Manamulla Menmalar
From Deiva Kuzhanthaikal · 1973
- Lyricist
- Panchu Arunachalam
- Singers
- Shoba Chandrasekar, K. Swarna, L. R. Anjali
- Music director
- V. Kumar
- Details
- Deiva Kuzhanthaikal1973
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Sangam saranam katchaamiyae | I seek refuge in the Sangha (community). |
| Dharmam saranam katchaamiyae | I seek refuge in the Dharma (righteousness). |
| Male | |
| Agara mudhala ezhuththellaam aadhi | As the letter 'A' is the first of all letters, |
| Bhagavaa mudhattrae ulagu | the Primordial God is the first in the world. |
| Chorus | |
| Raghupathi ragava rajaram | Lord Rama of the Raghu dynasty, King Rama, |
| Pathitha paavana seethaaram | Purifier of the fallen, Sita-Rama, |
| Eshwara allah thaerae naam | Ishwar and Allah are Your names, |
| Sabko sanmathi thae bhagavaan | Bless everyone with good wisdom, O Lord. |
| Female | |
| ……………… | |
| Female | |
| Manamulla menmalar roja | A soft, fragrant rose flower, |
| Adhai mathippavar panditha raja | The one who appreciates it is Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. |
| Manamulla manamenna lesa | Is a mind filled with goodness a trivial thing? |
| Antha manathai arulvaai eesa… | Grant us such a heart/mind, O God... |
| Female | |
| Ingu eththanai methaigal kandom | How many geniuses/intellectuals have we seen here? |
| Naam evarthaan avar vazhi nindrom | Yet who among us actually followed their path? |
| Female | |
| Thayiril uraivathu vennai | Butter forms inside curd, |
| Manam thanakkul uraivathu unmai | Truth forms within the heart. |
| Female | |
| Uyirgalil vaippathu anbu | Love is what should be shown to all living beings, |
| Dhinam unmaiyai sathamena nambu | Believe daily that truth is eternal. |
| Chorus | |
| Ingu eththanai methaigal kandom | How many geniuses have we seen here? |
| Naam evarthaan avar vazhi nindrom | Yet who among us actually followed their path? |
| Male | |
| ……………… | |
| Chorus | |
| ………………. | |
| Female | |
| Ellaam madhamum ondrae | All religions are one, |
| Adhan ellaa vazhigalum nandrae | And all their paths are good. |
| Vallamai enbathu perumai | Capability and power bring pride, |
| Adhil vanmurai enbathu sirumai | In that, resort to violence is a baseness. |
| Vanmurai enbathu sirumai | Resort to violence is a baseness. |
| Chorus | |
| Ingu eththanai methaigal kandom | How many geniuses have we seen here? |
| Naam evarthaan avar vazhi nindrom | Yet who among us actually followed their path? |
| Female | |
| Arivukku padippathu paadam | Lessons are studied to gain knowledge, |
| Idhil arasiyal kalappathu paavam | Mixing politics into education is a sin. |
| Katchigal purivathu kuzhappam | Political parties create confusion, |
| Ilam kaalaiyin sevaigal vazhakkam | The service of young dawn should be routine. |
| Female | |
| Urakkaththai maranthavan thalaivan | A leader is one who forgets sleep for his duty, |
| Nalla ozhukkaththil valarnthavan thalaivan | A leader is one raised in good moral discipline, |
| Kadanthathai marappavan thalaivan | A leader is one who forgives past grudges, |
| Than kadamaiyai ninaippavan thalaivan | A leader is one who remembers his duty, |
| Than kadamaiyai ninaippavan thalaivan | A leader is one who remembers his duty. |
| Female | |
| Ingu eththanai methaigal kandom | How many geniuses have we seen here? |
| Naam evarthaan avar vazhi nindrom | Yet who among us actually followed their path? |
| Sathiya deivaththai kondrom | We killed the God of Truth (Mahatma Gandhi), |
| Naam thanithani vazhigalil sendrom | And we each went on our own separate paths. |
மற்றும் எல். ஆர். அஞ்சலி
I seek refuge in the Sangha (community).
I seek refuge in the Dharma (righteousness).
