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Rathinapuri Ilavarasi album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kuzhanthai Valarvathu Anbile

From Rathinapuri Ilavarasi · 1960

Lyricist
Pattukkottai Kalyanasundram
Singers
P. Susheela, T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Movie name
Rathinapuri Ilavarasi
Movie release year
1960
Lyrics added on
16 May 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Butham saranam kachaami
Dharmam saranam kachaami
Sangam saranam kachaami
Haa..aa..aa….
Kuzhandhai valarvadhu anbilae
Nalla kuzhandhai valarvadhu anbilae
Nalla gunangal amaivadhu panbilae
Kuzhandhai valarvadhu anbilae
Nalla gunangal amaivadhu panbilae
Kuzhandhai valarvadhu anbilae
Aadi nadanthidum aasaiyilae
Adhu odi thavazhvadhu mannilae
Aadi nadanthidum aasaiyilae
Adhu odi thavazhvadhu mannilae
Aagaaya nilavin asainthaadum malarin
Azhagaiyum kaanbathu kannilae
perum aanandham adaivathu pannilae
Kuzhandhai valarvadhu anbilae
Nalla gunangal amaivadhu panbilae
Kuzhandhai valarvadhu anbilae
Konjum kuralum pinju viralum
Kulari pesum nilaiyum maari
Konjum kuralum pinju viralum
Kulari pesum nilaiyum maari
Anjum manamum naanamum vandhu
Aadai anindhidum arivum vandhu
Anjum manamum naanamum vandhu
Aadai anindhidum arivum vandhu
Naalum nagarnthumae odavae
kalvi yedum nagarnthidum koodavae
Kuzhandhai valarvadhu anbilae
Nalla gunangal amaivadhu panbilae
Kuzhandhai valarvadhu anbilae
Haa.a.aa..aaa…aa…
Kaalai thaamarai pola thondrum
niramaagiyae
Vaana thaaragai naana thondrum
mugamaagiyae
Vanji kodithanai minji thigalum
vadivagiyae
Vanna thangam manga thigalum
vayadhagiyae
Arivaagiayae oliyaagiyae thelivaagiyae
Anbu thirumaeniyae aga malarae
Arul manamae aramae pottri..aa..aa…
Punpattu uzhalugindra puvi thiritha
Avatharitha porulae pottri
Kann pettrum paarvai peraa
Vambharkkum vaazhvalitha
Vaazhve pottri
Inbuttrida maandhar idhayam
oliyaaga ezhundha puthamudhae pottri
I take refuge in the Buddha
I take refuge in the Dharma
I take refuge in the Sangha
Haa..aa..aa...
A child grows in love,
A good child grows in love,
Good character is shaped by good values.
A child grows in love,
Good character is shaped by good values.
A child grows in love.
With a yearning to dance and walk about,
it scampers and crawls upon the earth.
With a yearning to dance and walk about,
it scampers and crawls upon the earth.
In the sky's moon and the swaying blossom,
its eyes take in all beauty,
and it finds great delight in sweet melody.
A child grows in love,
Good character is shaped by good values.
A child grows in love.
The sweet baby voice and tiny fingers,
and the stage of babbling words begin to change,
The sweet baby voice and tiny fingers,
and the stage of babbling words begin to change,
as modesty and a thoughtful mind arrive,
along with the wisdom of proper dress;
as modesty and a thoughtful mind arrive,
along with the wisdom of proper dress;
and as the days glide swiftly by,
the pages of learning move forward as well.
A child grows in love,
Good character is shaped by good values.
A child grows in love.
Haa..aa..aa..aaaa...aa...
Blooming like a morning lotus,
taking on a radiant complexion,
making the stars of the sky feel shy,
taking shape as a glowing face,
surpassing the grace of a slender vine,
growing into a lovely form,
outshining the brilliance of bright gold,
blossoming into youth,
becoming wisdom, becoming light, and becoming clarity,
O sacred form of love, O flower of the heart,
O fragrant grace, O embodiment of virtue, praise be to you! Ah...aa...
To heal this wounded, suffering world,
praise to the divine presence who took birth!
To the foolish who had eyes yet lacked true sight,
you gave the gift of a worthy life—
praise to you, the very source of life!
So the hearts of humankind may be filled with joy,
praise to the Buddha, the nectar of truth who rose as light!
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic song from Rathinapuri Ilavarasi (1960) opens with the sacred Buddhist chant 'Buddham Saranam Gacchami', setting a serene and spiritual atmosphere. It beautifully describes the developmental journey of a child, emphasizing that true growth stems from love (Anbu) and noble character is molded by moral culture (Panbu). The lyrics trace the milestones of childhood—from babbling and crawling to gaining self-awareness, modesty, and formal education as days progress. The latter half transitions into a sublime hymn of praise to spiritual enlightenment and divine virtue. It uses poetic similes comparing beauty to a morning lotus and radiant stars, ultimately praising Lord Buddha as the embodiment of love, grace, and wisdom who descended to alleviate suffering and bestow spiritual vision upon humanity.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Emoni / Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

“Konjum kuralum pinju viralum”

Matching initial sounds in lines such as 'Kuzhandhai' and 'Nalla gunangal' or 'Konjum kuralum' and 'Kulari pesum'.

Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

“Kuzhandhai valarvadhu anbilae / Nalla gunangal amaivadhu panbilae”

Rhyming of the second consonant across adjacent lines, seen in 'Anbum' and 'Panbum' concepts (Anbilae / Panbilae).

Upamai (Simile)

“Kaalai thaamarai pola thondrum”

Explicit comparison of complexion to a morning lotus using 'pola' (like).

Thirukuthoor / Thorkam (Anaphora & Repetition)

“Arul manamae aramae pottri..aa..aa…”

Repetition of praise ('pottri') at the end of consecutive lines emphasizing devotion.

Did you know?

Trivia

Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram was known for embedding progressive moral values into mainstream film lyrics. This song unique in Tamil cinema for blending Buddhist philosophy (Triratna chants) with humanist views on child rearing and education, set to an intricate composition by the legendary duo Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy.

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