Kalviyai Poloru Selvam
From Tamizhariyum Perumal · 1942
- Lyricist
- Udumalai Narayanakavi
- Singer
- V. A. Chellappa
- Music director
- B. R. Rejin
- Details
- Tamizhariyum Perumal1942
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kalviyai poloru | Is there any wealth like |
| Selvam uladho | education? |
| Kaana vaenum puviyorae | People of the world must observe and realize this! |
| Odhum kalviyai poloru | Is there any wealth like |
| Selvam uladho | the education that one learns? |
| Kaana vaenum puviyorae…ae…ae… | People of the world must observe and realize this! |
| Kalviyai poloru | Is there any wealth like |
| Selvam uladho | education? |
| Kaana vaenum puviyorae | People of the world must observe and realize this! |
| Male | |
| Vellathaalum kanal veezhinum | Even if submerged in floods or consumed by fire, |
| Kulaiyaa…aa…aa…aa…aa… | it will not decay... |
| Aa…aa…aa…aa… | Ah... |
| Vellathaalum kanal veezhinum kulaiyaa | Even if submerged in floods or consumed by fire, it will not decay! |
| Vaendhar kalvarum thaan | Neither kings nor thieves |
| Kolla mudiyaa | can steal it away! |
| Vellathaalum kanal veezhinum kulaiyaa | Even if submerged in floods or consumed by fire, it will not decay! |
| Vaendhar kalvarum thaan | Neither kings nor thieves |
| Kolla mudiyaa alli koduppinum | can steal it away, and even if given away lavishly, |
| Ennaalum kuraiyaa | it never diminishes! |
| Arivir kunavumaam yaadhinum azhiyaa | It serves as nourishment for intellect and is imperishable by anything! |
| Arivir kunavumaam yaadhinum azhiyaa | It serves as nourishment for intellect and is imperishable by anything! |
| Male | |
| Kalviyai poloru | Is there any wealth like |
| Selvam uladho | education? |
| Kaana vaenum puviyorae | People of the world must observe and realize this! |
| Male | |
| Kalai gnaanamae illaar | Those without artistic knowledge |
| Kaanilvaazh maram | are merely trees living in a forest! |
| Male | |
| Paa manam | May your heart filled with verse |
| Niraiyaadhenavae inbamarul | grant joy as a blessing! |
| Kalai gnaanamae illaar | Those without artistic knowledge |
| Kaanilvaazh maram | are merely trees living in a forest! |
| Pangaeruga nattrungaadhani yarul | O lotus-born Lord, grant the auspicious ear ornament of wisdom! |
| Sangeedha saambradhaayarasa | O king of musical traditions! |
| Male | |
| Kalai gnaanamae illaar | Those without artistic knowledge |
| Kaanilvaazh maram | are merely trees living in a forest! |
| Barani mudhalaai thoodhu | Starting from Bharani, Thoodhu, |
| Kaadhaludan andhamaani | along with love, Andhadhi, |
| Thuruvaayiramanimaalai | Thiruvarutpa and Ratnamalai, |
| Puraana kuravar vanji | Puranas, Kuravanji, |
| Kalambaghamum endru | and Kalambakam, |
| Vandhu panpaadum prabala | those famous ones who come and sing with cultured devotion! |
| Male | |
| Kalai gnaanamae illaar | Those without artistic knowledge |
| Kaanilvaazh maram | are merely trees living in a forest! |
| Kadaiyar sreemadhi leela paamaram | Ignorant fools and base men who lack noble grace, |
| Alagaiyodu mirugam aaguvaar | they become beasts with demonic tendencies! |
| Siriyaar…aa…aa…aa…aa… | Ignorant ones... |
| Alagaiyodu mirugam aaguvaar | they become beasts with demonic tendencies, |
| Siriyaar | these foolish ones! |
| Andhagar edharkkum aagaar maelaam | Blind to truth, they are unfit for anything higher! |
| Andhagar edharkkum aagaar maelaam | Blind to truth, they are unfit for anything higher! |
| Male | |
| Kalviyai poloru | Is there any wealth like |
| Selvam uladho | education? |
| Kaana vaenum puviyorae ..ae…ae… | People of the world must observe and realize this! |
| Kalviyai poloru | Is there any wealth like |
| Selvam uladho | education? |
| Kaana vaenum puviyorae …ae… | People of the world must observe and realize this! |
கல்வியை போலொரு
செல்வம் உளதோ
காண வேணும் புவியோரே
ஓதும் கல்வியை போலொரு
செல்வம் உளதோ
காண வேணும் புவியோரே.....ஏ.....ஏ....
