Kaviri Paayum
From Maragatham · 1959
- Lyricist
- Ra. Balu
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
- Details
- Maragatham1959
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Ondrae kulam oruvanae devan endru | One community and one God, |
| Oothi unarnthom oppillaa pugal kondom | We proclaimed and realized, earning matchless fame. |
| Male | |
| Kaviri paayum kanni tamil naadu | The virgin Tamil land where the Cauvery flows, |
| Kaviri paayum kanni tamil naadu | The virgin Tamil land where the Cauvery flows, |
| Kalaikalukellam thaai veedu | The maternal home for all fine arts, |
| Kalaikalukellam thaai veedu | The maternal home for all fine arts, |
| Male | |
| Kaaviyam pugazhum sirantha panpaadu | The great culture praised by epic classics, |
| Kaaviyam pugazhum sirantha panpaadu | The great culture praised by epic classics, |
| Kaappathil namakku undo eedu | Is there any equal to us in protecting it? |
| Kaappathil namakku undo eedu | Is there any equal to us in protecting it? |
| Male | |
| Kaaviyam pugazhum sirantha panpaadu | The great culture praised by epic classics, |
| Male | |
| Vinnai maraiththidum goburamae | O sky-concealing temple tower, |
| Nam viththaiyai kaattidum ooviyamae….ae… | O painting that showcases our artistry! |
| Vinnai maraiththidum goburamae | O sky-concealing temple tower, |
| Nam viththaiyai kaattidum ooviyamae….ae… | O painting that showcases our artistry! |
| Male | |
| Ennil adangaa izhakkiyamea | O endless, countless literature, |
| Ennil adangaa izhakkiyamea | O endless, countless literature, |
| Iyal isai naada izhakkanamae | O grammar of prose, music, and drama! |
| Male | |
| Kaviri paayum kanni tamil naadu | The virgin Tamil land where the Cauvery flows, |
| Kalaikalukellam thaai veedu | The maternal home for all fine arts, |
| Male | |
| Kollaamai poiyaamai neri kandae | Having found the path of non-killing and truthfulness, |
| Kuralenum amuthaam thaenundae | And tasted the sweet nectar called Thirukkural, |
| Sollum seyalum ondrenavae….ae…. | That word and deed are truly one, |
| Sollum seyalum ondrenavae….ae…. | That word and deed are truly one, |
| Vaazhvathu ulagil thamizhinamae | It is the Tamil race that lives thus in this world, |
| Vaazhvathu ulagil thamizhinamae….ae… | It is the Tamil race that lives thus in this world. |
| Male | |
| Kaviri paayum kanni tamil naadu | The virgin Tamil land where the Cauvery flows, |
| Kalaikalukellam thaai veedu | The maternal home for all fine arts, |
| Kalaikalukellam tamil naadu | The Tamil land for all fine arts, |
| Tamil naadu tamil naadu | Tamil land, Tamil land. |
ஒன்றே குலம் ஒருவனே தேவன் என்று
ஓதி உணர்ந்தோம் ஒப்பில்லா புகழ் கொண்டோம்
One community and one God,
We proclaimed and realized, earning matchless fame.
காவிரி பாயும் கன்னித் தமிழ் நாடு
காவிரி பாயும் கன்னித் தமிழ் நாடு
கலைகளுக்கெல்லாம் தாய் வீடு
கலைகளுக்கெல்லாம் தாய் வீடு....
The virgin Tamil land where the Cauvery flows,
The virgin Tamil land where the Cauvery flows,
The maternal home for all fine arts,
The maternal home for all fine arts,
காவியம் புகழும் சிறந்த பண்பாடு
காவியம் புகழும் சிறந்த பண்பாடு
காப்பதில் நமக்கு உண்டோ ஈடு
காப்பதில் நமக்கு உண்டோ ஈடு
The great culture praised by epic classics,
The great culture praised by epic classics,
Is there any equal to us in protecting it?
Is there any equal to us in protecting it?
காவிரி பாயும் கன்னித் தமிழ் நாடு
The great culture praised by epic classics,
விண்ணை மறைத்திடும் கோபுரமே
நம் வித்தையைக் காட்டிடும் ஓவியமே....ஏ...
விண்ணை மறைத்திடும் கோபுரமே
நம் வித்தையைக் காட்டிடும் ஓவியமே....ஏ...
O sky-concealing temple tower,
O painting that showcases our artistry!
O sky-concealing temple tower,
O painting that showcases our artistry!
எண்ணில் அடங்கா இலக்கியமே
எண்ணில் அடங்கா இலக்கியமே
இயல் இசை நாடக இலக்கணமே
O endless, countless literature,
O endless, countless literature,
O grammar of prose, music, and drama!
காவிரி பாயும் கன்னித் தமிழ் நாடு
கலைகளுக்கெல்லாம் தாய் வீடு
The virgin Tamil land where the Cauvery flows,
The maternal home for all fine arts,
கொல்லாமை பொய்யாமை நெறி கண்டே
குறளெனும் அமுதாம் தேனுண்டே....
