Karka Kasadara Katravai
From Raja Bakthi · 1960
- Lyricist
- Thamizh Azhagan
- Singer
- M. L. Vasanthakumari
- Music director
- G. Govindarajulu Naidu
- Details
- Raja Bakthi1960
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Karkka kasadara karpavai | Learn flawlessly that which is worthy of learning, |
| Kattra pin nirkka adhu pol | And after learning, conduct yourself accordingly; |
| Neeyae en mannaa | You are my king! |
| Karkka kasadara karpavai | Learn flawlessly that which is worthy of learning, |
| Kattra pin nirkka adhu pol | And after learning, conduct yourself accordingly; |
| Neeyae en mannaa | You are my king! |
| Female | |
| Narrpayan kandu naadida vendum | Seek out and pursue good purpose, |
| Narrpayan kandu naadida vendum | Seek out and pursue good purpose, |
| Nallortham nesamae kooda vendum | Cherish the friendship of noble people, |
| Nallortham nesamae kooda vendum | Cherish the friendship of noble people, |
| Nayamudam yaarodum nee pesa vendum | Speak politely with everyone, |
| Nayamudam yaarodum nee pesa vendum | Speak politely with everyone, |
| Female | |
| Karkka kasadara karpavai | Learn flawlessly that which is worthy of learning, |
| Kattra pin nirkka adhu pol | And after learning, conduct yourself accordingly; |
| Neeyae en mannaa | You are my king! |
| Female | |
| Veeranum aavaai | Be a brave warrior, |
| Veriyanaavadhae | But do not become a fanatic; |
| Veeranum aavaai | Be a brave warrior, |
| Veriyanaavadhae | But do not become a fanatic; |
| Vendhanum veghuvaaghi | Even if you are a king who gets furious, |
| Vegham kedaathae | Do not lose your grace and composure; |
| Vendhanum veghuvaaghi | Even if you are a king who gets furious, |
| Vegham kedaathae | Do not lose your grace and composure; |
| Veen perumai pesi veezhndhu vidathae | Do not fall into ruin by boasting vainly, |
| Veen perumai pesi veezhndhu vidathae | Do not fall into ruin by boasting vainly, |
| Female | |
| Anaithum kattraalum | Even if you learn everything, |
| Aganthai urathae | Do not let arrogance grow inside; |
| Anaithum kattraalum | Even if you learn everything, |
| Aganthai urathae | Do not let arrogance grow inside; |
| Aasai kondaalum nee | Even if you harbour desires, |
| Aathiram kolladhae | Do not act out of haste or rage; |
| Aasai kondaalum nee | Even if you harbour desires, |
| Aathiram kolladhae | Do not act out of haste or rage; |
| Anbae sei aanaal adimai aagadhae | Show love, but do not become a slave to it; |
| Anbae sei aanaal adimai aagadhae | Show love, but do not become a slave to it; |
| Female | |
| Karkka kasadara karpavai | Learn flawlessly that which is worthy of learning, |
| Kattra pin nirkka adhu pol | And after learning, conduct yourself accordingly; |
| Neeyae en mannaa | You are my king! |
| Female | |
| Thaai thiru naadae | Our sacred motherland |
| Vaazhthida vendum | Must bless and praise you; |
| Thaai thiru naadae | Our sacred motherland |
| Vaazhthida vendum | Must bless and praise you; |
| Than nalam kollorai | Those who are selfish and corrupt |
| Veezhthida vendum | Must be defeated and brought down; |
| Than nalam kollorai | Those who are selfish and corrupt |
| Veezhthida vendum | Must be defeated and brought down; |
| Dharmamae ennaalum | Righteousness is what at all times |
| Naam kaakka vendum | We must protect and uphold; |
| Dharmamae ennaalum | Righteousness is what at all times |
| Naam kaakka vendum | We must protect and uphold; |
| Female | |
| Karkka kasadara karpavai | Learn flawlessly that which is worthy of learning, |
| Kattra pin nirkka adhu pol | And after learning, conduct yourself accordingly; |
| Neeyae en mannaa | You are my king! |
கற்க கசடற கற்பவை
கற்ற பின் நிற்க அது போல்
நீயே என் மன்னா
கற்க கசடற கற்பவை
கற்ற பின் நிற்க அது போல்
நீயே என் மன்னா
Learn flawlessly that which is worthy of learning,
And after learning, conduct yourself accordingly;
You are my king!
Learn flawlessly that which is worthy of learning,
And after learning, conduct yourself accordingly;
You are my king!
