Ethilum Ingu
From Bharathi · 2000
- Lyricist
- Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyaar
- Singer
- Madhu Balakrishnan
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Bharathi2000
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Aa… aa… haa… aa… aaa | Ah… ah… haa… ah… ahhh |
| Aa… aaa…aa….aaa… | Ah… ahh… ah… ahh… |
| Male | |
| Edhilum ingu iruppaan | He who resides in everything here, |
| Avan yaaro | Who is he? |
| Enakkul avan iruppaan arivaaro | Do they know that he resides within me? |
| Thavazhum nadhiyai tharitha mudiyaan | He whose hair locks bear the flowing river, |
| Adiyum mudiyum ariya mudiyaan | He whose origin and end cannot be comprehended, |
| Eliya adiyar odhum vedha naadhamaagi | Becoming the sound of Vedic chants recited by humble devotees, |
| Male | |
| Edhilum ingu iruppaan | He who resides in everything here, |
| Avan yaaro | Who is he? |
| Enakkul avan iruppaan arivaaro | Do they know that he resides within me? |
| Male | |
| Vari puli adhazh | The skin of a striped tiger, |
| Tharithavan ezhil kanden | I beheld the beauty of the one who wears it. |
| Pirappenum pini | The disease known as birth, |
| Aruppavan thunai konden | I took refuge in the one who severs it. |
| Thamizh kavi tharum enakkoru varam | Grant a boon to me, a Tamil poet, |
| Thara thiruvulam vendum | I seek your divine heart to bestow it. |
| Sagathinukkenai thara thagum neri | A righteous path worthy of surrendering myself to the world, |
| Vaguthida thunai vendum | I need your support to formulate it. |
| Male | |
| Aalam karu neelam | The poison turned dark blue, |
| Yena theriyum oru kandan | Is seen on his neck, the dark-throated Lord. |
| Andum thiru thondan | A holy devotee who surrenders to him, |
| Yenum adiyaarkkoru thondan | I am a humble servant to such devotees. |
| Male | |
| Patru thalaikku neruppavan | He who burns away attachment at its root, |
| Pottrai kanathil azhippavan | He who destroys pride in a split second, |
| Netri piraikkul neruppai valarthu | Nurturing fire within the crescent moon on his forehead, |
| Male | |
| Edhilum ingu iruppaan | He who resides in everything here, |
| Avan yaaro | Who is he? |
| Enakkul avan iruppaan arivaaro | Do they know that he resides within me? |
| Male | |
| Thodakkamum adhan | The beginning of all things and |
| Adakkamum avan velai | Their resolution are his doing. |
| Nadappadhum adhai | Whatever happens and whatever |
| Thaduppadhum avan leelai | Prevents it are his divine play. |
| Udukkalil saram thoduthavan | He who strung a garland out of the stars, |
| Thalai mudikkaniyavum koodum | Can also adorn his locks with them. |
| Perukkalum adhai vaguthalum adhai | Multiplication, division, |
| Kazhithalum avan paadam | And subtraction are all his arithmetic lessons. |
| Male | |
| Maarum yugam thorum avan | Through every changing cosmic era, |
| Kanakkin padi aagum | Things unfold according to his calculations. |
| Mannum uyar vinnum avan | The earth and the vast sky are but |
| Oru kai pidiyaagum | A mere handful in his grasp. |
| Male | |
| Sattam anaithum vaguthavan | He who framed all the universal laws, |
| Thittam anaithum thoguthavan | He who structured all the master plans, |
| Muttra padithu muditha oruthan | The supreme one who has completely mastered everything, |
| Male | |
| Edhilum ingu iruppaan | He who resides in everything here, |
| Avan yaaro | Who is he? |
| Enakkul avan iruppaan arivaaro | Do they know that he resides within me? |
| Thavazhum nadhiyai tharitha mudiyaan | He whose hair locks bear the flowing river, |
| Adiyum mudiyum ariya mudiyaan | He whose origin and end cannot be comprehended, |
| Eliya adiyar odhum vedha naadhamaagi | Becoming the sound of Vedic chants recited by humble devotees, |
| Male | |
| Edhilum ingu iruppaan | He who resides in everything here, |
| Avan yaaro | Who is he? |
| Enakkul avan iruppaan arivaaro | Do they know that he resides within me? |
ஆ...ஆ...ஹா....ஆ....ஆஅ.....
ஆஅ....ஆஅ....ஆ....ஆஅ.....
