Oru Pathu Maadham Uyir Kondu
From Mamiyar Mechiya Marumagal · 1959
- Lyricist
- Udumalai Narayanakavi
- Singer
- S. C. Krishnan
- Music director
- R. Sudharsanam
- Details
- Mamiyar Mechiya Marumagal1959
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Oru pathu maadham | For ten months, |
| Uyir kondu naadham | taking life, the sound |
| Uruvathai kondallavoo | took a physical form, didn't it? |
| Gyaana thangamae | Oh precious golden child of wisdom! |
| Sthoolam ondraachudhadi | It became a physical body, my dear. |
| Oru pathu maadham | For ten months, |
| Uyir kondu naadham | taking life, the sound |
| Uruvathai kondallavoo | took a physical form, didn't it? |
| Gyaana thangamae | Oh precious golden child of wisdom! |
| Sthoolam ondraachudhadi | It became a physical body, my dear. |
| Gyaana thangamae | Oh precious golden child of wisdom! |
| Sthoolam ondraachudhadi | It became a physical body, my dear. |
| Male | |
| Thavathukku oruvaradi | One person is needed for penance, my dear, |
| Thamizhukku iruvaradi | Two persons are needed for Tamil dialogue, my dear, |
| Thavathukku oruvaradi | One person is needed for penance, my dear, |
| Thamizhukku iruvaradi | Two persons are needed for Tamil dialogue, my dear, |
| Savathukku naalvaradi | Four persons are needed to carry a corpse, my dear, |
| Mani thangamae | Oh precious jewel! |
| Tharani valakamadi | This is the way of the world, my dear. |
| Gyaana thangamae | Oh precious golden child of wisdom! |
| Tharani valakamadi | This is the way of the world, my dear. |
| Male | |
| Vaadhi pulugan | The debater is a liar, |
| Vaithiyan maanthireegam | The doctor, the practitioner of occult, |
| Jodhidan enbavano | And the one called an astrologer, |
| Gyaana thangamae | Oh precious golden child of wisdom, |
| Sutha puluganadi | Are pure liars, my dear! |
| Male | |
| Poosaari poiyan | The temple priest is a liar, |
| Pulavanum poiyan | The poet is also a liar, |
| Poosaari poiyan | The temple priest is a liar, |
| Pulavanum poiyan | The poet is also a liar, |
| Aasaari enbavano | And the one called an artisan, |
| Gyaana thangame | Oh precious golden child of wisdom, |
| Adangatha poiyanadi | Is an incorrigible liar, my dear! |
| Gyaana thangame..ae | Oh precious golden child of wisdom... |
| Gyaana thangame..ae..ae | Oh precious golden child of wisdom... |
| Gyaana thangame | Oh precious golden child of wisdom, |
| Gyaana thangame | Oh precious golden child of wisdom, |
| Aasaari enbavano | The artisan, |
| Gyaana thangame | Oh precious golden child of wisdom, |
| Adangatha poiyanadi | Is an incorrigible liar, my dear! |
| Gyaana thangame | Oh precious golden child of wisdom, |
| Adangatha poiyanadi | Is an incorrigible liar, my dear! |
| Gyaana thangame.. | Oh precious golden child of wisdom... |
| Gyaana thangame | Oh precious golden child of wisdom, |
| Gyaana thangame | Oh precious golden child of wisdom. |
ஒரு பத்து மாதம்
உயிர் கொண்டு நாதம்
உருவத்தை கொண்டல்லவோ
ஞான தங்கமே
ஸ்தூலம் ஒன்றாச்சுதாடி
ஒரு பத்து மாதம்
உயிர் கொண்டு நாதம்
உருவத்தை கொண்டல்லவோ
ஞான தங்கமே
ஸ்தூலம் ஒன்றாச்சுதாடி
ஞான தங்கமே
ஸ்தூலம் ஒன்றாச்சுதாடி
For ten months,
taking life, the sound
took a physical form, didn't it?
Oh precious golden child of wisdom!
It became a physical body, my dear.
For ten months,
taking life, the sound
took a physical form, didn't it?
Oh precious golden child of wisdom!
It became a physical body, my dear.
Oh precious golden child of wisdom!
It became a physical body, my dear.
தவத்துக்கு ஒருவரடி
தமிழுக்கு இருவரடி
தவத்துக்கு ஒருவரடி
தமிழுக்கு இருவரடி
சவத்துக்கு நாள்வரடி
மணி தங்கமே
தரணி வழக்கமடி
ஞான தங்கமே
தரணி வழக்கமடி
One person is needed for penance, my dear,
Two persons are needed for Tamil dialogue, my dear,
One person is needed for penance, my dear,
Two persons are needed for Tamil dialogue, my dear,
Four persons are needed to carry a corpse, my dear,
Oh precious jewel!
This is the way of the world, my dear.
Oh precious golden child of wisdom!
This is the way of the world, my dear.
வாதி புளுகன்
வைத்தியன் மாந்திரிகம்
ஜோதிடன் என்பவனோ
ஞான தங்கமே
சுத்த புழுகனடி
The debater is a liar,
The doctor, the practitioner of occult,
And the one called an astrologer,
Oh precious golden child of wisdom,
Are pure liars, my dear!
