Nirpathuve Nadapathuve
From Bharathi · 2000
- Lyricist
- Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyaar
- Singer
- Harish Raghavendra
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Bharathi2000
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Nirpathuvae… nadapathuvae… parapathuvae | Oh things that stand, things that walk, things that fly! |
| Nirpathuvae nadapathuvae parapathuvae | Oh things that stand, things that walk, things that fly! |
| Nirpathuvae nadapathuvae parapathuvae | Oh things that stand, things that walk, things that fly! |
| Neengalellam soppanam thaano | Are you all merely a dream? |
| Pala thotra mayakangalo | Are you illusions of various forms? |
| Soppanam thaano | Are you merely a dream? |
| Pala thotra mayakangalo | Are you illusions of various forms? |
| Male | |
| Karpadhuvae ketpadhuvae karudhuvadhae | Oh things that are learned, heard, and thought of! |
| Neengalellam arpa maayaigalo | Are you all trivial illusions? |
| Ummul aalndha porul illaiyo | Is there no deep truth within you? |
| Arpa maayaigalo | Trivial illusions? |
| Ummul aalndha porul illaiyo | Is there no deep truth within you? |
| Male | |
| Vaanagamae…ilaveyilae…maracharivae | Oh sky, gentle sunlight, and mountain slopes! |
| Vaanagamae ilaveyilae maracharivae | Oh sky, gentle sunlight, and mountain slopes! |
| Neengalellam kaanalin neero | Are you all just a mirage? |
| Verum kaatchi pizhai thaano | Are you merely an optical illusion? |
| Male | |
| Vaanagamae ilaveyilae maracharivae | Oh sky, gentle sunlight, and mountain slopes! |
| Neengalellam kaanalin neero | Are you all just a mirage? |
| Verum kaatchi pizhai thaano | Are you merely an optical illusion? |
| Male | |
| Ponathellam kanavinaipol | Since all that has passed away, like a dream, |
| Puthainthazhinthae ponathanaal | Has gone away, buried and destroyed, |
| Naanum orr kanavo | Am I too just a dream? |
| Intha gnalamum poi thaano | Is this world false as well? |
| Male | |
| Nirpathuvae nadapathuvae parapathuvae | Oh things that stand, things that walk, things that fly! |
| Nirpathuvae nadapathuvae parapathuvae | Oh things that stand, things that walk, things that fly! |
| Neengalellam soppanam thaano | Are you all merely a dream? |
| Pala thotra mayakangalo | Are you illusions of various forms? |
| Soppanam thaano | Are you merely a dream? |
| Pala thotra mayakangalo | Are you illusions of various forms? |
| Male | |
| {Kaalam endrae oru ninaivum | The single thought called time, |
| Kaatchi endrae pala ninaivum | The many thoughts called sight, |
| Kolamum poigalo | Are these forms and patterns false? |
| Anghu gungalum poigalo} (2) | Are the qualities there false too? |
| Male | |
| Kaanbadhellam maraiyum endraal | If all that is seen disappears, |
| Maraindhadhellam kaanbomandro | Won't we see all that has disappeared? |
| Naanum orr kanavo | Am I too just a dream? |
| Intha gnalamum poi thaano | Is this world false as well? |
| Male | |
| Nirpathuvae nadapathuvae parapathuvae | Oh things that stand, things that walk, things that fly! |
| Nirpathuvae nadapathuvae parapathuvae | Oh things that stand, things that walk, things that fly! |
| Neengalellam soppanam thaano | Are you all merely a dream? |
| Pala thotra mayakangalo | Are you illusions of various forms? |
| Soppanam thaano | Are you merely a dream? |
| Pala thotra mayakangalo | Are you illusions of various forms? |
| Male | |
| Karpadhuvae ketpadhuvae karudhuvadhae | Oh things that are learned, heard, and thought of! |
| Neengalellam arpa maayaigalo | Are you all trivial illusions? |
| Ummul aalndha porul illaiyo | Is there no deep truth within you? |
| Arpa maayaigalo | Trivial illusions? |
| Ummul aalndha porul illaiyo | Is there no deep truth within you? |
நிற்பதுவே நடப்பதுவே
பறப்பதுவே நிற்பதுவே
நடப்பதுவே பறப்பதுவே
நிற்பதுவே நடப்பதுவே
பறப்பதுவே நீங்களெல்லாம்
சொப்பனம் தானோ பல
தோற்ற மயக்கங்களோ
சொப்பனம் தானோ பல
தோற்ற மயக்கங்களோ
Oh things that stand, things that walk, things that fly!
