Mangiyathor Nilavinile
From Thirumanam · 1958
- Lyricist
- Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyaar
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music directors
- S. M. Subbaiah Naidu, T. G. Lingappa
- Details
- Thirumanam1958
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Mangiyathor nilavinilae….ae….ae… | In the dim light of the moon... |
| Kanavil idhu kandaen…..yaen….nn…kandaen | I saw this in a dream... why... oh I saw... |
| Male | |
| Mangiyathor nilavinilae…. | In the dim light of the moon... |
| Kanvil idhu kandaen | I saw this in a dream. |
| Mangiyathor nilavinilae…. | In the dim light of the moon... |
| Kanvil idhu kandaen | I saw this in a dream. |
| Male | |
| Vayathu paathinaarirukkum ilavayathu mangai | A young maiden of sixteen years of age, |
| Vayathu paathinaarirukkum ilavayathu mangai | A young maiden of sixteen years of age, |
| Pongi varum peru nilavu pondra olimugamum | With a face radiant like the overflowing full moon, |
| Punnagaiyin puthu nilavum potra varum thotram | And an appearance praised for her smile bright like a new moon. |
| Male | |
| Mangiyathor nilavinilae…. | In the dim light of the moon... |
| Kanvil idhu kandaen | I saw this in a dream. |
| Male | |
| Thungamani minpolum vadivaththaal vanthu | She came possessing a form like a shining gem or lightning, |
| Thungamani minpolum vadivaththaal vanthu | She came possessing a form like a shining gem or lightning, |
| Thoongathey ezhunthennai paarendru sonnaal | She said, 'Do not sleep! Wake up and look at me!' |
| Angathanir kan vizhiththaen adadaa oo adadaa | Right there, I opened my eyes in amazement, oh my! |
| Azhgennum dheivanthaan adhuvendrae arinthaen | I realized she was indeed the deity of Beauty itself. |
| Male | |
| Mangiyathor nilavinilae…. | In the dim light of the moon... |
| Kanvil idhu kandaen | I saw this in a dream. |
| Male | |
| Kaalaththin vidhi madhiyai | The fate of time... |
| Kadanthidumo endraen….ae…..ae….ae…. | Will it overcome intellect? I asked... |
| Kalaththin vithi kadanthidumo endraen | I asked, 'Will destiny overcome human wisdom?' |
| Kaalamae madhiyinukor karuviyaan endraen | She said, 'Time itself is merely an instrument for the intellect.' |
| Nyalaththil virumbiyathu nannumo endraen | I asked, 'Will that which is desired in this world be attained?' |
| Naalilae ondrirundu pazhiththidalaam endraen | She said, 'Out of days, one or two might fail, but you will achieve it.' |
| Male | |
| Mangiyathor nilavinilae…. | In the dim light of the moon... |
| Kanvil idhu kandaen | I saw this in a dream. |
| Male | |
| Yaelaththil viduvathundo ennaththai endraen | I asked, 'Can thoughts be put up for auction or abandoned?' |
| Enninaal enniyathu nannunkaanendraal | She said, 'If you focus your mind, whatever you focus on will surely be reached!' |
| Moolaththai sollavo vendaamo endraen | I asked, 'Should I reveal the ultimate root source or not?' |
| Mugaththilarul kaattinaal mogamathu theernthaen | She showed grace on her face, and my delusion was cured. |
| Male | |
| Mangiyathor nilavinilae…. | In the dim light of the moon... |
| Kanvil idhu kandaen | I saw this in a dream. |
மங்கியதோர் நிலவினிலே.....ஏ.....ஏ....
கனவில் இது கண்டேன்.....ஏன்......ன்....கண்டேன்
In the dim light of the moon...
I saw this in a dream... why... oh I saw...
மங்கியதோர் நிலவினிலே
கனவில் இது கண்டேன்
மங்கியதோர் நிலவினிலே
கனவில் இது கண்டேன்
In the dim light of the moon...