நற்பயன் கண்டு நாடிட வேண்டும்
நற்பயன் கண்டு நாடிட வேண்டும்
நல்லோர்தம் நேசமே கூட வேண்டும்
நல்லோர்தம் நேசமே கூட வேண்டும்
நயமுடன் யாரோடும் நீ பேச வேண்டும்
நயமுடன் யாரோடும் நீ பேச வேண்டும்
Seek out and pursue good purpose,
Seek out and pursue good purpose,
Cherish the friendship of noble people,
Cherish the friendship of noble people,
Speak politely with everyone,
Speak politely with everyone,
கற்க கசடற கற்பவை
கற்ற பின் நிற்க அது போல்
நீயே என் மன்னா
Learn flawlessly that which is worthy of learning,
And after learning, conduct yourself accordingly;
You are my king!
வீரனும் ஆவாய்
வெறியன் ஆவாதே
வீரனும் ஆவாய்
வெறியன் ஆவாதே
வேந்தனும் வெகுவாகி
வேகம் காட்டாதே
வேந்தனும் வெகுவாகி
வேகம் காட்டாதே
வீண் பெருமை பேசி வீழ்ந்து விடாதே
வீண் பெருமை பேசி வீழ்ந்து விடாதே
Be a brave warrior,
But do not become a fanatic;
Be a brave warrior,
But do not become a fanatic;
Even if you are a king who gets furious,
Do not lose your grace and composure;
Even if you are a king who gets furious,
Do not lose your grace and composure;
Do not fall into ruin by boasting vainly,
Do not fall into ruin by boasting vainly,
அனைத்தும் கற்றாலும்
அகந்தை உறாதே
அனைத்தும் கற்றாலும்
அகந்தை உறாதே
ஆசை கொண்டாலும் நீ
ஆத்திரம் கொள்ளாதே
ஆசை கொண்டாலும் நீ
ஆத்திரம் கொள்ளாதே
அன்பே செய் ஆனால் அடிமை ஆகாதே
அன்பே செய் ஆனால் அடிமை ஆகாதே
Even if you learn everything,
Do not let arrogance grow inside;
Even if you learn everything,
Do not let arrogance grow inside;
Even if you harbour desires,
Do not act out of haste or rage;
Even if you harbour desires,
Do not act out of haste or rage;
Show love, but do not become a slave to it;
Show love, but do not become a slave to it;
கற்க கசடற கற்பவை
கற்ற பின் நிற்க அது போல்
நீயே என் மன்னா
Learn flawlessly that which is worthy of learning,
And after learning, conduct yourself accordingly;
You are my king!
தாய் திரு நாடே
வாழ்த்திட வேண்டும்
தாய் திரு நாடே
வாழ்த்திட வேண்டும்
தன் நலம் கொள்ளோரை
வீழ்த்திட வேண்டும்
தன் நலம் கொள்ளோரை
வீழ்த்திட வேண்டும்
தர்மமே எந்நாளும்
நாம் காக்க வேண்டும்
தர்மமே எந்நாளும்
நாம் காக்க வேண்டும்
Our sacred motherland
Must bless and praise you;
Our sacred motherland
Must bless and praise you;
Those who are selfish and corrupt
Must be defeated and brought down;
Those who are selfish and corrupt
Must be defeated and brought down;
Righteousness is what at all times
We must protect and uphold;
Righteousness is what at all times
We must protect and uphold;
கற்க கசடற கற்பவை
கற்ற பின் நிற்க அது போல்
நீயே என் மன்னா
Learn flawlessly that which is worthy of learning,
And after learning, conduct yourself accordingly;
You are my king!
Karkka kasadara karpavai
Learn flawlessly that which is worthy of learning,
Kattra pin nirkka adhu pol
And after learning, conduct yourself accordingly;
Neeyae en mannaa
You are my king!
Karkka kasadara karpavai
Learn flawlessly that which is worthy of learning,
Kattra pin nirkka adhu pol
And after learning, conduct yourself accordingly;
Neeyae en mannaa
You are my king!
Narrpayan kandu naadida vendum
Seek out and pursue good purpose,
Narrpayan kandu naadida vendum
Seek out and pursue good purpose,
Nallortham nesamae kooda vendum
Cherish the friendship of noble people,
Nallortham nesamae kooda vendum
Cherish the friendship of noble people,
Nayamudam yaarodum nee pesa vendum
Speak politely with everyone,
Nayamudam yaarodum nee pesa vendum
Speak politely with everyone,
Karkka kasadara karpavai
Learn flawlessly that which is worthy of learning,
Kattra pin nirkka adhu pol
And after learning, conduct yourself accordingly;
Neeyae en mannaa
You are my king!
