Entha Paathai
From Oru Koyil Iru Deepangal · 1979
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- K. J. Yesudas
- Music director
- V. Dakshinamurthy
- Details
- Oru Koyil Iru Deepangal1979
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Entha paathai engae payanam | Which path is this, and where is the journey headed? |
| Iraivanthaan mudivu seivaan | Only God will decide the outcome. |
| Indru naalai enna vaazhkkai | What life holds today or tomorrow, |
| Yaar arivaar | who can truly know? |
| Male | |
| Entha paathai engae payanam | Which path is this, and where is the journey headed? |
| Iraivanthaan mudivu seivaan | Only God will decide the outcome. |
| Male | |
| Irandu mara solai vaiththaan | He created a grove with two trees, |
| Entha maram vaazha kandaan | but which tree did He let flourish? |
| Oottruvaan ootrinaalthaan | Only if the Nurturer pours water, |
| Kaaikkaatha maramum kaaikkum | even a barren tree will yield fruit. |
| Male | |
| Thallaadum manathai kondu | With a faltering, wavering heart, |
| Thaniyaaga nindraan indru | he stands alone today. |
| Ingaeyum iraivan nindraan | Even here, God stands supreme; |
| Un kaiyil illaiyae | it is not in your hands. |
| Male | |
| Entha paathai engae payanam | Which path is this, and where is the journey headed? |
| Iraivanthaan mudivu seivaan | Only God will decide the outcome. |
| Male | |
| Manathiloru aasai kondaan | He harbored a desire in his heart, |
| Maalai soodi vaazha nindraan | he stood ready to marry and live happily. |
| Thedinaan kaaiyai kandaan | He searched and found raw fruit, |
| Thedaatha kaniyai kandaan | yet he encountered an unsought ripe fruit. |
| Male | |
| Kanneeril odum vaazhvu | Life flows along in tears, |
| Adhu sollum paadhai nooru | showing a hundred different paths. |
| Ingaeyum iraivan nindraan | Even here, God stands supreme; |
| Un kaiyil illaiyae | it is not in your hands. |
| Male | |
| Entha paathai engae payanam | Which path is this, and where is the journey headed? |
| Iraivanthaan mudivu seivaan | Only God will decide the outcome. |
| Male | |
| Kungumaththai kaiyil kondu | Holding vermilion in his hand, |
| Kovil kaana odi sendraan | he ran to see the temple. |
| Kovilai kandaan illai | He could not find the temple, |
| Avan thedum dhepam illai | nor was the lamp he searched for there. |
| Male | |
| Thanneeril neruppai kandaan | He saw fire within water, |
| Thaalaatha sogam kondaan | and was overcome with unbearable grief. |
| Ingaeyum iraivan nindraan | Even here, God stands supreme; |
| Un kaiyil illaiyae | it is not in your hands. |
| Male | |
| Entha paathai engae payanam | Which path is this, and where is the journey headed? |
| Iraivanthaan mudivu seivaan | Only God will decide the outcome. |
| Indru naalai enna vaazhkkai | What life holds today or tomorrow, |
| Yaar arivaar | who can truly know? |
| Male | |
| Entha paathai engae payanam | Which path is this, and where is the journey headed? |
| Iraivanthaan mudivu seivaan | Only God will decide the outcome. |
எந்த பாதை எங்கே பயணம்
இறைவன்தான் முடிவு செய்வான்
இன்று நாளை என்ன வாழ்க்கை
யார் அறிவார்....
Which path is this, and where is the journey headed?
Only God will decide the outcome.
What life holds today or tomorrow,
who can truly know?
எந்த பாதை எங்கே பயணம்
இறைவன்தான் முடிவு செய்வான்
Which path is this, and where is the journey headed?
Only God will decide the outcome.
இரண்டு மரச்சோலை வைத்தான்
எந்த மரம் வாழக் கண்டான்
ஊற்றுவான் ஊற்றினால் தான்
காய்க்காத மரமும் காய்க்கும்
He created a grove with two trees,
but which tree did He let flourish?
Only if the Nurturer pours water,
even a barren tree will yield fruit.
தள்ளாடும் மனதைக் கொண்டு
தனியாக நின்றான் இன்று
இங்கேயும் இறைவன் நின்றான்
உன் கையில் இல்லையே
With a faltering, wavering heart,
he stands alone today.
Even here, God stands supreme;
it is not in your hands.
எந்த பாதை எங்கே பயணம்
இறைவன்தான் முடிவு செய்வான்
Which path is this, and where is the journey headed?
Only God will decide the outcome.
மனதிலொரு ஆசை கொண்டான்
மாலை சூடி வாழ நின்றான்
தேடினான் காயைக் கண்டான்
தேடாத கனியைக் கண்டான்
He harbored a desire in his heart,
he stood ready to marry and live happily.
He searched and found raw fruit,
yet he encountered an unsought ripe fruit.
கண்ணீரில் ஓடும் வாழ்வு
அது சொல்லும் பாதை நூறு
இங்கேயும் இறைவன் நின்றான்
உன் கையில் இல்லையே
Life flows along in tears,
showing a hundred different paths.
Even here, God stands supreme;
it is not in your hands.
எந்த பாதை எங்கே பயணம்
இறைவன்தான் முடிவு செய்வான்
Which path is this, and where is the journey headed?
Only God will decide the outcome.
குங்குமத்தை கையில் கொண்டு
கோவில் காண ஓடிச் சென்றான்
கோவிலைக் கண்டான் இல்லை
அவன் தேடும் தீபம் இல்லை
Holding vermilion in his hand,
he ran to see the temple.