கல்வியை போலொரு
செல்வம் உளதோ
காண வேணும் புவியோரே
Is there any wealth like
education?
People of the world must observe and realize this!
Is there any wealth like
the education that one learns?
People of the world must observe and realize this!
Is there any wealth like
education?
People of the world must observe and realize this!
வெள்ளத்தாலும் கனல் வீழினும்
குலையா......ஆ.....ஆ......ஆ......ஆ.....
ஆ......ஆ......ஆ......ஆ.....
வெள்ளத்தாலும் கனல் வீழினும் குலையா
வேந்தர் கள்வரும்தான்
கொள்ள முடியா
வெள்ளத்தாலும் கனல் வீழினும் குலையா
வேந்தர் கள்வரும்தான்
கொள்ள முடியா அள்ளி கொடுப்பினும்
எந்நாளும் குறையா
அறிவீர் குனவுமாம் யாதினும் அழியா
அறிவீர் குனவுமாம் யாதினும் அழியா
இன்பம் தருவது நீ
Even if submerged in floods or consumed by fire,
it will not decay...
Ah...
Even if submerged in floods or consumed by fire, it will not decay!
Neither kings nor thieves
can steal it away!
Even if submerged in floods or consumed by fire, it will not decay!
Neither kings nor thieves
can steal it away, and even if given away lavishly,
it never diminishes!
It serves as nourishment for intellect and is imperishable by anything!
It serves as nourishment for intellect and is imperishable by anything!
கல்வியை போலொரு
செல்வம் உள்ளதோ
காண வேணும் புவியோரே
Is there any wealth like
education?
People of the world must observe and realize this!
கலை ஞானமே இல்லார்
கானில்வாழ் மரம்
Those without artistic knowledge
are merely trees living in a forest!
பா மனம்
நிறையாதெனவே இன்பமருள்
கலை ஞானமே இல்லார்
கானில்வாழ் மரம்
பங்கேருக நற்றுகாதனி யாருள்
சங்கீத சாம்ப்ரதாயரச
May your heart filled with verse
grant joy as a blessing!
Those without artistic knowledge
are merely trees living in a forest!
O lotus-born Lord, grant the auspicious ear ornament of wisdom!
O king of musical traditions!
கலை ஞானமே இல்லார்
கானில்வாழ் மரம்
பரணி முதலாய் தூது
காதலுடன் அந்தமானி
திருவாயிரமன்மாலை
புராண குறவர் வஞ்சி
கலம்பகமும் என்று
வந்து பண்பாடும் பிரபல
Those without artistic knowledge
are merely trees living in a forest!
Starting from Bharani, Thoodhu,
along with love, Andhadhi,
Thiruvarutpa and Ratnamalai,
Puranas, Kuravanji,
and Kalambakam,
those famous ones who come and sing with cultured devotion!
கலை ஞானமே இல்லார்
கானில்வாழ் மரம்
கடையர் ஸ்ரீமதி லீலா பாமரம்
அழகையோடு மிருகம் ஆகுவார்
சிறியார்.....ஆ......ஆஅ......ஆஅ.....
அந்தகர் எதற்கும் ஆகார் மேலாம்
அந்தகர் எதற்கும் ஆகார் மேலாம்
Those without artistic knowledge
are merely trees living in a forest!
Ignorant fools and base men who lack noble grace,
they become beasts with demonic tendencies!
Ignorant ones...
they become beasts with demonic tendencies,
these foolish ones!
Blind to truth, they are unfit for anything higher!
Blind to truth, they are unfit for anything higher!
கல்வியை போலொரு
செல்வம் உளதோ
காண வேணும் புவியோரே.....ஏ.....ஏ....
கல்வியை போலொரு
செல்வம் உளதோ
காண வேணும் புவியோரே.....ஏ......
Is there any wealth like
education?
People of the world must observe and realize this!
Is there any wealth like
education?
People of the world must observe and realize this!
Kalviyai poloru
Is there any wealth like
Selvam uladho
education?
Kaana vaenum puviyorae
People of the world must observe and realize this!
Odhum kalviyai poloru
Is there any wealth like
Selvam uladho
the education that one learns?
Kaana vaenum puviyorae…ae…ae…
People of the world must observe and realize this!
Kalviyai poloru
Is there any wealth like
Selvam uladho
education?
Kaana vaenum puviyorae
People of the world must observe and realize this!
Vellathaalum kanal veezhinum
Even if submerged in floods or consumed by fire,
Kulaiyaa…aa…aa…aa…aa…
it will not decay...
Aa…aa…aa…aa…
Ah...