சங்கம் சரணம் கட்சாமியே
தர்மம் சரணம் கட்சாமியே
As the letter 'A' is the first of all letters,
the Primordial God is the first in the world.
அகர முதல எழுத்தெல்லாம் ஆதி
பகவான் முதற்றே உலகு
Lord Rama of the Raghu dynasty, King Rama,
Purifier of the fallen, Sita-Rama,
Ishwar and Allah are Your names,
Bless everyone with good wisdom, O Lord.
ரகுபதி ராகவ ராஜாராம்
பதித பாவன சீதா ராம்
ஈஸ்வர அல்லா தேரே நாம்
சப்கோ சன்மதி தே பகவான்
......................
A soft, fragrant rose flower,
The one who appreciates it is Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
Is a mind filled with goodness a trivial thing?
Grant us such a heart/mind, O God...
மணமுள்ள மென்மலர் ரோஜா
அதை மதிப்பவர் பண்டித ராஜா
மணமுள்ள மனமென்ன லேசா
அந்த மனதை அருள்வாய் ஈசா...
How many geniuses/intellectuals have we seen here?
Yet who among us actually followed their path?
இங்கு எத்தனை மேதைகள் கண்டோம்
நாம் எவர்தான் அவர் வழி நின்றோம்
Butter forms inside curd,
Truth forms within the heart.
தயிரில் உறைவது வெண்ணை
மனம் தனக்குள் உறைவது உண்மை
Love is what should be shown to all living beings,
Believe daily that truth is eternal.
உயிர்களில் வைப்பது அன்பு
தினம் உண்மையை சதமென நம்பு
How many geniuses have we seen here?
Yet who among us actually followed their path?
இங்கு எத்தனை மேதைகள் கண்டோம்
நாம் எவர்தான் அவர் வழி நின்றோம்
...........................
..............................
All religions are one,
And all their paths are good.
Capability and power bring pride,
In that, resort to violence is a baseness.
Resort to violence is a baseness.
எல்லாம் மதமும் ஒன்றே
அதன் எல்லா வழிகளும் நன்றே
வல்லமை என்பது பெருமை
அதில் வன்முறை என்பது சிறுமை
வன்முறை என்பது சிறுமை
How many geniuses have we seen here?
Yet who among us actually followed their path?
இங்கு எத்தனை மேதைகள் கண்டோம்
நாம் எவர்தான் அவர் வழி நின்றோம்
Lessons are studied to gain knowledge,
Mixing politics into education is a sin.
Political parties create confusion,
The service of young dawn should be routine.
அறிவுக்கு படிப்பது பாடம்
இதில் அரசியல் கலப்பது பாவம்
கட்சிகள் புரிவது குழப்பம்
இளம் காளையின் சேவைகள் வழக்கம்
A leader is one who forgets sleep for his duty,
A leader is one raised in good moral discipline,
A leader is one who forgives past grudges,
A leader is one who remembers his duty,
A leader is one who remembers his duty.
உறக்கத்தை மறந்தவன் தலைவன்
நல்ல ஒழுக்கத்தில் வளர்ந்தவன் தலைவன்
கடந்ததை மறப்பவன் தலைவன்
தன் கடமையை நினைப்பவன் தலைவன்
தன் கடமையை நினைப்பவன் தலைவன்
How many geniuses have we seen here?
Yet who among us actually followed their path?
We killed the God of Truth (Mahatma Gandhi),
And we each went on our own separate paths.
இங்கு எத்தனை மேதைகள் கண்டோம்
நாம் எவர்தான் அவர் வழி நின்றோம்
சத்திய தெய்வத்தை கொன்றோம்
நாம் தனித்தனி வழிகளில் சென்றோம்.......
Sangam saranam katchaamiyae
I seek refuge in the Sangha (community).
Dharmam saranam katchaamiyae
I seek refuge in the Dharma (righteousness).
Agara mudhala ezhuththellaam aadhi
As the letter 'A' is the first of all letters,
Bhagavaa mudhattrae ulagu
the Primordial God is the first in the world.
Raghupathi ragava rajaram
Lord Rama of the Raghu dynasty, King Rama,
Pathitha paavana seethaaram
Purifier of the fallen, Sita-Rama,
Eshwara allah thaerae naam
Ishwar and Allah are Your names,
Sabko sanmathi thae bhagavaan
Bless everyone with good wisdom, O Lord.
