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Thiruvarutchelvar album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Naadhar Mudi Melirukkum

From Thiruvarutchelvar · 1967

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Thiruvarutchelvar
Movie release year
1967
Lyrics added on
4 Nov 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Naadhar mudi melirukkum
Nalla paambae…
Naadhar mudi melirukkum
Nalla paambae
Unakku nalla peyar vaithavar yaar
Sollu paambae
Naadhar mudi melirukkum nalla paambae
Unakku nalla peyar vaithavar yaar
Sollu paambae
Aadhi sivan thalai amarndha aanavamaa
Aadhi sivan thalai amarndha aanavamaa
Avan angam ellaam vilaiyaadum dhairiyamaa
Avan angam ellaam vilaiyaadum dhairiyamaa
Naadhar mudi melirukkum
Nalla paambae
Unakku nalla peyar vaithavar yaar
Sollu paambae
Oor kodutha paal kudithu
Uyir valarthaai
Paal unda suvai maarum munnae
Nandri marandhaai
Oor kodutha paal kudithu
Uyir valarthaai
Paal unda suvai maarum munnae
Nandri marandhaai
Vanjamattra thondarukkae
Vanjanai seidhaai
Vanjamattra thondarukkae
Vanjanai seidhaai
Avar pinju magan nenjinukkae
nanju koduthaai
Avar pinju maghan nenjinukkae
Nanju koduthaai
Peyarukku thagundhaar pol
Maari vidu
Engal pillaiyai marubadiyum vaazha vidu
Peyarukku thagundhaar pol
Maari vidu
Engal pillaiyai marubadiyum vaazha vidu
Nenjam maari vidu pillaiyai vaazha vidu
Nenjam maari vidu pillaiyai vaazha vidu
Nenjam maari vidu pillaiyai vaazha vidu
Nenjam maari vidu pillaiyai vaazha vidu
Nenjam maari vidu pillaiyai vaazha vidu
Nenjam maari vidu pillaiyai vaazha vidu
Nenjam maari vidu pillaiyai vaazha vidu
Sangamam androru muthamizh paadiya
Sankaran meedhinil aanai
Sanga pulavargal naavil adangiya
Senthamizh meedhinil aanai
Mangalam kungumam manjal nirandha
Sankari meedhinil aanai
Maadhoru baagan soodiya naaga paambae
Un mael aanai
Dhevan meedhil aanai
Avan thiruvadi meedhum aanai
Thirumarai meedhil aanai
En thirunaavin mel aanai
Pan mel aanai sol mel aanai
En mel aanai un mel aanai…
You who rest upon the Lord's head,
O good serpent...
You who rest upon the Lord's head,
O good serpent,
who gave you the name "good"?
Tell me, O serpent!
O good serpent resting on the Lord's head,
who gave you the name "good"?
Tell me, O serpent!
Is it the arrogance of resting on Lord Shiva's head?
Is it the arrogance of resting on Lord Shiva's head?
Or the boldness that comes from playing across His body?
Or the boldness that comes from playing across His body?
You who rest upon the Lord's head,
O good serpent,
who gave you the name "good"?
Tell me, O serpent!
Drinking the milk the villagers gave you,
you nurtured your life.
Before the taste of that milk could even fade,
you forgot all gratitude.
Drinking the milk the villagers gave you,
you nurtured your life.
Before the taste of that milk could even fade,
you forgot all gratitude.
To a devoted soul who knows no deceit,
you did such betrayal!
To a devoted soul who knows no deceit,
you did such betrayal!
Into the heart of his tender young child,
you struck with poison!
Into the heart of his tender young child,
you struck with poison!
Live up to your name,
and change your nature!
Let our child live again!
Live up to your name,
and change your nature!
Let our child live again!
Change your heart, let the child live!
Change your heart, let the child live!
Change your heart, let the child live!
Change your heart, let the child live!
Change your heart, let the child live!
Change your heart, let the child live!
Change your heart, let the child live!
By Lord Shankara, who once sang the three Tamil arts
at the ancient Sangam gathering, I swear!
By the refined Tamil that graced the tongues
of the Sangam poets, I swear!
By Goddess Shankari, adorned with
auspicious turmeric and kumkum, I swear!
O serpent worn by the Lord who shares half His body with His consort,
I swear upon you!
I swear upon the Lord!
I swear upon His sacred feet!
I swear upon the holy scriptures!
I swear upon my sacred tongue!
I swear upon the music, I swear upon the word!
I swear upon myself, I swear upon you...
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is a soul-stirring devotional appeal sung in the film 'Thiruvarutchelvar' during an episode portraying Thirunavukkarasar (Appar). In the legend, Appar cures the son of Appudhi Adigal after the young boy dies from a fatal snakebite. The song directly addresses the snake that bit the innocent child, questioning its arrogance, lack of gratitude, and cruelty despite being considered sacred on Lord Shiva's crown.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyming)

Vanjamattra thondarukkae / Vanjanai seidhaai

The repetition of the second consonant 'n' in consecutive lines creates internal musical rhythm ('Vanjamattra' / 'Vanjanai' / 'Nanju').

Adukkuthooradhu / Repetition (Anaphora)

Pan mel aanai sol mel aanai / En mel aanai un mel aanai…

The frantic repetition of 'aanai' (oath) and 'Nenjam maari vidu' emphasizes intense emotional pleading and divine command.

Irony / Rhetorical Question

Unakku nalla peyar vaithavar yaar / Sollu paambae

The poet addresses the snake as 'Nalla paambae' (Good Snake) while highlighting its treacherous action of biting an innocent child.

Did you know?

Trivia

This iconic song from the 1967 film 'Thiruvarutchelvar' features music composed by K. V. Mahadevan, with lyrics written by Kannadasan, portraying the devotional power of Saint Appar (played by Sivaji Ganesan).

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