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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kaasikku Pogum Sanyasi

From Chandhrodhayam · 1966

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, Sirkazhi Govindarajan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Chandhrodhayam1966

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kaasikku pogum sanyaasiAscetic heading to Kashi,
Un kudumbam ennaagum nee yosiThink about what will happen to your family.
Male
Kaasikku pogum sanyaasiAscetic heading to Kashi,
Un kudumbam ennaagum nee yosiThink about what will happen to your family.
Gangaikku pogum paradhaesi…Wanderer heading to the Ganges...
Eee… ee… ee… ee…ee….ee….Eee... ee... ee... ee...ee....ee....
Male
Gangaikku pogum paradhaesiWanderer heading to the Ganges,
Nee naethu varaiyilum sugavaasiYou were living in comfort until yesterday.
Male
Kaasikku pogum sanyaasiAscetic heading to Kashi,
Un kudumbam ennaagum nee yosiThink about what will happen to your family.
Male
Pattadhu podhum pennaalae…I have suffered enough because of a woman...
Male
Pattadhu podhum pennaalaeI have suffered enough because of a woman,
Idhai pattinathaarum sonnaarae…Even Saint Pattinathar said this...
Male
Pattadhu podhum pennaalaeI have suffered enough because of a woman,
Idhai pattinathaarum sonnaarae…Even Saint Pattinathar said this...
Ava suttadhu podhum… mm…Enough of her burning me... mm...
Siva siva sivanae… siva siva sivanae…O Lord Shiva... O Lord Shiva...
Aa….aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa..aaa…Aa....aaa...aaa...aaa...aaa...aaa...aaa...aaa..aaa…
Sivanae aa….aaa….aa…aa…O Shiva, aa....aaa....aa...aa…
Male
Suttadhu podhum sollaalaeEnough of being burned by her words,
Naan sugappadavillai avalaalaeI haven't experienced any pleasure because of her.
Suttadhu podhum sollaalaeEnough of being burned by her words,
Naan sugappadavillai avalaalaeI haven't experienced any pleasure because of her.
Male
Kaasikku kaasikuTo Kashi, to Kashi,
Kaasikku poren aala viduI am going to Kashi, leave me alone!
Ennai inimaelaavadhu vaazha viduLet me live at least from now on!
Male
Aadharavaana vaarthaiyai paesiSpeak supportive and compassionate words,
Arumai migundha manaiviyai naesiLove your precious and wonderful wife.
Male
Aadharavaana vaarthaiyai paesiSpeak supportive and compassionate words,
Arumai migundha manaiviyai naesiLove your precious and wonderful wife.
Anbenum paadathai avalidam vaasiRead/learn the lesson of love from her,
Avalai vidavaa uyarndhadhu kaasiIs Kashi higher or grander than her?
Male
Avadhi padubavan padu samsaariA family man suffers deeply in worldly life,
Appaa neeyo brahmachaariWhile you, sir, are living like a bachelor!
Male
Avadhi padubavan padu samsaariA family man suffers deeply in worldly life,
Appaa neeyo brahmachaariWhile you, sir, are living like a bachelor!
Thalaiyanai mandhiram moolaiyai kedukkumPillow-talk ruins one's wisdom and mind,
Thaaraga mandhiram motchathai kodukkumThe ultimate salvation-granting mantra yields liberation.
Thaaraga mandhiram motchathai kodukkumThe ultimate salvation-granting mantra yields liberation.
Male
Kaasikku kaasikuTo Kashi, to Kashi,
Kaasikku poren aala viduI am going to Kashi, leave me alone!
Ennai inimaelaavadhu vaazha viduLet me live at least from now on!
Male
Illaram enbadhu nallaramaagumDomestic life is a good and noble virtue,
Idhuvae valluvan sonna sollaagumThis is the word spoken by Sage Valluvar.
Male
Illaram enbadhu nallaramaagumDomestic life is a good and noble virtue,
Idhuvae valluvan sonna sollaagumThis is the word spoken by Sage Valluvar.
Kudumbathin vilakku manaivi endraagumThe wife is the illuminating lamp of the family,
Kobathai marandhaal sorgam undaagumIf anger is forgotten, heaven will be created.
Male
Bhakthiyin vadivam sanyaasamAsceticism is the form of ultimate devotion,
Punniyavaangal sagavaasamLiving in the company of holy men,
Adhuvae sandhoshamThat alone brings true happiness!
Male
Sakthiyin vadivam samsaaramFamily life is the dynamic incarnation of Shakti,
Avalae anbin avadhaaramShe is the true manifestation of love,
Vaendaam veli vaeshamDo not wear false superficial disguises!
Male
Kaasi naadhanae en dheivamLord Vishwanatha of Kashi is my God!
Male :Kattiya manaivi kula dheivamThe wedded wife is the family deity!
Male :Kaasi naadhanae en dheivamLord Vishwanatha of Kashi is my God!
Male :Kattiya manaivi kula dheivamThe wedded wife is the family deity!
Male
Manaiviyum dheivamum ondrillaiA wife and God are not the same thing!
Male :Manaivi illaamal dheivam illaiWithout a wife, there is no God!
Male :Manaiviyum dheivamum ondrillaiA wife and God are not the same thing!
Male :Manaivi illaamal dheivam illaiWithout a wife, there is no God!
Male
Sariyo ini avaludan iruppadhu sariyoIs it right to remain living with her anymore?
Male :Aval thunaiyinai pirivadhu muraiyoIs it proper to separate from her companionship?
Male :Pagai thaan valarumOnly enmity will grow!
Male :Pagaiyae anbaai malarumEnmity itself will bloom into love!
Male :Pirindhavar inaindhida padumoWill those who separated ever reunite?
Male :Manandhavar pirindhida thaghumoIs it suitable for those wedded to part ways?
Illaram nallaramaeDomestic life is indeed the best virtue!
Male
Kaasikku pogum sanyaasiAscetic heading to Kashi,
Un kudumbam ennaagum nee yosiThink about what will happen to your family.
Male
Kaasikku pogum sanyaasiAscetic heading to Kashi,
Un kudumbam ennaagum nee yosiThink about what will happen to your family.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a philosophical debate between two individuals representing contrasting worldviews: ascetic renunciation versus dutiful domestic life. One character, overwhelmed by marital strife, resolves to abandon his household and travel to the holy city of Kashi to become a sanyaasi. He cites Saint Pattinathar and complains about the suffering caused by female company and worldly attachments. His companion counter-argues using classical ethical philosophy, citing Thiruvalluvar to assert that domestic life (Illaram) is the highest virtue, and that a loving wife is equal to a household deity. Through lively philosophical back-and-forth, the song highlights how spiritual devotion and domestic duty intersect in Tamil culture, ultimately praising the nobility of family life over running away from responsibilities.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