Oh things that stand, things that walk, things that fly!
Oh things that stand, things that walk, things that fly!
Are you all merely a dream?
Are you illusions of various forms?
Are you merely a dream?
Are you illusions of various forms?
கற்பதுவே கேட்பதுவே
கருதுவதே நீங்களெல்லாம்
அற்ப மாயைகளோ உம்முள்
ஆழ்ந்த பொருளில்லையோ
அற்ப மாயைகளோ உம்முள்
ஆழ்ந்த பொருளில்லையோ
Oh things that are learned, heard, and thought of!
Are you all trivial illusions?
Is there no deep truth within you?
Trivial illusions?
Is there no deep truth within you?
வானகமே இளவெயிலே
மரச்சாிவே வானகமே இளவெயிலே
மரச்சாிவே நீங்களெல்லாம் கானலின்
நீரோ வெறும் காட்சிப் பிழைதானோ
Oh sky, gentle sunlight, and mountain slopes!
Oh sky, gentle sunlight, and mountain slopes!
Are you all just a mirage?
Are you merely an optical illusion?
வானகமே இளவெயிலே
மரச்சாிவே நீங்களெல்லாம்
கானலின் நீரோ வெறும்
காட்சிப் பிழைதானோ
Oh sky, gentle sunlight, and mountain slopes!
Are you all just a mirage?
Are you merely an optical illusion?
போனதெல்லாம்
கனவினைப்போல் புதைந்தழிந்தே
போனதனால் நானும் ஓர் கனவோ
இந்த ஞாலமும் பொய்தானோ
Since all that has passed away, like a dream,
Has gone away, buried and destroyed,
Am I too just a dream?
Is this world false as well?
நிற்பதுவே நடப்பதுவே
பறப்பதுவே நிற்பதுவே
நடப்பதுவே பறப்பதுவே
நீங்களெல்லாம் சொப்பனம்
தானோ பல தோற்ற
மயக்கங்களோ சொப்பனம்
தானோ பல தோற்ற மயக்கங்களோ
Oh things that stand, things that walk, things that fly!
Oh things that stand, things that walk, things that fly!
Are you all merely a dream?
Are you illusions of various forms?
Are you merely a dream?
Are you illusions of various forms?
{ காலமென்றே ஒரு
நினைவும் காட்சியென்றே
பல நினைவும் கோலமும்
பொய்களோ அங்குக்
குணங்களும் பொய்களோ } (2)
The single thought called time,
The many thoughts called sight,
Are these forms and patterns false?
Are the qualities there false too?
காண்பதெல்லாம்
மறையுமென்றால்
மறைந்ததெல்லாம்
காண்போமன்றோ
நானும் ஓர் கனவோ
இந்த ஞாலமும்
பொய்தானோ
If all that is seen disappears,
Won't we see all that has disappeared?
Am I too just a dream?
Is this world false as well?
நிற்பதுவே நடப்பதுவே
பறப்பதுவே நிற்பதுவே
நடப்பதுவே பறப்பதுவே
நீங்களெல்லாம் சொப்பனம்
தானோ பல தோற்ற
மயக்கங்களோ சொப்பனம்
தானோ பல தோற்ற
மயக்கங்களோ
Oh things that stand, things that walk, things that fly!
Oh things that stand, things that walk, things that fly!
Are you all merely a dream?
Are you illusions of various forms?
Are you merely a dream?
Are you illusions of various forms?
கற்பதுவே கேட்பதுவே
கருதுவதே நீங்களெல்லாம்
அற்ப மாயைகளோ உம்முள்
ஆழ்ந்த பொருளில்லையோ
அற்ப மாயைகளோ உம்முள்
ஆழ்ந்த பொருளில்லையோ
Oh things that are learned, heard, and thought of!
Are you all trivial illusions?
Is there no deep truth within you?
Trivial illusions?
Is there no deep truth within you?
Nirpathuvae… nadapathuvae… parapathuvae
Oh things that stand, things that walk, things that fly!
Nirpathuvae nadapathuvae parapathuvae
Oh things that stand, things that walk, things that fly!
Nirpathuvae nadapathuvae parapathuvae
Oh things that stand, things that walk, things that fly!
Neengalellam soppanam thaano
Are you all merely a dream?
Pala thotra mayakangalo
Are you illusions of various forms?