I saw this in a dream.
In the dim light of the moon...
I saw this in a dream.
வயது பதினாறிருக்கும் இளவயது மங்கை
வயது பதினாறிருக்கும் இளவயது மங்கை
பொங்கி வரும் பெருநிலவு போன்ற ஒளிமுகமும்
புன்னகையின் புது நிலவும் போற்ற வரும் தோற்றம்
A young maiden of sixteen years of age,
A young maiden of sixteen years of age,
With a face radiant like the overflowing full moon,
And an appearance praised for her smile bright like a new moon.
மங்கியதோர் நிலவினிலே
கனவில் இது கண்டேன்
In the dim light of the moon...
I saw this in a dream.
துங்கமணி மின்போலும் வடிவத்தாள் வந்து
துங்கமணி மின்போலும் வடிவத்தாள் வந்து
தூங்காதே எழுந்தென்னைப் பாரென்று சொன்னாள்
அங்கதனிற் கண் விழித்தேன் அடடா ஓ அடடா
அழகென்னும் தெய்வந்தான் அதுவென்றே அறிந்தேன்
She came possessing a form like a shining gem or lightning,
She came possessing a form like a shining gem or lightning,
She said, 'Do not sleep! Wake up and look at me!'
Right there, I opened my eyes in amazement, oh my!
I realized she was indeed the deity of Beauty itself.
மங்கியதோர் நிலவினிலே
கனவில் இது கண்டேன்
In the dim light of the moon...
I saw this in a dream.
காலத்தின் விதி மதியை
கடந்திடுமோ என்றேன்.....ஏ.....ஏ.....ஏ....
காலத்தின் விதி மதியை கடந்திடுமோ என்றேன்
காலமே மதியினுக்கோர் கருவியான் என்றாள்
ஞாலத்தில் விரும்பியது நண்ணுமோ என்றேன்
நாளிலே ஒன்றிருண்டு பழித்திடலாம் என்றேன்
The fate of time...
Will it overcome intellect? I asked...
I asked, 'Will destiny overcome human wisdom?'
She said, 'Time itself is merely an instrument for the intellect.'
I asked, 'Will that which is desired in this world be attained?'
She said, 'Out of days, one or two might fail, but you will achieve it.'
மங்கியதோர் நிலவினிலே
கனவில் இது கண்டேன்
In the dim light of the moon...
I saw this in a dream.
ஏலத்தில் விடுவதுண்டோ எண்ணத்தை என்றேன்
எண்ணினால் எண்ணியது நண்ணுங்கானென்றாள்
மூலத்தைச் சொல்லவோ வேண்டாமோ என்றேன்
முகத்திலருள் காட்டினாள் மோகமது தீர்ந்தேன்
I asked, 'Can thoughts be put up for auction or abandoned?'
She said, 'If you focus your mind, whatever you focus on will surely be reached!'
I asked, 'Should I reveal the ultimate root source or not?'
She showed grace on her face, and my delusion was cured.
மங்கியதோர் நிலவினிலே
கனவில் இது கண்டேன்
In the dim light of the moon...
I saw this in a dream.
Mangiyathor nilavinilae….ae….ae…
In the dim light of the moon...
Kanavil idhu kandaen…..yaen….nn…kandaen
I saw this in a dream... why... oh I saw...
Mangiyathor nilavinilae….
In the dim light of the moon...
Kanvil idhu kandaen
I saw this in a dream.
Mangiyathor nilavinilae….
In the dim light of the moon...
Kanvil idhu kandaen
I saw this in a dream.
Vayathu paathinaarirukkum ilavayathu mangai
A young maiden of sixteen years of age,
Vayathu paathinaarirukkum ilavayathu mangai
A young maiden of sixteen years of age,
Pongi varum peru nilavu pondra olimugamum
With a face radiant like the overflowing full moon,
Punnagaiyin puthu nilavum potra varum thotram
And an appearance praised for her smile bright like a new moon.