Kaasikku pogum sanyaasi / Un kudumbam ennaagum nee yosi

Matching second consonants across lines, such as 'Kaasikku' and 'Aasikku' or 'Aadharavaana' and 'Arumai' / 'Anbenum' forming rhythmic symmetry.

Iyaibu (End rhyme)

Kaasikku pogum sanyaasi ... Un kudumbam ennaagum nee yosi

Rhyming words at the line endings such as 'sanyaasi', 'yosi', 'paradhaesi', and 'sugavaasi'.

Alliteration (Monaai)

Suttadhu podhum sollaalae

Repetition of initial consonant sounds across words like 'Siva siva sivanae' or 'Suttadhu podhum sollaalae'.

Metaphor

Kudumbathin vilakku manaivi endraagum

Describing the wife as 'Kudumbathin vilakku' (lamp of the family) and 'Sakthiyin vadivam' (incarnation of Goddess Shakti).

Did you know?

Trivia

This famous duet from the movie Chandhrodhayam (1966) features legendary singers T. M. Soundararajan and Sirkazhi Govindarajan singing for M. G. Ramachandran and J. P. Chandrababu respectively under the music direction of M. S. Viswanathan. The song references Saint Pattinathar, a 10th-century Tamil saint renowned for renouncing wealth and family life, as well as Sage Thiruvalluvar's teachings on 'Illaram' (household virtue) from the Thirukkural.

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