Kathu Thirai Kadal
From Rajaraja Chozhan · 1972
- Lyricist
- Poovai Senguttavan
- Singer
- R. Muthuraman
- Music director
- Kunnakudi Vaithiyanathan
- Details
- Rajaraja Chozhan1972
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kaththu thiraikadal soozhavanikoru | To the world surrounded by the roaring, wavy sea, |
| Kanmani pondravanae | O king who is like a precious pupil of the eye! |
| Karpaga naadan eppuram menmai | O sovereign of the celestial abundance whose greatness in every direction, |
| Kanakkilaa vaainthavanae | Is limitless and immeasurable! |
| Male | |
| Muththamizhai payil viththagar naavil | On the tongues of scholars who master the threefold Tamil, |
| Nulainthidu naayaganae | O leader who enters as their inspiring song! |
| Moovulagum pugazh chozhaparanthaga | O Chola Paranthaka praised across all three worlds, |
| Vaazhiya vaazhiyavae | May you live long, live long! |
| Male | |
| Manaththaal thanaithaan madhippaai | In your heart, you hold yourself with dignity and humility, |
| Ninaipaar thamakkae virumpaanavan | You are deeply cherished by those who hold you in their thoughts! |
| Serukkaal orukkaal sinaththaal | Yet if driven by righteous wrath or indignation, |
| Verupaar kudikkae neruppanavan | You become consuming fire to the clans of your foes! |
| Male | |
| Gunaththaal kulaththaal inaththal | By character, by lineage, and by community, |
| Maraththaal thiraththaal sirappaanavan | By heroism and by supreme skill, you excel above all! |
| Koduppaar enaththaan aruththaar | You shattered the notion that only others are givers by bestowing endlessly, |
| Thamai penum kulasegaran vaazhgavae | Long live the crown jewel of the dynasty who protects his people! |
| Male | |
| Por munaiyil pugazg seran mudithalai | On the battlefront, where the famed Chera king's crowned head stood, |
| Poyurena perum veeram vilathanai | You displayed grand bravery that shattered opposition like an illusion, |
| Puli varaintha kodi asaiyumun | Even before your tiger-emblazoned flag flutters in the wind, |
| Pagaivar mudi thuranthu unathu adipanithiduva | Enemies surrender their crowns and bow down at your feet! |
| Male | |
| Ponni valanaadu kanni tamil veedu | O ruler of the fertile Kaveri realm, the abode of pristine Tamil! |
| Ennum pugalodu inba niraivodu | With such everlasting fame and overflowing joy, |
| Vaazhga vaazhga veera chozha rajarajan vaazhgavae | Long live, long live the brave Chola king Rajaraja! |
கத்துத் திரைக்கடல் சூழவனிக்கொரு
கண்மணி போன்றவனே
கற்பக நாடன் எப்புறம் மேன்மை
கணக்கிலா வாய்ந்தவனே
To the world surrounded by the roaring, wavy sea,
O king who is like a precious pupil of the eye!
O sovereign of the celestial abundance whose greatness in every direction,
Is limitless and immeasurable!
முத்தமிழை பயில் வித்தகர் நாவில்
நுழைந்திடு நாயகனே
மூவுலகும் புகழ் சோழப்பராந்தக
வாழிய வாழியவே
On the tongues of scholars who master the threefold Tamil,
O leader who enters as their inspiring song!
O Chola Paranthaka praised across all three worlds,
May you live long, live long!
மனத்தால் தனைத்தான் மதிப்பாய்
நினைப்பார் தமக்கே விருப்பானவன்
செருக்கால் ஒருக்கால் சினத்தால்
வெறுப்பார் குடிக்கே நெருப்பானவன்
In your heart, you hold yourself with dignity and humility,
You are deeply cherished by those who hold you in their thoughts!
Yet if driven by righteous wrath or indignation,
You become consuming fire to the clans of your foes!
குணத்தால் குலத்தால் இனத்தால்
மறத்தால் திறத்தால் சிறப்பானவன்
கொடுப்பார் எனத்தான் அடுத்தார்
தமைப் பேணும் குலசேகரன் வாழ்கவே
By character, by lineage, and by community,
By heroism and by supreme skill, you excel above all!
You shattered the notion that only others are givers by bestowing endlessly,
Long live the crown jewel of the dynasty who protects his people!
