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Lyrics & meaning

Irukkum Idatthai Vittu

From Thiruvarutchelvar · 1967

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
Seerkazhi Govindarajan
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Thiruvarutchelvar
Movie release year
1967
Lyrics added on
18 Oct 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Irukkum idathai vittu
Illaadha idai thaedi
Engengo alaigindraar
Nyaana thangamae
Irukkum idathai vittu
Illaadha idai thaedi
Engengo alaigindraar
Nyaana thangamae
Avar yaedhum ariyaaradi
Nyaana thangamae
Irukkum idathai vittu
Illaadha idai thaedi
Engengo alaigindraar
Nyaana thangamae
Avar yaedhum ariyaaradi
Nyaana thangamae
Unnaiyae ninaithiruppaan
Unmaiyai thaan uraippaan
Oorukku pagaiyaavaan
Nyaana thanghamae… ae…ae…
Unnaiyae ninaithiruppaan
Unmaiyai thaan uraippaan
Oorukku pagaiyaavaan
Nyaana thanghamae…
Avan oozh vinai enna solvaen
Nyaana thangamae nyaana thangamae
Irukkum idathai vittu
Illaadha idai thaedi
Engengo alaigindraar
Nyaana thangamae
Avar yaedhum ariyaaradi
Nyaana thangamae
Nanjinai nenjil vaithu
Naavinil anbu vaithu
Nanjinai nenjil vaithu
Naavinil anbu vaithu
Nallavan pol nadippaan
Nyaana thangamae
Nanjinai nenjil vaithu
Naavinil anbu vaithu
Nallavan pol nadippaan
Nyaana thangamae
Avan naadagam enna solven
Nyaana thangamae nyaana thangamae
Irukkum idathai vittu
Illaadha idai thaedi
Engengo alaigindraar
Nyaana thangamae
Avar yaedhum ariyaaradi
Nyaana thangamae
Thondukkendrae alaivaan
Kaelikku aalaavaan
Kandu kolvaai avanai
Nyaana thangamae… ae….ae…..ae…ae….
Thondukkendrae alaivaan
Kaelikku aalaavaan
Kandu kolvaai avanai
Nyaana thangamae…
Avan kadavulil paadhiyadi
Nyaana thangamae nyaana thangamae
Irukkum idathai vittu
Illaadha idai thaedi
Engengo alaigindraar
Nyaana thangamae
Avar yaedhum ariyaaradi
Nyaana thangamae
Pillaiyai killi vittu
Thottilai aatti vittu
Pillaiyai killi vittu
Thottilai aatti vittu
Thalli nindrae sirippaan
Nyaanae thangamae
Pillaiyai killi vittu
Thottilai aatti vittu
Pillaiyai killi vittu
Thottilai aatti vittu
Thalli nindrae sirippaan
Nyaanae thangamae
Avan thaan tharaniyai padaithaandi
Nyaana thangamae nyaana thangamae
Irukkum idathai vittu
Illaadha idai thaedi
Engengo alaigindraar
Nyaana thangamae
Avar yaedhum ariyaaradi
Nyaana thangamae
Leaving the place where He truly is,
searching in places where He is not,
they wander all over the place,
O precious soul of wisdom!
Leaving the place where He truly is,
searching in places where He is not,
they wander all over the place,
O precious soul of wisdom!
They know nothing at all, my dear,
O precious soul of wisdom!
Leaving the place where He truly is,
searching in places where He is not,
they wander all over the place,
O precious soul of wisdom!
They know nothing at all, my dear,
O precious soul of wisdom!
A man may think only of the Divine,
he may speak only the truth,
yet he becomes an enemy to the world,
O precious soul of wisdom...
A man may think only of the Divine,
he may speak only the truth,
yet he becomes an enemy to the world,
O precious soul of wisdom!
What can I say of the fate that befalls him?
O precious soul of wisdom, O precious soul of wisdom!
Leaving the place where He truly is,
searching in places where He is not,
they wander all over the place,
O precious soul of wisdom!
They know nothing at all, my dear,
O precious soul of wisdom!
Keeping poison in his heart,
and love upon his tongue,
keeping poison in his heart,
and love upon his tongue,
he pretends to be a good man,
O precious soul of wisdom!
Keeping poison in his heart,
and love upon his tongue,
he pretends to be a good man,
O precious soul of wisdom!
What can I say of his deceitful act?
O precious soul of wisdom, O precious soul of wisdom!
Leaving the place where He truly is,
searching in places where He is not,
they wander all over the place,
O precious soul of wisdom!
They know nothing at all, my dear,
O precious soul of wisdom!
A man wanders only to serve others,
yet he ends up being mocked,
learn to recognize who he truly is,
O precious soul of wisdom...
A man wanders only to serve others,
yet he ends up being mocked,
learn to recognize who he truly is,
O precious soul of wisdom...
he is half of God Himself, my dear,
O precious soul of wisdom, O precious soul of wisdom!
Leaving the place where He truly is,
searching in places where He is not,
they wander all over the place,
O precious soul of wisdom!
They know nothing at all, my dear,
O precious soul of wisdom!
Pinching the baby to make it cry,
and then rocking the cradle to soothe it,
pinching the baby to make it cry,
and then rocking the cradle to soothe it,
He stands far away and smiles,
O precious soul of wisdom!
Pinching the baby to make it cry,
and then rocking the cradle to soothe it,
pinching the baby to make it cry,
and then rocking the cradle to soothe it,
He stands far away and smiles,
O precious soul of wisdom!
He is the one who created this world, my dear,
O precious soul of wisdom, O precious soul of wisdom!
Leaving the place where He truly is,
searching in places where He is not,
they wander all over the place,
O precious soul of wisdom!
They know nothing at all, my dear,
O precious soul of wisdom!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This iconic song from 'Thiruvarutchelvar' (1967) uses philosophical folk-style lyrics to reflect on human ignorance and the divine nature of true wisdom. It highlights how humans search frantically everywhere outside for God and truth, completely oblivious to the reality that the divine resides within. The song critiques hypocritical human nature where people speak sweet words while harboring venom inside, contrasting it with true saints who suffer ridicule despite their absolute truthfulness and selfless service. In the final verses, Kannadasan metaphorically describes God's cosmic play (Lila)—the creator who creates both joy and suffering, standing back as a cosmic observer. Written in simple yet profound folk rhythm, the song serves as a timeless spiritual wake-up call.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Nanjinai nenjil vaithu / Naavinil anbu vaithu

Repetition of the 'Na' sound at the beginning of consecutive lines ('Nanjinai' and 'Naavinil').

Paradox / Metaphor

Pillaiyai killi vittu / Thottilai aatti vittu

The phrase 'pinching the child and rocking the cradle' is a famous Tamil idiom used here to describe the playful and paradoxical dual nature of divine creation and cosmic illusion (Maya).

Refrain / Anaphora

Nyaana thangamae

The direct address 'Nyaana thangamae' (O golden wisdom) acts as a recurring chorus refrain that grounds the philosophical inquiry.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Thiruvarutchelvar' (1967) is a celebrated Tamil devotional drama film starring Sivaji Ganesan, directed by A. P. Nagarajan. The iconic soundtrack for the movie was composed by K. V. Mahadevan, and this song was rendered by T. M. Soundararajan.

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