us poor people! |
| Male | |
| { Porulkonda | Those who possess wealth |
| Pergal manam kondathillai | Do not possess a compassionate heart; |
| Tharum kaigal thedi | In search of giving hands, |
| Porul vanthathillai } (2) | Wealth does not arrive. |
| Male | |
| Manam endra | When the heart, |
| Koyil pirakindra neram | As a temple, comes into being, |
| Azhaikaamal angae | Uninvited to that place, |
| Deivam vanthu serum | God himself comes to reside. |
| Male | |
| Azhuthavar | Those who cried |
| Siripathum sirithavar | Laughing, and those who laughed |
| Azhuvathum vithi | Crying, is not a path |
| Vazhi vanthathillai | Dictated by fate alone. |
| Male | |
| Oruvanukendrae | Just for one person alone, |
| Ullathu ellam iraivanum | Everything that exists, God |
| Thanthathillai | Has not granted. |
| Male | |
| Buthan yesu | Buddha, Jesus, |
| Ganthi piranthadhu | And Gandhi were born |
| Boomiyil etharkaaga | On this earth, for what purpose? |
| Thozha ezhai namakaaga | My friend, it was for us poor people! |
| Male | |
| Gangai yamunai | Ganges, Yamuna, |
| Kaveri vaigai oduvathu | Cauvery, and Vaigai flow, |
| Etharkaaga naalum uzhaithu | Why? For those who labor every day |
| Thaagam edutha thozhargal namakaaga | And grow thirsty, for us comrades! |
| Male | |
| Buthan yesu | Buddha, Jesus, |
| Ganthi piranthadhu | And Gandhi were born |
| Boomiyil etharkaaga | On this earth, for what purpose? |
| Thozha ezhai namakaaga | My friend, it was for us poor people! |
{ புத்தன் இயேசு
காந்தி பிறந்தது பூமியில்
எதற்காக தோழா ஏழை
நமக்காக } (2)
Buddha, Jesus,
And Gandhi were born
On this earth, for what purpose?
My friend, it was for us poor people!
கங்கை யமுனை
காவிரி வைகை ஓடுவது
எதற்காக நாளும் உழைத்து
தாகம் எடுத்த தோழர்கள்
நமக்காக
Ganges, Yamuna,
Cauvery, and Vaigai flow,
Why? For those who labor every day
And grow thirsty, for us comrades!
கேள்விக்குறி
போல் முதுகு வளைந்து
உழைப்பது எதற்காக
மானம் ஒன்றே பெரிதென
எண்ணி பிழைக்கும் நமக்காக
Like a question mark,
Bending our backs,
Why do we toil?
Considering honor as the ultimate virtue,
For us who live believing so!
புத்தன் இயேசு
காந்தி பிறந்தது பூமியில்
எதற்காக தோழா ஏழை
நமக்காக
Buddha, Jesus,
And Gandhi were born
On this earth, for what purpose?
My friend, it was for us poor people!
{ நிழல் வேண்டும்போது
மரம் ஒன்று உண்டு பகை
வந்தபோது துணை ஒன்று
உண்டு } (2)
When shade is needed,
There is a tree; when enmity
Arrives, there is a companion.
இருள் வந்தபோது
விளக்கொன்று உண்டு
எதிர்காலம் ஒன்று
எல்லோர்க்கும் உண்டு
When darkness arrives,
There is a lamp; a future
Is present for everyone.
உண்மை என்பது
என்றும் உள்ளது
தெய்வத்தின் மொழியாகும்
நன்மை என்பது நாளை
வருவது நம்பிக்கை ஒளியாகும்
What is called truth
Is eternal and is God's
Own language; goodness
Coming tomorrow is the light of hope.
புத்தன் இயேசு
காந்தி பிறந்தது பூமியில்
எதற்காக தோழா ஏழை
நமக்காக
Buddha, Jesus,
And Gandhi were born
On this earth, for what purpose?
My friend, it was for us poor people!
{ பொருள் கொண்ட
பேர்கள் மனம் கொண்டதில்லை
தரும் கைகள் தேடி பொருள்
வந்ததில்லை } (2)
Those who possess wealth
Do not possess a compassionate heart;
In search of giving hands,
Wealth does not arrive.
மனம் என்ற
கோயில் பிறக்கின்ற
நேரம் அழைக்காமல்
அங்கே தெய்வம் வந்து
சேரும்
When the heart,
As a temple, comes into being,
Uninvited to that place,
God himself comes to reside.
அழுதவர் சிரிப்பதும்
சிரித்தவர் அழுவதும்
விதி வழி வந்ததில்லை
Those who cried
Laughing, and those who laughed
Crying, is not a path
Dictated by fate alone.
ஒருவனுக்கென்றே
உள்ளது எல்லாம் இறைவனும்
தந்ததில்லை
Just for one person alone,
Everything that exists, God
Has not granted.
புத்தன் இயேசு
காந்தி பிறந்தது பூமியில்
எதற்காக தோழா ஏழை
நமக்காக
Buddha, Jesus,
And Gandhi were born
On this earth, for what purpose?
My friend, it was for us poor people!
கங்கை யமுனை
காவிரி வைகை ஓடுவது
எதற்காக நாளும் உழைத்து
தாகம் எடுத்த தோழர்கள்
நமக்காக
Ganges, Yamuna,
Cauvery, and Vaigai flow,
Why? For those who labor every day
And grow thirsty, for us comrades!