Mangiyathor nilavinilae….
In the dim light of the moon...
Kanvil idhu kandaen
I saw this in a dream.
Thungamani minpolum vadivaththaal vanthu
She came possessing a form like a shining gem or lightning,
Thungamani minpolum vadivaththaal vanthu
She came possessing a form like a shining gem or lightning,
Thoongathey ezhunthennai paarendru sonnaal
She said, 'Do not sleep! Wake up and look at me!'
Angathanir kan vizhiththaen adadaa oo adadaa
Right there, I opened my eyes in amazement, oh my!
Azhgennum dheivanthaan adhuvendrae arinthaen
I realized she was indeed the deity of Beauty itself.
Mangiyathor nilavinilae….
In the dim light of the moon...
Kanvil idhu kandaen
I saw this in a dream.
Kaalaththin vidhi madhiyai
The fate of time...
Kadanthidumo endraen….ae…..ae….ae….
Will it overcome intellect? I asked...
Kalaththin vithi kadanthidumo endraen
I asked, 'Will destiny overcome human wisdom?'
Kaalamae madhiyinukor karuviyaan endraen
She said, 'Time itself is merely an instrument for the intellect.'
Nyalaththil virumbiyathu nannumo endraen
I asked, 'Will that which is desired in this world be attained?'
Naalilae ondrirundu pazhiththidalaam endraen
She said, 'Out of days, one or two might fail, but you will achieve it.'
Mangiyathor nilavinilae….
In the dim light of the moon...
Kanvil idhu kandaen
I saw this in a dream.
Yaelaththil viduvathundo ennaththai endraen
I asked, 'Can thoughts be put up for auction or abandoned?'
Enninaal enniyathu nannunkaanendraal
She said, 'If you focus your mind, whatever you focus on will surely be reached!'
Moolaththai sollavo vendaamo endraen
I asked, 'Should I reveal the ultimate root source or not?'
Mugaththilarul kaattinaal mogamathu theernthaen
She showed grace on her face, and my delusion was cured.
Mangiyathor nilavinilae….
In the dim light of the moon...
Kanvil idhu kandaen
I saw this in a dream.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Mangiyathor Nilavinilae is a deeply philosophical and mystical poem written by Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyar, adapted for the 1958 Tamil movie Thirumanam. In this poem, the narrator experiences a spiritual dream vision under faint moonlight. A divine sixteen-year-old maiden, embodying beauty and higher wisdom, appears before him and urges him to awaken from his physical and spiritual slumber. The narrator engages in a dialogue with her about fundamental existential questions: whether fate dominates intellect, whether human desires can be fulfilled, and how to control thoughts. The maiden offers sublime philosophical truths, stating that time is just an instrument of intellect, steadfast concentration brings goals to fruition, and divine grace removes all worldly delusions.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Upamai (Simile)
“Pongi varum peru nilavu pondra olimugamum”
Compares the maiden's radiant face directly to an overflowing full moon using the comparison word 'pondra'.
Uruvagam (Metaphor)
“Azhgennum dheivanthaan adhuvendrae arinthaen”
Identifies the maiden as the personified divine deity of Beauty itself.
Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Kaalaththin vidhi madhiyai / Kalaththin vithi kadanthidumo endraen”
The second letter 'la' rhymes across consecutive lines ('Kaalaththin' / 'Kalaththin' / 'Naalilae').
Personification
“Thoongathey ezhunthennai paarendru sonnaal”
Divine wisdom and ultimate beauty are personified as a young maiden conversing with the poet.
Did you know?
Trivia
This poem is one of Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyar's famous mystical works reflecting Advaita philosophy and spiritual devotion. In the 1958 film Thirumanam, the song was set to music composed by S. M. Subbaiah Naidu. Bharathiyar often used dream motifs and personification of divine entities (like Kannan, Parasakthi, or Beauty) to explain deep Vedantic truths in simple Tamil.
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