He could not find the temple,
nor was the lamp he searched for there.
தண்ணீரில் நெருப்பைக் கண்டான்
தாளாத சோகம் கொண்டான்
இங்கேயும் இறைவன் நின்றான்
உன் கையில் இல்லையே
He saw fire within water,
and was overcome with unbearable grief.
Even here, God stands supreme;
it is not in your hands.
எந்த பாதை எங்கே பயணம்
இறைவன்தான் முடிவு செய்வான்
இன்று நாளை என்ன வாழ்க்கை
யார் அறிவார்....
Which path is this, and where is the journey headed?
Only God will decide the outcome.
What life holds today or tomorrow,
who can truly know?
எந்த பாதை எங்கே பயணம்
இறைவன்தான் முடிவு செய்வான்
Which path is this, and where is the journey headed?
Only God will decide the outcome.
Entha paathai engae payanam
Which path is this, and where is the journey headed?
Iraivanthaan mudivu seivaan
Only God will decide the outcome.
Indru naalai enna vaazhkkai
What life holds today or tomorrow,
Yaar arivaar
who can truly know?
Entha paathai engae payanam
Which path is this, and where is the journey headed?
Iraivanthaan mudivu seivaan
Only God will decide the outcome.
Irandu mara solai vaiththaan
He created a grove with two trees,
Entha maram vaazha kandaan
but which tree did He let flourish?
Oottruvaan ootrinaalthaan
Only if the Nurturer pours water,
Kaaikkaatha maramum kaaikkum
even a barren tree will yield fruit.
Thallaadum manathai kondu
With a faltering, wavering heart,
Thaniyaaga nindraan indru
he stands alone today.
Ingaeyum iraivan nindraan
Even here, God stands supreme;
Un kaiyil illaiyae
it is not in your hands.
Entha paathai engae payanam
Which path is this, and where is the journey headed?
Iraivanthaan mudivu seivaan
Only God will decide the outcome.
Manathiloru aasai kondaan
He harbored a desire in his heart,
Maalai soodi vaazha nindraan
he stood ready to marry and live happily.
Thedinaan kaaiyai kandaan
He searched and found raw fruit,
Thedaatha kaniyai kandaan
yet he encountered an unsought ripe fruit.
Kanneeril odum vaazhvu
Life flows along in tears,
Adhu sollum paadhai nooru
showing a hundred different paths.
Ingaeyum iraivan nindraan
Even here, God stands supreme;
Un kaiyil illaiyae
it is not in your hands.
Entha paathai engae payanam
Which path is this, and where is the journey headed?
Iraivanthaan mudivu seivaan
Only God will decide the outcome.
Kungumaththai kaiyil kondu
Holding vermilion in his hand,
Kovil kaana odi sendraan
he ran to see the temple.
Kovilai kandaan illai
He could not find the temple,
Avan thedum dhepam illai
nor was the lamp he searched for there.
Thanneeril neruppai kandaan
He saw fire within water,
Thaalaatha sogam kondaan
and was overcome with unbearable grief.
Ingaeyum iraivan nindraan
Even here, God stands supreme;
Un kaiyil illaiyae
it is not in your hands.
Entha paathai engae payanam
Which path is this, and where is the journey headed?
Iraivanthaan mudivu seivaan
Only God will decide the outcome.
Indru naalai enna vaazhkkai
What life holds today or tomorrow,
Yaar arivaar
who can truly know?
Entha paathai engae payanam
Which path is this, and where is the journey headed?
Iraivanthaan mudivu seivaan
Only God will decide the outcome.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Entha Paathai Engae Payanam' from the 1979 film 'Oru Koyil Iru Deepangal' is a deeply philosophical song meditating on destiny, human powerlessness, and the supreme divine order. Sung with profound emotion by K. J. Yesudas, the song reflects a protagonist facing tragic twists in life, questioning where his journey is leading. Kannadasan's lyrics emphasize that human desires and plans are often overwritten by fate, leaving humans to navigate unpredictable paths. Through vivid imagery—such as two trees in a grove, searching for a temple light, or discovering fire within water—the song conveys heartbreak and existential resignation. The recurring refrain reinforces that no matter how much one struggles, ultimate control lies not in human hands, but with God.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Rhetorical Question
“Entha paathai engae payanam / Yaar arivaar”
Questions used to emphasize the unknown nature of destiny and the helplessness of human beings.
Metaphor
“Thanneeril neruppai kandaan”
Metaphorically describes encountering burning sorrow or tragedy in a place where one expected peace or comfort.
Muran (Contrast / Antithesis)
“Thedinaan kaaiyai kandaan / Thedaatha kaniyai kandaan”
Contrasts searching for an unripe fruit (kaai) versus unexpectedly receiving a ripe fruit (kani), symbolizing unexpected twists of fate.
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Thedinaan kaaiyai kandaan / Thedaatha kaniyai kandaan”
Repetition of the ending sound 'kandaan' across consecutive lines to create melodic rhythm.
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Kungumaththai kaiyil kondu / Kovil kaana odi sendraan”
Repetition of the initial 'K' sound across words and lines.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song features music composed by V. Dakshinamurthy, one of the most respected classical composers in South Indian cinema, renowned primarily in Malayalam cinema but also highly esteemed for his Tamil compositions. Kannadasan's lyrics in this track are considered classic examples of his signature philosophical style ('Thathuva Paadal'). Rendered soulfully by K. J. Yesudas, the song remains one of the most recognizable tracks from 'Oru Koyil Iru Deepangal' (1979).
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