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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Deepathai Vaithu

From Kadavulai Kanden · 1963

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Kadavulai Kanden
Movie release year
1963
Lyrics added on
15 Apr 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Humming…..
Deepathai vaithu kondu
Thirukkuralum padikkalam
Deepathai vaithu kondu
Thirukkuralum padikkalam
Theeyai kondu moodar ellaam
Oorai kooda erikkalam
Theeyai kondu moodar ellaam
Oorai kooda erikkalam
Deepathai vaithu kondu
Thirukkuralum padikkalam
Kobam mattum adangi vittaal
Gopurathil yeralaam
Kobam mattum adangi vittaal
Gopurathil yeralaam
Gunam irunthu manamirundhaal
Kadavulaaga maaralaam
Gunam irunthu manamirundhaal
Kadavulaaga maaralaam
Deepathai vaithu kondu
Thirukkuralum padikkalam
Kann irandu kaal irandu
Kai irandu padaithaan
Katti vaithu kaapatharkku
Manadhu ondrai samaithaan
Kann irandu kaal irandu
Kai irandu padaithaan
Katti vaithu kaapatharkku
Manadhu ondrai samaithaan
Ninaithu paarkka maranthu vittaal
Murattu thanam valarum
Ninaithu paarkka maranthu vittaal
Murattu thanam valarum
Murattuthanam nirainthavanai
Ulagam ellam pazhikkum
Hoo oo oo hoo oo oo o
Haaa ..aaa..aaa..aaa..
Deepathai vaithu kondu
Thirukkuralum padikkalam
Kaatrin vegam thanai adakki
Suthi koduthaal panpaadum
Malai kallai kooda malarai pola
Sedhuki vaithaal vandaadum
Kaatrin vegam thanai adakki
Suthi koduthaal panpaadum
Malai kallai kooda malarai pola
Sedhuki vaithaal vandaadum
Aattru vellam madaiyil vandhaal
Payirgal kodi undaagum
Aattru vellam madaiyil vandhaal
Payirgal kodi undaagum
Aathirathil arivu kandaal
Ulagam ellam kondadum
Hoo oo oo hoo oo oo o
Haaa ..aaa..aaa..aaa..
Deepathai vaithu kondu
Thirukkuralum padikkalam
Theeyai kondu moodar ellaam
Oorai kooda erikkalam
Deepathai vaithu kondu
Thirukkuralum padikkalam
(Humming...)
With the light of a lamp,
one can read the Thirukkural (classic book of wisdom).
With the light of a lamp,
one can read the Thirukkural (classic book of wisdom).
Yet with fire, fools
can even burn down a whole town.
Yet with fire, fools
can even burn down a whole town.
With the light of a lamp,
one can read the Thirukkural (classic book of wisdom).
If only anger is subdued,
one can rise to the temple tower.
If only anger is subdued,
one can rise to the temple tower.
With good character and a pure heart,
one can become like God.
With good character and a pure heart,
one can become like God.
With the light of a lamp,
one can read the Thirukkural (classic book of wisdom).
Two eyes, two legs,
and two hands He created;
and to keep them in check and guarded,
He fashioned a single mind.
Two eyes, two legs,
and two hands He created;
and to keep them in check and guarded,
He fashioned a single mind.
If we forget to pause and think,
brutishness will grow.
If we forget to pause and think,
brutishness will grow.
And a person full of brutality,
the whole world will despise.
Ho... oh... oh... ho... oh... oh...
Ha... aa... aa... ha... aa...
With the light of a lamp,
one can read the Thirukkural (classic book of wisdom).
If the force of the wind is tamed
and set to musical pitch, melody is born.
Even a mountain rock, if sculpted
into a flower, bees will dance around it.
If the force of the wind is tamed
and set to musical pitch, melody is born.
Even a mountain rock, if sculpted
into a flower, bees will dance around it.
When a river's flood is guided through a sluice gate,
millions of crops will flourish.
When a river's flood is guided through a sluice gate,
millions of crops will flourish.
If wisdom is found to master fierce rage,
the whole world will celebrate.
Ho... oh... oh... ho... oh... oh...
Ha... aa... aa... ha... aa...
With the light of a lamp,
one can read the Thirukkural (classic book of wisdom).
Yet with fire, fools
can even burn down a whole town.
With the light of a lamp,
one can read the Thirukkural (classic book of wisdom).
Female
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is a profound philosophical piece written by lyricist Kannadasan for the 1963 film 'Kadavulai Kanden'. The core message focuses on the dual nature of human energy, power, and intellect: the same tool or emotion can be used constructively or destructively based on self-discipline. Fire can light up a lamp to read scripture (Thirukkural), or it can destroy an entire village in the hands of fools. Similarly, mind control, emotional regulation, and restraint turn raw human energy into divinity and beauty, just as sculpted stone attracts bees or controlled wind produces melody.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Contrast / Antithesis

“Deepathai vaithu kondu Thirukkuralum padikkalam / Theeyai kondu moodar ellaam Oorai kooda erikkalam”

Contrasting the constructive use of fire (reading Thirukkural) with its destructive potential (burning down a town).

Simile (Upamai)

“Malai kallai kooda malarai pola Sedhuki vaithaal vandaadum”

Comparing a hard, sculpted mountain stone to a delicate flower that attracts bees when carved with care.

Metaphor

“Aattru vellam madaiyil vandhaal Payirgal kodi undaagum / Aathirathil arivu kandaal Ulagam ellam kondadum”

Comparing the controlled flow of river water through sluice gates to controlling human rage with wisdom.

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

“Kobam mattum adangi vittaal Gopurathil yeralaam”

Repetition of initial consonant/vowel sounds across words or lines ('Kobam' / 'Gopurathil', 'Gunam' / 'Kadavulaaga').

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by K. V. Mahadevan and sung by P. Susheela, this song is considered one of Kannadasan's classic moral didactic songs in Tamil cinema. Kannadasan frequently referenced Thirukkural and ancient Tamil ethics in his movie lyrics to impart life wisdom to the masses.

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