Karuvarai Karuvarai
From Thambi Vettothi Sundaram · 2011
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- Palakaddu Sriram
- Music director
- Vidyasagar
- Details
- Thambi Vettothi Sundaram2011
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Aah aah haa aa…… | Aah aah haa aa…… |
| Aah aah haa aa…… | Aah aah haa aa…… |
| Male | |
| Karuvarai karuvarai thodangumidam | The womb is the place where life begins, |
| Kallarai kallarai adangumidam oo…. | The tomb is the place where life rests. |
| Aasaigal paasangal yenbadhellaam | Desires and affections are all merely, |
| Avanavan vasadhikku thangumidam oo…. | Temporary staying stops according to one's convenience. |
| Male | |
| Idhil kottai poattavan | The one who built a fort in this life, |
| Kottai aagalaam | Might become a fort himself. |
| Pattai pottavan paraman aagalaam | The one who wears holy ashes may become God. |
| Porukkiyum oru naal buththan aagalaam | Even a rogue can become a Buddha one day, |
| Buththi maaralaam….. | Mindsets can change. |
| Male | |
| Dharmam naalaikku thappu aagalaam | What is righteousness today might become a mistake tomorrow, |
| Thappu enbadhae dharmam aagalaam | What is deemed a mistake might become righteousness. |
| Uravu maatramae ozhukkam aagalaam | Changing relationships might become morality, |
| Ulagam maaralaam | The world itself may change. |
| Male | |
| Ellaam unnodu irukkira podhu | When you possess everything, |
| Etti etti sellum gyanam | Wisdom stays far away. |
| Ellaam yellaam vittu poana pinnaalae | Only after everything leaves you, |
| Kitta kitta varum gyanam…. | Wisdom comes closer to you. |
| Male | |
| ……………… | |
| Male | |
| Karuvarai karuvarai thodangumidam | The womb is the place where life begins, |
| Kallarai kallarai adangumidam | The tomb is the place where life rests. |
| Male | |
| Mann puzhuvo mann puzhuvo mannai thingidhu | An earthworm feeds on the dirt, |
| Andha mannai thinnum mann puzhuva thavalai thingidhu | A frog eats that earthworm that feeds on dirt, |
| Puzhuva thinnum thavalaiyathaan paambu thingudhu | A snake eats that frog that eats the worm, |
| Maela parandhu pogum kazhugu andha paamba thingidhu | An eagle flying high above eats that snake, |
| Male | |
| Paamba thinnum kazhugath thaanae nariyum thingidhu | A fox hunts and eats that eagle that ate the snake, |
| Andha nariya kooda vettaiyaadi manushan thinguraan | Human hunts and eats even that fox, |
| Andha manushanathaan kadaisiyilae mannu thingudhu | And in the end, the dirt eats that human. |
| Indha manna purinja manushanukku gyanam pongudhu | The human who understands this dirt overflows with wisdom. |
| Manna purinja manushanukku gyanam pongudhu | The human who understands this dirt overflows with wisdom. |
| Male | |
| Ellaam unnodu irukkira podhu | When you possess everything, |
| Etti etti sellum gyanam | Wisdom stays far away. |
| Ellaam yellaam vittu poana pinnaalae | Only after everything leaves you, |
| Kitta kitta varum gyanam…. | Wisdom comes closer to you. |
| Male | |
| Karuvarai karuvarai thodangumidam | The womb is the place where life begins, |
| Kallarai kallarai adangumidam | The tomb is the place where life rests. |
| Male | |
| Inbam thaedi inbam thaedi manasu alaiyidhu | Seeking pleasure, the mind wanders constantly, |
| Andha Inbam thaedum paadhai ellaam thunbam aagudhu | All paths in search of that pleasure turn into pain. |
| Garvam saerndhu manushan vaazhvil karai pidikkidhu | Pride accumulates and stains a human's life, |
| Kaalam thoalvi endra kallil adichi thovaichi kudukkudhu | Time washes and cleanses it against the rock of failure. |
| Male | |
| Kadhal paasam kudumbam ellaam kaala suththudhu | Love, affection, family—all tangle around the feet, |
| Adhuga parichchai ezhudha vacha piragae paadam solludhu | They teach the lesson only after making us take the test. |
| Etti etti pora vaazhvil enna irukkudhu | What is there in a life that stays far away? |
| Summaa mutti mutti paarkkum vaazhvu muzhumai aagudhu | A life that keeps striving and bumping into things achieves completeness. |
| Summaa mutti mutti paarkkum vaazhvu muzhumai aagudhu | A life that keeps striving and bumping into things achieves completeness. |
| Male | |
| Ellaam unnodu irukkira podhu | When you possess everything, |
| Etti etti sellum gyanam | Wisdom stays far away. |
| Ellaam yellaam vittu poana pinnaalae | Only after everything leaves you, |
| Kitta kitta varum gyanam….oo…. | Wisdom comes closer to you. |
| Male | |
| ……………… | |
ஆஹ் ஆஹ் ஹா ஆ.....
