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Lyrics & meaning

Muthal Enbathu

From Poovum Pottum · 1968

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
R. Govarthanam
Details
Poovum Pottum1968

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics↻ English translation
Male
Mudhal enbathu thodakkamThe beginning is the start,
Mudivenbadhu adakkamThe end is the closure,
Vidai enbadhu vilakkamAn answer is an explanation,
Vidhi enbadhu ennaWhat then is destiny?
Mudhal enbathu thodakkamThe beginning is the start,
Mudivenbadhu adakkamThe end is the closure,
Vidai enbadhu vilakkamAn answer is an explanation,
Vidhi enbadhu ennaWhat then is destiny?
Enna…ennaWhat... what...
Male
Arivenbadhu koyilKnowledge is the temple,
Anbenbadhu deivamLove is the deity,
Arivenbadhu koyilKnowledge is the temple,
Anbenbadhu deivamLove is the deity,
Aramenbadhu vedhamRighteousness is the scripture,
Avan enbadhu ennaWhat then is God?
Enna…enna..ennaWhat... what... what...
Male
Mudhal enbathu thodakkamThe beginning is the start,
Mudivenbadhu adakkamThe end is the closure,
Vidai enbadhu vilakkamAn answer is an explanation,
Vidhi enbadhu ennaWhat then is destiny?
Male
Thuyar enbadhu paadhiSorrow is one half,
Sugam enbadhu meedhiJoy is the remainder,
Thuyar enbadhu paadhiSorrow is one half,
Sugam enbadhu meedhiJoy is the remainder,
Iyal enbadhu needhiNature is justice,
Seyal enbadhu ennaWhat then is human action?
Enna…enna..ennaWhat... what... what...
Male
Mudhal enbathu thodakkamThe beginning is the start,
Mudivenbadhu adakkamThe end is the closure,
Vidai enbadhu vilakkamAn answer is an explanation,
Vidhi enbadhu ennaWhat then is destiny?
Male
Uravenbadhu perukkalRelationships are multiplication,
Pirivenbadhu kazhithalSeparation is subtraction,
Uravenbadhu perukkalRelationships are multiplication,
Pirivenbadhu kazhithalSeparation is subtraction,
Vazhiyenbadhu vaghuthalFinding the way is division,
Vaazhvenbadhu ennaWhat then is life itself?
Enna…enna..ennaWhat... what... what...
Male
Mudhal enbathu thodakkamThe beginning is the start,
Mudivenbadhu adakkamThe end is the closure,
Vidai enbadhu vilakkamAn answer is an explanation,
Vidhi enbadhu ennaWhat then is destiny?
Enna…ennaWhat... what...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Penned by the legendary lyricist Kannadasan, this deeply philosophical song frames existential riddles through simple logic and arithmetic metaphors. The song systematically defines fundamental human concepts—equating knowledge to a temple, love to God, relationships to multiplication, and separation to subtraction—only to end each verse with rhetorical questions inquiring about the elusive nature of destiny, divine power, karma, and life.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Mathematical Metaphor (Anuprasa / Metaphor)

“Uravenbadhu perukkal / Pirivenbadhu kazhithal / Vazhiyenbadhu vaghuthal”

Kannadasan elegantly uses elementary mathematical operations (multiplication, subtraction, division) to symbolize life phases such as union, parting, and path-finding.

Edhukai (Second letter rhyming)

“Mudhal enbathu thodakkam / Mudivenbadhu adakkam”

The second consonant sound matches across lines, creating a rhythmic and lyrical cadence typical of classical Tamil poetry.

Anaphora / Repetition

“Mudhal enbathu thodakkam... Vidhi enbadhu enna”

The repetitive structure of defining terms with 'enbadhu' (means) followed by the philosophical question 'enbadhu enna' emphasizes the contrast between known definitions and unknown spiritual realities.

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Trivia

Poovum Pottum (1968) featured music composed by R. Govarthanam. Lyricist Kannadasan was renowned for taking high philosophical truths and making them accessible to the common listener through simple daily language and arithmetic metaphors.

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