போர் முனையில் புகழ் சேரன் முடிதலை
போயுரென பெரும் வீரம் விளத்தனை
புலி வரைந்த கொடி அசையு முன்
பகைவர் முடி துறந்து உனது அடிப்பணிந்திடுவ
On the battlefront, where the famed Chera king's crowned head stood,
You displayed grand bravery that shattered opposition like an illusion,
Even before your tiger-emblazoned flag flutters in the wind,
Enemies surrender their crowns and bow down at your feet!
பொன்னி வளநாடு கன்னித் தமிழ் வீடு
என்னும் புகழோடு இன்ப நிறைவோடு
வாழ்க வாழ்க வீர சோழ ராஜராஜன் வாழ்கவே
O ruler of the fertile Kaveri realm, the abode of pristine Tamil!
With such everlasting fame and overflowing joy,
Long live, long live the brave Chola king Rajaraja!
Kaththu thiraikadal soozhavanikoru
To the world surrounded by the roaring, wavy sea,
Kanmani pondravanae
O king who is like a precious pupil of the eye!
Karpaga naadan eppuram menmai
O sovereign of the celestial abundance whose greatness in every direction,
Kanakkilaa vaainthavanae
Is limitless and immeasurable!
Muththamizhai payil viththagar naavil
On the tongues of scholars who master the threefold Tamil,
Nulainthidu naayaganae
O leader who enters as their inspiring song!
Moovulagum pugazh chozhaparanthaga
O Chola Paranthaka praised across all three worlds,
Vaazhiya vaazhiyavae
May you live long, live long!
Manaththaal thanaithaan madhippaai
In your heart, you hold yourself with dignity and humility,
Ninaipaar thamakkae virumpaanavan
You are deeply cherished by those who hold you in their thoughts!
Serukkaal orukkaal sinaththaal
Yet if driven by righteous wrath or indignation,
Verupaar kudikkae neruppanavan
You become consuming fire to the clans of your foes!
Gunaththaal kulaththaal inaththal
By character, by lineage, and by community,
Maraththaal thiraththaal sirappaanavan
By heroism and by supreme skill, you excel above all!
Koduppaar enaththaan aruththaar
You shattered the notion that only others are givers by bestowing endlessly,
Thamai penum kulasegaran vaazhgavae
Long live the crown jewel of the dynasty who protects his people!
Por munaiyil pugazg seran mudithalai
On the battlefront, where the famed Chera king's crowned head stood,
Poyurena perum veeram vilathanai
You displayed grand bravery that shattered opposition like an illusion,
Puli varaintha kodi asaiyumun
Even before your tiger-emblazoned flag flutters in the wind,
Pagaivar mudi thuranthu unathu adipanithiduva
Enemies surrender their crowns and bow down at your feet!
Ponni valanaadu kanni tamil veedu
O ruler of the fertile Kaveri realm, the abode of pristine Tamil!
Ennum pugalodu inba niraivodu
With such everlasting fame and overflowing joy,
Vaazhga vaazhga veera chozha rajarajan vaazhgavae
Long live, long live the brave Chola king Rajaraja!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic Tamil panegyric celebrates the glory, righteousness, and supreme valor of the Chola monarch. It portrays the king as the beloved protector of the sea-encircled realm, comparing his value to the pupil of an eye and praising his deep connection to the scholarly traditions of Muthamizh (prose, poetry, and theater). The lyric highlights his dual nature: gentle and generous towards his subjects, yet an incinerating fire to hostile forces.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uvamai (Simile) / Metaphor
“Kanmani pondravanae”
Compares the king to the pupil of an eye ('Kanmani') and his wrath to fire ('Neruppanavan') against enemy clans.
Etukai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Kaththu thiraikadal / Muththamizhai payil”
The second consonant sound 'th' aligns across words like 'Kaththu' and 'Muththamizhai', enhancing the rhythmic musicality.
Iyaibu (Internal Suffix Rhyme)
“Gunaththaal kulaththaal inaththal / Maraththaal thiraththaal sirappaanavan”
Repetition of the instrumental suffix '-thaal' ('Gunaththaal', 'kulaththaal', 'Maraththaal', 'thiraththaal') creates a strong cadence.
Cultural Symbolism (Emblematic Imagery)
“Puli varaintha kodi asaiyumun”
References the famous Chola tiger flag ('Puli varaintha kodi'), symbolizing sovereignty and military dominance.
Did you know?
Trivia
Featured in the historic movie 'Rajaraja Chozhan' (1973), which starred Nadigar Thilagam Sivaji Ganesan and was notably the first Tamil feature film shot in full CinemaScope.
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