ஆஹ் ஆஹ் ஹா ஆ.....
Aah aah haa aa……
Aah aah haa aa……
கருவறை கருவறை தொடங்குமிடம்
கல்லறை கல்லறை அடங்குமிடம் ஓ.....
ஆசைகள் பாசங்கள் என்பதெல்லாம்
அவனவன் வசதிக்கு தங்குமிடம் ஓ....
The womb is the place where life begins,
The tomb is the place where life rests.
Desires and affections are all merely,
Temporary staying stops according to one's convenience.
இதில் கொட்டை போட்டவன்
கோட்டை ஆகலாம்
பட்டை போட்டவன் பரமன் ஆகலாம்
பொரிக்கியும் ஒரு நாள் புத்தனாகலாம்
புத்தி மாறலாம்.....
The one who built a fort in this life,
Might become a fort himself.
The one who wears holy ashes may become God.
Even a rogue can become a Buddha one day,
Mindsets can change.
தர்மம் நாளைக்கு தப்பு ஆகலாம்
தப்பு என்பதே தர்மம் ஆகலாம்
உறவு மாற்றமே ஒழுக்கம் ஆகலாம்
உலகம் மாறலாம்
What is righteousness today might become a mistake tomorrow,
What is deemed a mistake might become righteousness.
Changing relationships might become morality,
The world itself may change.
எல்லாம் உன்னோடு இருக்கிறபோது
எட்டி எட்டிச் செல்லும் ஞானம்
எல்லாம் எல்லாம் விட்டுப்போனப் பின்னாலே
கிட்டக்கிட்ட வரும் ஞானம்..
When you possess everything,
Wisdom stays far away.
Only after everything leaves you,
Wisdom comes closer to you.
................................
கருவறை கருவறை தொடங்குமிடம்
கல்லறை கல்லறை அடங்குமிடம்
The womb is the place where life begins,
The tomb is the place where life rests.
மண் புழுவோ மண் புழுவோ மண்ணை திங்குது
அந்த மண்ணைத் தின்னும் மண் புழுவத் தவளை திங்குது
புழுவத் தின்னும் தவளையதான் பாம்பு திங்குது.
மேல பறந்து போகும் கழுகு அந்த பாம்ப திங்குது
An earthworm feeds on the dirt,
A frog eats that earthworm that feeds on dirt,
A snake eats that frog that eats the worm,
An eagle flying high above eats that snake,
பம்பத் தின்னும் கழுகதானே நரியும் திங்குது
அந்த நரியைக் கூட வேட்டையாடி மனுஷன் திங்குறான்
அந்த மனுஷன்தான் கடைசியிலே மண்ணு திங்குது
இந்த மண்ண புரிஞ்ச மனுஷனுக்கு ஞானம் பொங்குது
மண்ண புரிஞ்ச மனுஷனுக்கு ஞானம் பொங்குது
A fox hunts and eats that eagle that ate the snake,
Human hunts and eats even that fox,
And in the end, the dirt eats that human.
The human who understands this dirt overflows with wisdom.
The human who understands this dirt overflows with wisdom.
எல்லாம் உன்னோடு இருக்கிறபோது
எட்டி எட்டிச் செல்லும் ஞானம்
எல்லாம் எல்லாம் விட்டுப்போனப் பின்னாலே
கிட்டக்கிட்ட வரும் ஞானம்......ஓ.....