Ah… ah… haa… ah… ahhh
Ah… ahh… ah… ahh…
எதிலும் இங்கு இருப்பான்
அவன் யாரோ
எனக்குள் அவன் இருப்பான் அறிவாரோ
தவழும் நதியை தரித்த முடியான்
அடியும் முடியும் அறிய முடியான்
எளிய அடியர் ஓதும் வேத நாதமாகி
He who resides in everything here,
Who is he?
Do they know that he resides within me?
He whose hair locks bear the flowing river,
He whose origin and end cannot be comprehended,
Becoming the sound of Vedic chants recited by humble devotees,
எதிலும் இங்கு இருப்பான்
அவன் யாரோ
எனக்குள் அவன் இருப்பான் அறிவாரோ
He who resides in everything here,
Who is he?
Do they know that he resides within me?
வரிப்புலி அதழ்
தரித்தவன்
எழில் கண்டேன்
பிறப்பெனும் பிணி அறுப்பவன்
துணை கொண்டேன்
தமிழ்க்கவி தரும் எனக்கொரு வரம்
தரத் திருவுளம் வேண்டும்
சகத்தினுக்கெனைத் தர தகும் நெறி
வகுத்திட துணை வேண்டும்
The skin of a striped tiger,
I beheld the beauty of the one who wears it.
The disease known as birth,
I took refuge in the one who severs it.
Grant a boon to me, a Tamil poet,
I seek your divine heart to bestow it.
A righteous path worthy of surrendering myself to the world,
I need your support to formulate it.
ஆலம் கரு நீலம்
என தெரியும் ஒரு கண்டன்
அண்டும் திருத்தொண்டன்
எனும் அடியார்க்கொரு தொண்டன்
The poison turned dark blue,
Is seen on his neck, the dark-throated Lord.
A holy devotee who surrenders to him,
I am a humble servant to such devotees.
பற்றுத் தலைக்கு நெருப்பவன்
ஒற்றை கணத்தில் அழிப்பவன்
நெற்றிப் பிறைக்குள் நெருப்பை வளர்த்து
He who burns away attachment at its root,
He who destroys pride in a split second,
Nurturing fire within the crescent moon on his forehead,
எதிலும் இங்கு இருப்பான்
அவன் யாரோ
எனக்குள் அவன் இருப்பான் அறிவாரோ
He who resides in everything here,
Who is he?
Do they know that he resides within me?
தொடக்கமும் அதன்
அடக்கமும் அவன் வேலை
நடப்பதும் அதை
தடுப்பதும் அவன் லீலை
உடுக்களில் சரம் தொடுத்தவன்
தலை முடிக்கணியவும் கூடும்
பெருக்கலும் அதை வகுத்தலும் அதை
கழித்தலும் அவன் பாடம்
The beginning of all things and
Their resolution are his doing.
Whatever happens and whatever
Prevents it are his divine play.
He who strung a garland out of the stars,
Can also adorn his locks with them.
Multiplication, division,
And subtraction are all his arithmetic lessons.
மாறும் யுகம் தோறும் அவன்
கணக்கின் படியாகும்
மண்ணும் உயர் விண்ணும் அவன்
ஒரு கைப்பிடியாகும்
Through every changing cosmic era,
Things unfold according to his calculations.
The earth and the vast sky are but
A mere handful in his grasp.
சட்டம் அனைத்தும் வகுத்தவன்
திட்டம் அனைத்தும் தொகுத்தவன்
முற்றப் படித்து முடித்த ஒருத்தன்
He who framed all the universal laws,
He who structured all the master plans,
The supreme one who has completely mastered everything,
எதிலும் இங்கு இருப்பான்
அவன் யாரோ
எனக்குள் அவன் இருப்பான் அறிவாரோ
தவழும் நதியை தரித்த முடியான்
அடியும் முடியும் அறிய முடியான்
எளிய அடியர் ஓதும் வேத நாதமாகி
He who resides in everything here,
Who is he?
Do they know that he resides within me?
He whose hair locks bear the flowing river,
He whose origin and end cannot be comprehended,
Becoming the sound of Vedic chants recited by humble devotees,
எதிலும் இங்கு இருப்பான்
அவன் யாரோ
எனக்குள் அவன் இருப்பான் அறிவாரோ
He who resides in everything here,
Who is he?
Do they know that he resides within me?
Aa… aa… haa… aa… aaa
Ah… ah… haa… ah… ahhh
Aa… aaa…aa….aaa…
Ah… ahh… ah… ahh…
Edhilum ingu iruppaan
He who resides in everything here,
Avan yaaro
Who is he?
Enakkul avan iruppaan arivaaro
Do they know that he resides within me?
