Oradi Kadavulukkaga
From Lalitha · 1976
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- K. Veeramani
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Lalitha1976
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Mannil nalla vannam vaazhalaam vaigalum | We can live a good life on this earth every day |
| Ennil nalla kathikku yaathumor kuraivillai | There is no lack for attaining a good spiritual destination |
| Kannil nallaathoorum kazhumala valanagar | In Kazhumalam, a prosperous town where beauty greets the eyes |
| Pennin nallaalodum perunthagai irunthathae | The Almighty resided along with the best of women |
| Chorus | |
| Oradi kadavulukaaga oradi kanavarkkaaga | One step for God, one step for the husband |
| Seeradi moondraam paadham saernththor kulaththai kaakka | The glorious third step to protect the lineage of those who join |
| Naaladi achcham naanam madam enum nalaththai kaakka | The fourth step to protect the virtues of modesty, fear, and innocence |
| Ainthadi pulangal ainthai adakkiyae vaazhvai kaakka | The fifth step to control all five senses and safeguard life |
| Aaradi suvaigal aarum kanavarkkae anbil ootta | The sixth step to lovingly feed the six tastes to the husband |
| Yazhadi ulagam yezhum kanavanodu inainthu vaazha | The seventh step to live united with the husband across all seven worlds |
| Chorus | |
| Sapthpathi saththiyam dharmakula thaththuvam | This is the truth of Saptapadi, the philosophy of a righteous family |
| Sapthpathi saththiyam dharmakula thaththuvam | This is the truth of Saptapadi, the philosophy of a righteous family |
| Saththiyam thaththuvam……saththiyam thaththuvam | Truth and philosophy... truth and philosophy |
| Chorus | |
| Sakthi oru paathiyaai sivamum oru paathiyaai | With Sakthi as one half and Shiva as the other half |
| Dharmaththil inainthu vaazhvom | Let us live united in righteousness |
| Thaaimai enum kolamaai thanthai enum paalamaai | Adopting the form of motherhood and acting as the bridge of fatherhood |
| Thaththuva perumai kaanbom | Let us witness the glory of this philosophy |
| Chorus | |
| Bakthivazhi nermaiyaai panbuvazhi menmaiyaai | With honesty on the path of devotion and excellence on the path of virtue |
| Vaazhalaam vananga vaazhvom | Let us live, and live a life worthy of reverence |
| Palliyarai kolvathil paramanadi saervathil | Whether sharing the bedchamber or attaining the Supreme Feet |
| Pakkaththil pangu kolvom | We shall participate side by side |
| Chorus | |
| Paathaathi kesamum seeraana naayagan panikkendru | Dedicated entirely from head to toe to serving the ideal husband |
| Thunaivi vaazhga | Long live the companion wife! |
| Varuvathoru thuyareninum varuvathoru sugameninum | Whether incoming times bring sorrow or happiness |
| Paathiyaai thunaivan vaazhga | Long live the husband who shares it equally as a partner! |
| Chorus | |
| Thaai veedu vittappin than veedu | After leaving her mother's home, treating her husband's home |
| Thaai veedu endrenniyae thalaivu vaazhga | As her own mother's home, long live the wife! |
| Naatkaalai yogamithu kadhikaalaiyaagamena | This morning union, like the sacred dawn fire ritual |
| Samsaaram inithu vaazhga | May domestic family life flourish sweetly! |
மண்ணில் நல்ல வண்ணம் வாழலாம் வைகலும்
எண்ணில் நல்ல கதிக்கு யாதுமோர் குறைவில்லை
கண்ணில் நல்லஃதுறும் கழுமல வளநகர்ப்
பெண்ணின் நல்லாளொடும் பெருந்தகை இருந்ததே.