புத்தன் இயேசு
காந்தி பிறந்தது பூமியில்
எதற்காக தோழா ஏழை
நமக்காக
Buddha, Jesus,
And Gandhi were born
On this earth, for what purpose?
My friend, it was for us poor people!
{ Buthan yesu
Buddha, Jesus,
Ganthi piranthadhu
And Gandhi were born
Boomiyil etharkaaga
On this earth, for what purpose?
Thozha ezhai namakaaga } (2)
My friend, it was for us poor people!
Gangai yamunai
Ganges, Yamuna,
Kaveri vaigai oduvathu
Cauvery, and Vaigai flow,
Etharkaaga naalum uzhaithu
Why? For those who labor every day
Thaagam edutha thozhargal namakaaga
And grow thirsty, for us comrades!
Kelvikuripol
Like a question mark,
Muthugu valainthu
Bending our backs,
Uzhaipathu etharkaaga
Why do we toil?
Maanam ondrae perithena
Considering honor as the ultimate virtue,
Enni pizhaikum namakaaga
For us who live believing so!
Buthan yesu
Buddha, Jesus,
Ganthi piranthadhu
And Gandhi were born
Boomiyil etharkaaga
On this earth, for what purpose?
Thozha ezhai namakaaga
My friend, it was for us poor people!
{ Nizhal vendumbothu
When shade is needed,
Maram ondru undu pagai
There is a tree; when enmity
Vanthabothu thunai ondru undu } (2)
Arrives, there is a companion.
Irul vanthabothu
When darkness arrives,
Vilakondru undu ethirkaalam
There is a lamp; a future
Ondru ellorkum undu
Is present for everyone.
Unmai enbathu
What is called truth
Endrum ullathu deivathin
Is eternal and is God's
Mozhiyaagum nanmai enbathu
Own language; goodness
Naalai varuvathu nambikai oliyaagum
Coming tomorrow is the light of hope.
Buthan yesu
Buddha, Jesus,
Ganthi piranthadhu
And Gandhi were born
Boomiyil etharkaaga
On this earth, for what purpose?
Thozha ezhai namakaaga
My friend, it was for us poor people!
{ Porulkonda
Those who possess wealth
Pergal manam kondathillai
Do not possess a compassionate heart;
Tharum kaigal thedi
In search of giving hands,
Porul vanthathillai } (2)
Wealth does not arrive.
Manam endra
When the heart,
Koyil pirakindra neram
As a temple, comes into being,
Azhaikaamal angae
Uninvited to that place,
Deivam vanthu serum
God himself comes to reside.
Azhuthavar
Those who cried
Siripathum sirithavar
Laughing, and those who laughed
Azhuvathum vithi
Crying, is not a path
Vazhi vanthathillai
Dictated by fate alone.
Oruvanukendrae
Just for one person alone,
Ullathu ellam iraivanum
Everything that exists, God
Thanthathillai
Has not granted.
Buthan yesu
Buddha, Jesus,
Ganthi piranthadhu
And Gandhi were born
Boomiyil etharkaaga
On this earth, for what purpose?
Thozha ezhai namakaaga
My friend, it was for us poor people!
Gangai yamunai
Ganges, Yamuna,
Kaveri vaigai oduvathu
Cauvery, and Vaigai flow,
Etharkaaga naalum uzhaithu
Why? For those who labor every day
Thaagam edutha thozhargal namakaaga
And grow thirsty, for us comrades!
Buthan yesu
Buddha, Jesus,
Ganthi piranthadhu
And Gandhi were born
Boomiyil etharkaaga
On this earth, for what purpose?
Thozha ezhai namakaaga
My friend, it was for us poor people!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This philosophical anthem from Chandhrodhayam (1966) offers a powerful message of dignity, justice, and hope for the labor class. The speaker asserts that great spiritual leaders like Buddha, Jesus, and Mahatma Gandhi came into the world to uplift the poor and downtrodden, just as great rivers like the Ganges and Cauvery flow to quench the thirst of hardworking laborers. It celebrates the worker who bends like a question mark in honest toil while holding self-respect above material wealth. The song further observes that wealthy individuals often lack generosity, whereas a kind and welcoming heart serves as a true temple where God chooses to dwell. Reminding listeners that nature's blessings are meant for everyone rather than a privileged few, the lyrics urge the working class to remain hopeful for a brighter, fairer tomorrow.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Uvamai)
“Kelvikuripol / Muthugu valainthu”
Comparing a laborer's bent back during strenuous physical toil to a question mark ('Kelvikuri').
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Manam endra / Koyil pirakindra neram”
Directly metaphorizing a pure, compassionate human heart as a holy temple ('Koyil').
Alliteration (Monai)
“Porulkonda / Pergal manam kondathillai”
Repetition of the initial 'P' sound ('Porulkonda', 'Pergal') for rhythmic harmony.
Antithesis (Muran)
“Azhuthavar / Siripathum sirithavar / Azhuvathum”
Contrasting crying ('Azhuthavar') and laughing ('Sirithavar') to highlight changing fortunes.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song is from the 1966 Tamil film Chandhrodhayam starring M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) and Jayalalithaa. Composed by M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics by Vaali and rendered by T. M. Soundararajan, this track is a classic example of MGR's signature messianic songs that built his socio-political identity among the working class.
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