Veeranum aavaai
Be a brave warrior,
Veriyanaavadhae
But do not become a fanatic;
Veeranum aavaai
Be a brave warrior,
Veriyanaavadhae
But do not become a fanatic;
Vendhanum veghuvaaghi
Even if you are a king who gets furious,
Vegham kedaathae
Do not lose your grace and composure;
Vendhanum veghuvaaghi
Even if you are a king who gets furious,
Vegham kedaathae
Do not lose your grace and composure;
Veen perumai pesi veezhndhu vidathae
Do not fall into ruin by boasting vainly,
Veen perumai pesi veezhndhu vidathae
Do not fall into ruin by boasting vainly,
Anaithum kattraalum
Even if you learn everything,
Aganthai urathae
Do not let arrogance grow inside;
Anaithum kattraalum
Even if you learn everything,
Aganthai urathae
Do not let arrogance grow inside;
Aasai kondaalum nee
Even if you harbour desires,
Aathiram kolladhae
Do not act out of haste or rage;
Aasai kondaalum nee
Even if you harbour desires,
Aathiram kolladhae
Do not act out of haste or rage;
Anbae sei aanaal adimai aagadhae
Show love, but do not become a slave to it;
Anbae sei aanaal adimai aagadhae
Show love, but do not become a slave to it;
Karkka kasadara karpavai
Learn flawlessly that which is worthy of learning,
Kattra pin nirkka adhu pol
And after learning, conduct yourself accordingly;
Neeyae en mannaa
You are my king!
Thaai thiru naadae
Our sacred motherland
Vaazhthida vendum
Must bless and praise you;
Thaai thiru naadae
Our sacred motherland
Vaazhthida vendum
Must bless and praise you;
Than nalam kollorai
Those who are selfish and corrupt
Veezhthida vendum
Must be defeated and brought down;
Than nalam kollorai
Those who are selfish and corrupt
Veezhthida vendum
Must be defeated and brought down;
Dharmamae ennaalum
Righteousness is what at all times
Naam kaakka vendum
We must protect and uphold;
Dharmamae ennaalum
Righteousness is what at all times
Naam kaakka vendum
We must protect and uphold;
Karkka kasadara karpavai
Learn flawlessly that which is worthy of learning,
Kattra pin nirkka adhu pol
And after learning, conduct yourself accordingly;
Neeyae en mannaa
You are my king!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic song serves as a profound code of ethics and counsel directed towards a king or leader. Drawing its foundational philosophy from Thiruvalluvar's timeless wisdom, the song emphasizes that true leadership begins with flawless education and the discipline to live by that knowledge. It urges the ruler to surround himself with noble company, speak with humility, and govern with righteousness. Furthermore, the lyricist provides practical moral boundaries: bravery should not turn into fanaticism, power should not lead to arrogance, and affection should never lead to servitude. A true king works to vanquish selfish forces, protect righteousness (Dharma), and earns the genuine blessings of his motherland through duty and humility.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Literary Allusion (Thirukkural Reference)
“Karkka kasadara karpavai”
The song opens with an exact excerpt from Thirukkural (Kural 391: 'Karkka kasadara karpavai kattrapin nirkka adharku thaga').
Monai (Initial Consonant Alliteration)
“Karkka kasadara karpavai”
Repetition of the 'Ka' sound at the start of words ('Karkka', 'Kasadara', 'Karpavai').
Ethukai (Second Letter Assonance/Rhyme)
“Karkka kasadara karpavai / Kattra pin nirkka adhu pol”
Matching of the second consonant sound 'r' ('Kar-kka' and 'Kat-tra').
Anaphora (Repetition for Emphasis)
“Veeranum aavaai / Veriyanaavadhae”
Repetition of initial words starting with 'V' ('Veeranum', 'Veriyanaavadhae', 'Vendhanum', 'Vegham').
Did you know?
Trivia
The opening lines directly borrow from Thirukkural 391, set under the chapter 'Kalvi' (Education). Sung beautifully by the legendary Carnatic maestro M. L. Vasanthakumari in the 1960 movie 'Raja Bakthi', the song showcases how ancient classical Tamil literature was seamlessly integrated into mainstream Tamil cinema to impart moral and political ideals.
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