We can live a good life on this earth every day
There is no lack for attaining a good spiritual destination
In Kazhumalam, a prosperous town where beauty greets the eyes
The Almighty resided along with the best of women
ஓரடி கடவுளுக்காக ஓரடி கணவர்க்காக
சீரடி மூன்றாம் பாதம் சேர்ந்ததோர் குலத்தைக் காக்க
நாலடி அச்சம் நாணம் மடம் எனும் நலத்தை காக்க
ஐந்தடி புலன்கள் ஐந்தை அடக்கியே வாழ்வை காக்க
ஆறடி சுவைகள் ஆறும் கணவர்க்கே அன்பில் ஊட்ட
ஏழடி உலகம் ஏழும் கணவனோடு இணைந்து வாழ
One step for God, one step for the husband
The glorious third step to protect the lineage of those who join
The fourth step to protect the virtues of modesty, fear, and innocence
The fifth step to control all five senses and safeguard life
The sixth step to lovingly feed the six tastes to the husband
The seventh step to live united with the husband across all seven worlds
சப்தபதி சத்தியம் தர்மகுல தத்துவம்
சப்தபதி சத்தியம் தர்மகுல தத்துவம்
சத்தியம்.......தத்துவம்........ சத்தியம்.........தத்துவம்..........
This is the truth of Saptapadi, the philosophy of a righteous family
This is the truth of Saptapadi, the philosophy of a righteous family
Truth and philosophy... truth and philosophy
சக்தி ஒரு பாதியாய் சிவமும் ஒரு பாதியாய்
தர்மத்தில் இணைந்து வாழ்வோம்
தாய்மை எனும் கோலமாய் தந்தை எனும் பாலமாய்
தத்துவ பெருமை காண்போம்
With Sakthi as one half and Shiva as the other half
Let us live united in righteousness
Adopting the form of motherhood and acting as the bridge of fatherhood
Let us witness the glory of this philosophy
பக்திவழி நேர்மையாய் பண்புவழி மேன்மையாய்
வாழலாம் வணங்க வாழ்வோம்
பள்ளியறை கொள்வதில் பரமனடி சேர்வதில்
பக்கத்தில் பங்கு கொள்வோம்
With honesty on the path of devotion and excellence on the path of virtue
Let us live, and live a life worthy of reverence
Whether sharing the bedchamber or attaining the Supreme Feet
We shall participate side by side
பாதாதி கேசமும் சீரான நாயகன் பணிக்கென்று
துணைவி வாழ்க
வருவதொரு துயரெனினும் வருவதொரு சுகமெனினும்
பாதியாய் துணைவன் வாழ்க
Dedicated entirely from head to toe to serving the ideal husband
Long live the companion wife!
Whether incoming times bring sorrow or happiness
Long live the husband who shares it equally as a partner!
தாய் வீடு விட்டப்பின் தன் வீடு
தாய் வீடு என்றெண்ணியே தலைவி வாழ்க
நாட்காலை யோகமிது கதிகாலையாகமென
சம்சாரம் இனிது வாழ்க
After leaving her mother's home, treating her husband's home
As her own mother's home, long live the wife!
This morning union, like the sacred dawn fire ritual
May domestic family life flourish sweetly!