………………
Manamulla menmalar roja
A soft, fragrant rose flower,
Adhai mathippavar panditha raja
The one who appreciates it is Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
Manamulla manamenna lesa
Is a mind filled with goodness a trivial thing?
Antha manathai arulvaai eesa…
Grant us such a heart/mind, O God...
Ingu eththanai methaigal kandom
How many geniuses/intellectuals have we seen here?
Naam evarthaan avar vazhi nindrom
Yet who among us actually followed their path?
Thayiril uraivathu vennai
Butter forms inside curd,
Manam thanakkul uraivathu unmai
Truth forms within the heart.
Uyirgalil vaippathu anbu
Love is what should be shown to all living beings,
Dhinam unmaiyai sathamena nambu
Believe daily that truth is eternal.
Ingu eththanai methaigal kandom
How many geniuses have we seen here?
Naam evarthaan avar vazhi nindrom
Yet who among us actually followed their path?
………………
……………….
Ellaam madhamum ondrae
All religions are one,
Adhan ellaa vazhigalum nandrae
And all their paths are good.
Vallamai enbathu perumai
Capability and power bring pride,
Adhil vanmurai enbathu sirumai
In that, resort to violence is a baseness.
Vanmurai enbathu sirumai
Resort to violence is a baseness.
Ingu eththanai methaigal kandom
How many geniuses have we seen here?
Naam evarthaan avar vazhi nindrom
Yet who among us actually followed their path?
Arivukku padippathu paadam
Lessons are studied to gain knowledge,
Idhil arasiyal kalappathu paavam
Mixing politics into education is a sin.
Katchigal purivathu kuzhappam
Political parties create confusion,
Ilam kaalaiyin sevaigal vazhakkam
The service of young dawn should be routine.
Urakkaththai maranthavan thalaivan
A leader is one who forgets sleep for his duty,
Nalla ozhukkaththil valarnthavan thalaivan
A leader is one raised in good moral discipline,
Kadanthathai marappavan thalaivan
A leader is one who forgives past grudges,
Than kadamaiyai ninaippavan thalaivan
A leader is one who remembers his duty,
Than kadamaiyai ninaippavan thalaivan
A leader is one who remembers his duty.
Ingu eththanai methaigal kandom
How many geniuses have we seen here?
Naam evarthaan avar vazhi nindrom
Yet who among us actually followed their path?
Sathiya deivaththai kondrom
We killed the God of Truth (Mahatma Gandhi),
Naam thanithani vazhigalil sendrom
And we each went on our own separate paths.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song from 'Deiva Kuzhanthaikal' (1973) serves as a poignant social and moral reflection delivered through children. It weaves together famous spiritual chants—Buddhist refuges, Tiruvalluvar's first Thirukkural couplet, and Gandhi's favorite bhajan 'Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram'—to emphasize universal unity, religious harmony, and truth. The lyricist Panchu Arunachalam contrasts the lofty ideals taught by visionary leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru with society's failure to actually live by those ideals.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Allusion (இலக்கியக் குறிப்பு)
“Agara mudhala ezhuththellaam aadhi”
Directly quotes Thirukkural 1 ('Agara mudhala ezhuththellaam...') and the Gandhian bhajan ('Raghupathi ragava rajaram...').
Epistrophe / Antistrophe (சொற்பின்வருநிலையணி)
“Urakkaththai maranthavan thalaivan”
Repetition of the word 'thalaivan' at the end of successive lines defining true leadership.
Edhugai (எதுகை - Second Letter Rhyming)
“Vallamai enbathu perumai”
Matching of the second consonant sound in successive lines ('Vallamai' and 'Vanmurai').
Metaphor (உவமை)
“Thayiril uraivathu vennai”
Compares truth forming inside the mind to butter churning out of curd.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song is notable for featuring vocals by Choba Chandrasekar (mother of Tamil superstar Vijay), alongside K. Swarna and L.R. Anjali. The composition by V. Kumar uniquely incorporates children's chorus elements mixed with timeless spiritual philosophy.
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