When you possess everything,
Wisdom stays far away.
Only after everything leaves you,
Wisdom comes closer to you.
கருவறை கருவறை தொடங்குமிடம்
கல்லறை கல்லறை அடங்குமிடம்
The womb is the place where life begins,
The tomb is the place where life rests.
இன்பம் தேடி இன்பம் தேடி மனசு அலையுது
அந்த இன்பம் தேடும் பாதை எல்லாம் துன்பம் ஆகுது
கர்வம் சேர்ந்து மனுஷன் வாழ்வில் கரை பிடிக்குது
காலம் தோல்வி என்ற கல்லில் அடிச்சு தொவச்சு குடுக்குது
Seeking pleasure, the mind wanders constantly,
All paths in search of that pleasure turn into pain.
Pride accumulates and stains a human's life,
Time washes and cleanses it against the rock of failure.
காதல் பாசம் குடும்பம் எல்லாம் கால சுத்துது
அதுக பரிச்சை எழுத வெச்ச பிறகே பாடம் சொல்லுது
எட்டி எட்டி போற வாழ்வில் என்ன இருக்குது
சும்மா முட்டி முட்டிப் பாக்கும் வாழ்வு முழுமையாகுது
சும்மா முட்டி முட்டிப்பாக்கும் வாழ்வு முழுமையாகுது
Love, affection, family—all tangle around the feet,
They teach the lesson only after making us take the test.
What is there in a life that stays far away?
A life that keeps striving and bumping into things achieves completeness.
A life that keeps striving and bumping into things achieves completeness.
எல்லாம் உன்னோடு இருக்கிறபோது
எட்டி எட்டிச் செல்லும் ஞானம்
எல்லாம் எல்லாம் விட்டுப்போனப் பின்னாலே
கிட்டக்கிட்ட வரும் ஞானம்......ஓ.....
When you possess everything,
Wisdom stays far away.
Only after everything leaves you,
Wisdom comes closer to you.
...............................
Aah aah haa aa……
Aah aah haa aa……
Aah aah haa aa……
Aah aah haa aa……
Karuvarai karuvarai thodangumidam
The womb is the place where life begins,
Kallarai kallarai adangumidam oo….
The tomb is the place where life rests.
Aasaigal paasangal yenbadhellaam
Desires and affections are all merely,
Avanavan vasadhikku thangumidam oo….
Temporary staying stops according to one's convenience.
Idhil kottai poattavan
The one who built a fort in this life,
Kottai aagalaam
Might become a fort himself.
Pattai pottavan paraman aagalaam
The one who wears holy ashes may become God.
Porukkiyum oru naal buththan aagalaam
Even a rogue can become a Buddha one day,
Buththi maaralaam…..
Mindsets can change.
Dharmam naalaikku thappu aagalaam
What is righteousness today might become a mistake tomorrow,
Thappu enbadhae dharmam aagalaam
What is deemed a mistake might become righteousness.
Uravu maatramae ozhukkam aagalaam
Changing relationships might become morality,
Ulagam maaralaam
The world itself may change.
Ellaam unnodu irukkira podhu
When you possess everything,
Etti etti sellum gyanam
Wisdom stays far away.
Ellaam yellaam vittu poana pinnaalae
Only after everything leaves you,
Kitta kitta varum gyanam….
Wisdom comes closer to you.
………………
Karuvarai karuvarai thodangumidam
The womb is the place where life begins,
Kallarai kallarai adangumidam
The tomb is the place where life rests.
Mann puzhuvo mann puzhuvo mannai thingidhu
An earthworm feeds on the dirt,
Andha mannai thinnum mann puzhuva thavalai thingidhu
A frog eats that earthworm that feeds on dirt,
Puzhuva thinnum thavalaiyathaan paambu thingudhu
A snake eats that frog that eats the worm,
Maela parandhu pogum kazhugu andha paamba thingidhu
An eagle flying high above eats that snake,
Paamba thinnum kazhugath thaanae nariyum thingidhu
A fox hunts and eats that eagle that ate the snake,
Andha nariya kooda vettaiyaadi manushan thinguraan
Human hunts and eats even that fox,
Andha manushanathaan kadaisiyilae mannu thingudhu
And in the end, the dirt eats that human.