Vellathaalum kanal veezhinum kulaiyaa
Even if submerged in floods or consumed by fire, it will not decay!
Vaendhar kalvarum thaan
Neither kings nor thieves
Kolla mudiyaa
can steal it away!
Vellathaalum kanal veezhinum kulaiyaa
Even if submerged in floods or consumed by fire, it will not decay!
Vaendhar kalvarum thaan
Neither kings nor thieves
Kolla mudiyaa alli koduppinum
can steal it away, and even if given away lavishly,
Ennaalum kuraiyaa
it never diminishes!
Arivir kunavumaam yaadhinum azhiyaa
It serves as nourishment for intellect and is imperishable by anything!
Arivir kunavumaam yaadhinum azhiyaa
It serves as nourishment for intellect and is imperishable by anything!
Kalviyai poloru
Is there any wealth like
Selvam uladho
education?
Kaana vaenum puviyorae
People of the world must observe and realize this!
Kalai gnaanamae illaar
Those without artistic knowledge
Kaanilvaazh maram
are merely trees living in a forest!
Paa manam
May your heart filled with verse
Niraiyaadhenavae inbamarul
grant joy as a blessing!
Kalai gnaanamae illaar
Those without artistic knowledge
Kaanilvaazh maram
are merely trees living in a forest!
Pangaeruga nattrungaadhani yarul
O lotus-born Lord, grant the auspicious ear ornament of wisdom!
Sangeedha saambradhaayarasa
O king of musical traditions!
Kalai gnaanamae illaar
Those without artistic knowledge
Kaanilvaazh maram
are merely trees living in a forest!
Barani mudhalaai thoodhu
Starting from Bharani, Thoodhu,
Kaadhaludan andhamaani
along with love, Andhadhi,
Thuruvaayiramanimaalai
Thiruvarutpa and Ratnamalai,
Puraana kuravar vanji
Puranas, Kuravanji,
Kalambaghamum endru
and Kalambakam,
Vandhu panpaadum prabala
those famous ones who come and sing with cultured devotion!
Kalai gnaanamae illaar
Those without artistic knowledge
Kaanilvaazh maram
are merely trees living in a forest!
Kadaiyar sreemadhi leela paamaram
Ignorant fools and base men who lack noble grace,
Alagaiyodu mirugam aaguvaar
they become beasts with demonic tendencies!
Siriyaar…aa…aa…aa…aa…
Ignorant ones...
Alagaiyodu mirugam aaguvaar
they become beasts with demonic tendencies,
Siriyaar
these foolish ones!
Andhagar edharkkum aagaar maelaam
Blind to truth, they are unfit for anything higher!
Andhagar edharkkum aagaar maelaam
Blind to truth, they are unfit for anything higher!
Kalviyai poloru
Is there any wealth like
Selvam uladho
education?
Kaana vaenum puviyorae ..ae…ae…
People of the world must observe and realize this!
Kalviyai poloru
Is there any wealth like
Selvam uladho
education?
Kaana vaenum puviyorae …ae…
People of the world must observe and realize this!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song highlights the supreme value of education and wisdom over material wealth. It emphasizes that education is a unique asset because it cannot be destroyed by natural disasters like floods or fire, nor can it be stolen by rulers or thieves. Furthermore, unlike material riches, sharing knowledge only increases it rather than depleting it. The lyrics metaphorically describe uneducated individuals as mere trees standing in a forest or beasts lacking moral grace, urging humanity to pursue arts, literature, music, and spiritual learning to achieve true joy and enlightenment.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Vellathaalum kanal veezhinum / Vaendhar kalvarum thaan / Kolla mudiyaa”
The repetition of the second letter 'l' in 'Vellathaalum' and 'Kolla' creates a rhythmic harmony across lines.
Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)
“Kalai gnaanamae illaar / Kaanilvaazh maram”
Comparing uneducated human beings directly to trees in a forest ('Kaanilvaazh maram') and beasts ('mirugam').
Anaphora
“Kalviyai poloru / Selvam uladho”
Repetition of the refrain 'Kalviyai poloru selvam uladho' at key transitions to reinforce the core message of the poem.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Tamizhariyum Perumal' (1942) was a classic Tamil mythological film featuring TR Mahalingam. The lyrics written by Udumalai Narayanakavi draw inspiration from ancient Tamil literature like Tirukkural and Naladiyar, which glorify knowledge ('Kalvi') and literary genres such as Bharani, Thoodhu, Kuravanji, and Kalambakam.
Keep listening
More from Tamizhariyum Perumal
Tamizhariyum Perumal
Tamizhariyum Perumal
Tamizhariyum Perumal