Soppanam thaano
Are you merely a dream?
Pala thotra mayakangalo
Are you illusions of various forms?
Karpadhuvae ketpadhuvae karudhuvadhae
Oh things that are learned, heard, and thought of!
Neengalellam arpa maayaigalo
Are you all trivial illusions?
Ummul aalndha porul illaiyo
Is there no deep truth within you?
Arpa maayaigalo
Trivial illusions?
Ummul aalndha porul illaiyo
Is there no deep truth within you?
Vaanagamae…ilaveyilae…maracharivae
Oh sky, gentle sunlight, and mountain slopes!
Vaanagamae ilaveyilae maracharivae
Oh sky, gentle sunlight, and mountain slopes!
Neengalellam kaanalin neero
Are you all just a mirage?
Verum kaatchi pizhai thaano
Are you merely an optical illusion?
Vaanagamae ilaveyilae maracharivae
Oh sky, gentle sunlight, and mountain slopes!
Neengalellam kaanalin neero
Are you all just a mirage?
Verum kaatchi pizhai thaano
Are you merely an optical illusion?
Ponathellam kanavinaipol
Since all that has passed away, like a dream,
Puthainthazhinthae ponathanaal
Has gone away, buried and destroyed,
Naanum orr kanavo
Am I too just a dream?
Intha gnalamum poi thaano
Is this world false as well?
Nirpathuvae nadapathuvae parapathuvae
Oh things that stand, things that walk, things that fly!
Nirpathuvae nadapathuvae parapathuvae
Oh things that stand, things that walk, things that fly!
Neengalellam soppanam thaano
Are you all merely a dream?
Pala thotra mayakangalo
Are you illusions of various forms?
Soppanam thaano
Are you merely a dream?
Pala thotra mayakangalo
Are you illusions of various forms?
{Kaalam endrae oru ninaivum
The single thought called time,
Kaatchi endrae pala ninaivum
The many thoughts called sight,
Kolamum poigalo
Are these forms and patterns false?
Anghu gungalum poigalo} (2)
Are the qualities there false too?
Kaanbadhellam maraiyum endraal
If all that is seen disappears,
Maraindhadhellam kaanbomandro
Won't we see all that has disappeared?
Naanum orr kanavo
Am I too just a dream?
Intha gnalamum poi thaano
Is this world false as well?
Nirpathuvae nadapathuvae parapathuvae
Oh things that stand, things that walk, things that fly!
Nirpathuvae nadapathuvae parapathuvae
Oh things that stand, things that walk, things that fly!
Neengalellam soppanam thaano
Are you all merely a dream?
Pala thotra mayakangalo
Are you illusions of various forms?
Soppanam thaano
Are you merely a dream?
Pala thotra mayakangalo
Are you illusions of various forms?
Karpadhuvae ketpadhuvae karudhuvadhae
Oh things that are learned, heard, and thought of!
Neengalellam arpa maayaigalo
Are you all trivial illusions?
Ummul aalndha porul illaiyo
Is there no deep truth within you?
Arpa maayaigalo
Trivial illusions?
Ummul aalndha porul illaiyo
Is there no deep truth within you?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This profound poem by Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyaar delves into the core tenets of Advaita Vedanta philosophy, questioning the ultimate reality of the sensory world. Bharathiyaar contemplates whether the physical elements of nature—trees, creatures that walk or fly, the sky, sunlight, and even human thoughts and perceptions—are nothing more than transience, dreams, or optical illusions (Maya).
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Nirpathuvae / Karpadhuvae”
The second consonant 'r' (ற) is repeated in corresponding lines, creating harmony.
Monai (Alliteration / First Letter Rhyme)
“Nirpathuvae nadapathuvae parapathuvae”
Alliteration of the initial consonant sounds ('N' in Nirpathuvae/nadapathuvae) enhances rhythmic flow.
Vinaa Ani (Rhetorical Questioning)
“Neengalellam soppanam thaano”
The poet repeatedly uses rhetorical questions ('Is it a dream?', 'Is it an illusion?') to induce philosophical reflection on existence.
Did you know?
Trivia
This poem is one of Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyaar's most famous philosophical works on Advaita philosophy. In the biographical movie 'Bharathi' (2000), directed by Gnana Rajasekaran, this iconic poem was set to music by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja and sung by legendary vocalist K. J. Yesudas. Ilaiyaraaja won the National Film Award for Best Music Direction for his work on this film.
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