Mannil nalla vannam vaazhalaam vaigalum
We can live a good life on this earth every day
Ennil nalla kathikku yaathumor kuraivillai
There is no lack for attaining a good spiritual destination
Kannil nallaathoorum kazhumala valanagar
In Kazhumalam, a prosperous town where beauty greets the eyes
Pennin nallaalodum perunthagai irunthathae
The Almighty resided along with the best of women
Oradi kadavulukaaga oradi kanavarkkaaga
One step for God, one step for the husband
Seeradi moondraam paadham saernththor kulaththai kaakka
The glorious third step to protect the lineage of those who join
Naaladi achcham naanam madam enum nalaththai kaakka
The fourth step to protect the virtues of modesty, fear, and innocence
Ainthadi pulangal ainthai adakkiyae vaazhvai kaakka
The fifth step to control all five senses and safeguard life
Aaradi suvaigal aarum kanavarkkae anbil ootta
The sixth step to lovingly feed the six tastes to the husband
Yazhadi ulagam yezhum kanavanodu inainthu vaazha
The seventh step to live united with the husband across all seven worlds
Sapthpathi saththiyam dharmakula thaththuvam
This is the truth of Saptapadi, the philosophy of a righteous family
Sapthpathi saththiyam dharmakula thaththuvam
This is the truth of Saptapadi, the philosophy of a righteous family
Saththiyam thaththuvam……saththiyam thaththuvam
Truth and philosophy... truth and philosophy
Sakthi oru paathiyaai sivamum oru paathiyaai
With Sakthi as one half and Shiva as the other half
Dharmaththil inainthu vaazhvom
Let us live united in righteousness
Thaaimai enum kolamaai thanthai enum paalamaai
Adopting the form of motherhood and acting as the bridge of fatherhood
Thaththuva perumai kaanbom
Let us witness the glory of this philosophy
Bakthivazhi nermaiyaai panbuvazhi menmaiyaai
With honesty on the path of devotion and excellence on the path of virtue
Vaazhalaam vananga vaazhvom
Let us live, and live a life worthy of reverence
Palliyarai kolvathil paramanadi saervathil
Whether sharing the bedchamber or attaining the Supreme Feet
Pakkaththil pangu kolvom
We shall participate side by side
Paathaathi kesamum seeraana naayagan panikkendru
Dedicated entirely from head to toe to serving the ideal husband
Thunaivi vaazhga
Long live the companion wife!
Varuvathoru thuyareninum varuvathoru sugameninum
Whether incoming times bring sorrow or happiness
Paathiyaai thunaivan vaazhga
Long live the husband who shares it equally as a partner!
Thaai veedu vittappin than veedu
After leaving her mother's home, treating her husband's home
Thaai veedu endrenniyae thalaivu vaazhga
As her own mother's home, long live the wife!
Naatkaalai yogamithu kadhikaalaiyaagamena
This morning union, like the sacred dawn fire ritual
Samsaaram inithu vaazhga
May domestic family life flourish sweetly!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song celebrates the sacred bond of matrimony by explaining the spiritual and philosophical significance of the seven steps (Saptapadi) taken during traditional Hindu wedding rituals. The opening lines draw from Saint Thirugnanasambandar's classic Tevaram hymn, establishing that a righteous earthly family life is a valid and noble pathway to spiritual liberation. Each step is systematically detailed, connecting marriage to devotion, duty, family protection, control of senses, loving care, and eternal togetherness across lifetimes. Furthermore, the song highlights the equal partnership between husband and wife by comparing their bond to Ardhanarishvara (Shiva and Sakthi as half and half). Lyricist Kannadasan eloquently weaves together marital duties, mutual respect, shared joy and sorrow, and lifelong devotion, turning a ritualistic marriage song into a timeless anthem on domestic bliss and family values.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Literary Allusion
“Mannil nalla vannam vaazhalaam vaigalum...”
The opening lines are directly quoted/adapted from Saint Thirugnanasambandar's 7th-century Tevaram verse, linking ancient Saivite devotional literature with modern cinematic poetry.
Enumeration / Anaphora
“Oradi... Seeradi moondraam... Naaladi... Ainthadi... Aaradi... Yazhadi...”
Sequential numbering of steps (1 through 7) at the beginning of consecutive lines creates a structured, rhythmic cadence representing Saptapadi.
Metaphor
“Sakthi oru paathiyaai sivamum oru paathiyaai”
Compares the married couple to Ardhanarishvara (half Shiva and half Sakthi), symbolizing ultimate unity, harmony, and gender equality in marriage.
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Mannil nalla vannam vaazhalaam vaigalum”
Repetition of 'va' sounds ('vannam', 'vaazhalaam', 'vaigalum') enhances the musicality and flow of the opening line.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Mannil Nalla Vannam' opens with the iconic devotional Tevaram hymn composed by 7th-century Saivite saint Thirugnanasambandar. Rendered by K. Veeramani—a celebrated singer renowned primarily for his iconic devotional albums dedicated to Lord Ayyappan and Goddess Mariamman—this song is a rare cinematic masterpiece set to music by M. S. Viswanathan with deeply philosophical lyrics by Kannadasan for the 1976 movie 'Lalitha'.
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