Indha manna purinja manushanukku gyanam pongudhu
The human who understands this dirt overflows with wisdom.
Manna purinja manushanukku gyanam pongudhu
The human who understands this dirt overflows with wisdom.
Ellaam unnodu irukkira podhu
When you possess everything,
Etti etti sellum gyanam
Wisdom stays far away.
Ellaam yellaam vittu poana pinnaalae
Only after everything leaves you,
Kitta kitta varum gyanam….
Wisdom comes closer to you.
Karuvarai karuvarai thodangumidam
The womb is the place where life begins,
Kallarai kallarai adangumidam
The tomb is the place where life rests.
Inbam thaedi inbam thaedi manasu alaiyidhu
Seeking pleasure, the mind wanders constantly,
Andha Inbam thaedum paadhai ellaam thunbam aagudhu
All paths in search of that pleasure turn into pain.
Garvam saerndhu manushan vaazhvil karai pidikkidhu
Pride accumulates and stains a human's life,
Kaalam thoalvi endra kallil adichi thovaichi kudukkudhu
Time washes and cleanses it against the rock of failure.
Kadhal paasam kudumbam ellaam kaala suththudhu
Love, affection, family—all tangle around the feet,
Adhuga parichchai ezhudha vacha piragae paadam solludhu
They teach the lesson only after making us take the test.
Etti etti pora vaazhvil enna irukkudhu
What is there in a life that stays far away?
Summaa mutti mutti paarkkum vaazhvu muzhumai aagudhu
A life that keeps striving and bumping into things achieves completeness.
Summaa mutti mutti paarkkum vaazhvu muzhumai aagudhu
A life that keeps striving and bumping into things achieves completeness.
Ellaam unnodu irukkira podhu
When you possess everything,
Etti etti sellum gyanam
Wisdom stays far away.
Ellaam yellaam vittu poana pinnaalae
Only after everything leaves you,
Kitta kitta varum gyanam….oo….
Wisdom comes closer to you.
………………
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This philosophical song reflects on the transitory nature of human existence, spanning from the womb ('karuvarai') to the grave ('kallarai'). It questions conventional notions of morality, status, and material desires, emphasizing that social labels and human relationships are fluid and temporary. Through a vivid depiction of the food chain—from earthworm to human, and ultimately back to the earth—the lyrics remind the listener of the ultimate equalizer: death and nature's cycle. Furthermore, the song highlights the paradox of enlightenment. True wisdom ('gyanam') rarely dawns when one is blinded by material wealth, attachment, and pride; rather, it approaches only when one experiences loss, failure, and detachment. Life is presented as a school where trials precede the lessons, urging humans to shed ego and embrace reality.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Contrast / Antonymy (Ettirukkal)
“Karuvarai karuvarai thodangumidam / Kallarai kallarai adangumidam”
Contrasting 'Karuvarai' (womb) with 'Kallarai' (tomb), as well as 'Etti' (far away) with 'Kitta' (close by) to highlight philosophical polarities.
Chain Metaphor / Anadiplosis (Thodarnilai)
“Mann puzhuvo... thavalai... paambu... kazhugu... nari... manushan... mannu”
Sequentially linking elements of nature (earthworm -> frog -> snake -> eagle -> fox -> human -> earth) where each line starts or connects to the end of the previous line to illustrate the natural cycle.
Adukkuthodar (Repetition)
“Etti etti sellum gyanam / Kitta kitta varum gyanam”
Repetition of words like 'Karuvarai karuvarai', 'Kallarai kallarai', 'Etti etti', and 'Kitta kitta' for rhythmic emphasis and emotional intensity.
Emona / Rhyme (Monai and Etukai)
“Pattai pottavan paraman aagalaam / Porukkiyum oru naal buththan aagalaam”
Matching second consonants (Etukai) in lines like 'Karuvarai' and 'Kallarai', 'Pattai' and 'Porukkiyum'.
Did you know?
Trivia
The music for 'Thambi Vettothi Sundaram' (2011) was composed by Vidyasagar, with lyrics penned by Vairamuthu. The song vividly incorporates ecological food chains as a metaphor for spiritual enlightenment and mortality.
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