சொல்லும் செயலும் ஒன்றெனவே....ஏஏ......
சொல்லும் செயலும் ஒன்றெனவே....ஏஏ......
வாழ்வது உலகில் தமிழினமே....
வாழ்வது உலகில் தமிழினமே.....ஏ.....
Having found the path of non-killing and truthfulness,
And tasted the sweet nectar called Thirukkural,
That word and deed are truly one,
That word and deed are truly one,
It is the Tamil race that lives thus in this world,
It is the Tamil race that lives thus in this world.
காவிரி பாயும் கன்னித் தமிழ் நாடு
கலைகளுக்கெல்லாம் தாய் வீடு
கலைகளுக்கெல்லாம் தமிழ் நாடு
தமிழ் நாடு தமிழ் நாடு.....
The virgin Tamil land where the Cauvery flows,
The maternal home for all fine arts,
The Tamil land for all fine arts,
Tamil land, Tamil land.
Ondrae kulam oruvanae devan endru
One community and one God,
Oothi unarnthom oppillaa pugal kondom
We proclaimed and realized, earning matchless fame.
Kaviri paayum kanni tamil naadu
The virgin Tamil land where the Cauvery flows,
Kaviri paayum kanni tamil naadu
The virgin Tamil land where the Cauvery flows,
Kalaikalukellam thaai veedu
The maternal home for all fine arts,
Kalaikalukellam thaai veedu
The maternal home for all fine arts,
Kaaviyam pugazhum sirantha panpaadu
The great culture praised by epic classics,
Kaaviyam pugazhum sirantha panpaadu
The great culture praised by epic classics,
Kaappathil namakku undo eedu
Is there any equal to us in protecting it?
Kaappathil namakku undo eedu
Is there any equal to us in protecting it?
Kaaviyam pugazhum sirantha panpaadu
The great culture praised by epic classics,
Vinnai maraiththidum goburamae
O sky-concealing temple tower,
Nam viththaiyai kaattidum ooviyamae….ae…
O painting that showcases our artistry!
Vinnai maraiththidum goburamae
O sky-concealing temple tower,
Nam viththaiyai kaattidum ooviyamae….ae…
O painting that showcases our artistry!
Ennil adangaa izhakkiyamea
O endless, countless literature,
Ennil adangaa izhakkiyamea
O endless, countless literature,
Iyal isai naada izhakkanamae
O grammar of prose, music, and drama!
Kaviri paayum kanni tamil naadu
The virgin Tamil land where the Cauvery flows,
Kalaikalukellam thaai veedu
The maternal home for all fine arts,
Kollaamai poiyaamai neri kandae
Having found the path of non-killing and truthfulness,
Kuralenum amuthaam thaenundae
And tasted the sweet nectar called Thirukkural,
Sollum seyalum ondrenavae….ae….
That word and deed are truly one,
Sollum seyalum ondrenavae….ae….
That word and deed are truly one,
Vaazhvathu ulagil thamizhinamae
It is the Tamil race that lives thus in this world,
Vaazhvathu ulagil thamizhinamae….ae…
It is the Tamil race that lives thus in this world.
Kaviri paayum kanni tamil naadu
The virgin Tamil land where the Cauvery flows,
Kalaikalukellam thaai veedu
The maternal home for all fine arts,
Kalaikalukellam tamil naadu
The Tamil land for all fine arts,
Tamil naadu tamil naadu
Tamil land, Tamil land.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This patriotic Tamil anthem celebrates the rich cultural heritage, architectural legacy, and high moral philosophy of Tamil Nadu. It highlights core Tamil values such as universal brotherhood ('Ondrae kulam oruvanae devan'), non-violence ('Kollaamai'), truthfulness ('Poiyaamai'), and harmony between words and deeds. The lyrics pay tribute to the fertile land nourished by the Cauvery river, grand temple architecture, the rich literary traditions of Mutthamizh (prose, music, drama), and the wisdom of Thirukkural, presenting Tamil Nadu as the cradle of artistic excellence.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Moonaal (Initial Alliteration)
“Kaviri paayum kanni tamil naadu”
Repetition of initial consonant sounds across lines, such as 'Kaviri', 'Kalaikalukellam', and 'Kaaviyam'.
Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyming)
“Vinnai maraiththidum goburamae”
Rhyming of the second letter across consecutive lines, seen in 'Vinnai' and 'Ennil'.
Metaphor (Uruvagaim)
“Kuralenum amuthaam thaenundae”
Describing Thirukkural directly as sweet nectar ('Amuthaam thaen').
Anaphora (Repetition)
“Kalaikalukellam thaai veedu”
Repetition of the refrain lines to emphasize pride in Tamil land and culture.
Did you know?
Trivia
The opening line 'Ondrae kulam oruvanae devan' originates from Thirumoolar's ancient text Thirumandhiram and was famously adopted by C. N. Annadurai as a guiding philosophical slogan for social reform.
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