Thavazhum nadhiyai tharitha mudiyaan
He whose hair locks bear the flowing river,
Adiyum mudiyum ariya mudiyaan
He whose origin and end cannot be comprehended,
Eliya adiyar odhum vedha naadhamaagi
Becoming the sound of Vedic chants recited by humble devotees,
Edhilum ingu iruppaan
He who resides in everything here,
Avan yaaro
Who is he?
Enakkul avan iruppaan arivaaro
Do they know that he resides within me?
Vari puli adhazh
The skin of a striped tiger,
Tharithavan ezhil kanden
I beheld the beauty of the one who wears it.
Pirappenum pini
The disease known as birth,
Aruppavan thunai konden
I took refuge in the one who severs it.
Thamizh kavi tharum enakkoru varam
Grant a boon to me, a Tamil poet,
Thara thiruvulam vendum
I seek your divine heart to bestow it.
Sagathinukkenai thara thagum neri
A righteous path worthy of surrendering myself to the world,
Vaguthida thunai vendum
I need your support to formulate it.
Aalam karu neelam
The poison turned dark blue,
Yena theriyum oru kandan
Is seen on his neck, the dark-throated Lord.
Andum thiru thondan
A holy devotee who surrenders to him,
Yenum adiyaarkkoru thondan
I am a humble servant to such devotees.
Patru thalaikku neruppavan
He who burns away attachment at its root,
Pottrai kanathil azhippavan
He who destroys pride in a split second,
Netri piraikkul neruppai valarthu
Nurturing fire within the crescent moon on his forehead,
Edhilum ingu iruppaan
He who resides in everything here,
Avan yaaro
Who is he?
Enakkul avan iruppaan arivaaro
Do they know that he resides within me?
Thodakkamum adhan
The beginning of all things and
Adakkamum avan velai
Their resolution are his doing.
Nadappadhum adhai
Whatever happens and whatever
Thaduppadhum avan leelai
Prevents it are his divine play.
Udukkalil saram thoduthavan
He who strung a garland out of the stars,
Thalai mudikkaniyavum koodum
Can also adorn his locks with them.
Perukkalum adhai vaguthalum adhai
Multiplication, division,
Kazhithalum avan paadam
And subtraction are all his arithmetic lessons.
Maarum yugam thorum avan
Through every changing cosmic era,
Kanakkin padi aagum
Things unfold according to his calculations.
Mannum uyar vinnum avan
The earth and the vast sky are but
Oru kai pidiyaagum
A mere handful in his grasp.
Sattam anaithum vaguthavan
He who framed all the universal laws,
Thittam anaithum thoguthavan
He who structured all the master plans,
Muttra padithu muditha oruthan
The supreme one who has completely mastered everything,
Edhilum ingu iruppaan
He who resides in everything here,
Avan yaaro
Who is he?
Enakkul avan iruppaan arivaaro
Do they know that he resides within me?
Thavazhum nadhiyai tharitha mudiyaan
He whose hair locks bear the flowing river,
Adiyum mudiyum ariya mudiyaan
He whose origin and end cannot be comprehended,
Eliya adiyar odhum vedha naadhamaagi
Becoming the sound of Vedic chants recited by humble devotees,
Edhilum ingu iruppaan
He who resides in everything here,
Avan yaaro
Who is he?
Enakkul avan iruppaan arivaaro
Do they know that he resides within me?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This profound philosophical composition from the movie 'Bharathi' (2000) depicts Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyar's intense spiritual experience and realization of the divine. The song addresses the omnipresent cosmic force—traditionally portrayed with iconic imagery of Lord Shiva—and marvels at how the supreme entity that governs the entire cosmos also resides within the poet's own inner self.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Avan yaaro / Enakkul avan iruppaan arivaaro”
The matching end sounds 'yaaro' and 'arivaaro' create a melodic, rhythmic refrain throughout the song.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Pirappenum pini”
Literally translating to 'the disease called birth', the poet metaphorically compares the cycle of mortal existence to an ailment that only divine grace can cure.
Muran (Antithesis/Contrast)
“Perukkalum adhai vaguthalum adhai / Kazhithalum avan paadam”
Contrasting mathematical operations (multiplication, division, subtraction) are used symbolically to explain cosmic creation, distribution, and destruction.
Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Sattam anaithum vaguthavan / Thittam anaithum thoguthavan”
The second consonant 'tt' (ட்) in 'Sattam' and 'Thittam' creates a classic Tamil poetic rhythm.
Did you know?
Trivia
The movie 'Bharathi' (2000) is a biographical film about the life of Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyar, directed by Gnana Rajasekaran. The musical score was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, who won the National Film Award for Best Music Direction for this soundtrack. The song combines traditional Shaivite devotional imagery with modern mathematical metaphors to convey Bharathiyar's pantheistic worldview.
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