பூசாரி பொய்யன்
புலவனும் பொய்யன்
பூசாரி பொய்யன்
புலவனும் பொய்யன்
ஆசாரி என்பவனோ
ஞான தங்கமே
அடங்காத பொய்யானடி
ஞான தங்கமே..ஏ
ஞான தங்கமே..ஏ..ஏ
The temple priest is a liar,
The poet is also a liar,
The temple priest is a liar,
The poet is also a liar,
And the one called an artisan,
Oh precious golden child of wisdom,
Is an incorrigible liar, my dear!
Oh precious golden child of wisdom...
Oh precious golden child of wisdom...
Oh precious golden child of wisdom,
Oh precious golden child of wisdom,
The artisan,
Oh precious golden child of wisdom,
Is an incorrigible liar, my dear!
Oh precious golden child of wisdom,
Is an incorrigible liar, my dear!
Oh precious golden child of wisdom...
Oh precious golden child of wisdom,
Oh precious golden child of wisdom.
ஞான தங்கமே
ஞான தங்கமே
ஆசாரி என்பவனோ
ஞான தங்கமே
அடங்காத பொய்யானடி
ஞான தங்கமே
அடங்காத பொய்யானடி
ஞான தங்கமே..
ஞான தங்கமே
ஞான தங்கமே
Oru pathu maadham
For ten months,
Uyir kondu naadham
taking life, the sound
Uruvathai kondallavoo
took a physical form, didn't it?
Gyaana thangamae
Oh precious golden child of wisdom!
Sthoolam ondraachudhadi
It became a physical body, my dear.
Oru pathu maadham
For ten months,
Uyir kondu naadham
taking life, the sound
Uruvathai kondallavoo
took a physical form, didn't it?
Gyaana thangamae
Oh precious golden child of wisdom!
Sthoolam ondraachudhadi
It became a physical body, my dear.
Gyaana thangamae
Oh precious golden child of wisdom!
Sthoolam ondraachudhadi
It became a physical body, my dear.
Thavathukku oruvaradi
One person is needed for penance, my dear,
Thamizhukku iruvaradi
Two persons are needed for Tamil dialogue, my dear,
Thavathukku oruvaradi
One person is needed for penance, my dear,
Thamizhukku iruvaradi
Two persons are needed for Tamil dialogue, my dear,
Savathukku naalvaradi
Four persons are needed to carry a corpse, my dear,
Mani thangamae
Oh precious jewel!
Tharani valakamadi
This is the way of the world, my dear.
Gyaana thangamae
Oh precious golden child of wisdom!
Tharani valakamadi
This is the way of the world, my dear.
Vaadhi pulugan
The debater is a liar,
Vaithiyan maanthireegam
The doctor, the practitioner of occult,
Jodhidan enbavano
And the one called an astrologer,
Gyaana thangamae
Oh precious golden child of wisdom,
Sutha puluganadi
Are pure liars, my dear!
Poosaari poiyan
The temple priest is a liar,
Pulavanum poiyan
The poet is also a liar,
Poosaari poiyan
The temple priest is a liar,
Pulavanum poiyan
The poet is also a liar,
Aasaari enbavano
And the one called an artisan,
Gyaana thangame
Oh precious golden child of wisdom,
Adangatha poiyanadi
Is an incorrigible liar, my dear!
Gyaana thangame..ae
Oh precious golden child of wisdom...
Gyaana thangame..ae..ae
Oh precious golden child of wisdom...
Gyaana thangame
Oh precious golden child of wisdom,
Gyaana thangame
Oh precious golden child of wisdom,
Aasaari enbavano
The artisan,
Gyaana thangame
Oh precious golden child of wisdom,
Adangatha poiyanadi
Is an incorrigible liar, my dear!
Gyaana thangame
Oh precious golden child of wisdom,
Adangatha poiyanadi
Is an incorrigible liar, my dear!
Gyaana thangame..
Oh precious golden child of wisdom...
Gyaana thangame
Oh precious golden child of wisdom,
Gyaana thangame
Oh precious golden child of wisdom.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This philosophical and satirical Tamil folk song, penned by the renowned Dravidian poet Udumalai Narayanakavi, offers a sharp commentary on human existence and social pretenses. Opening with reflections on human birth—how a soul takes physical form after ten months in the womb—it invokes traditional numerical aphorisms of Tamil culture (such as one person needed for penance, two for dialogue/debates, and four to carry a corpse). As the song progresses, it shifts into a humorous yet incisive critique of various trades and professions of the time. The singer critiques debaters, doctors, occultists, astrologers, priests, poets, and artisans, labeling them as deceivers or pretenders who exploit human credulity. Addressed to 'Gyaana Thangam' (a term of endearment meaning 'golden child of wisdom'), the song urges listeners to see through societal hypocrisies and seek true wisdom.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Thavathukku oruvaradi / Savathukku naalvaradi”
The second consonant 'va' (வ) rhymes between 'Thavathukku' (penance) and 'Savathukku' (corpse).
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Thavathukku oruvaradi / Thamizhukku iruvaradi / Savathukku naalvaradi”
Lines end with matching rhythmic suffixes ('-adi'), creating a catchy folk cadence.
Monai (Initial Letter Alliteration)
“Poosaari poiyan / Pulavanum poiyan”
Initial consonant sound 'P' repeats at the start of 'Poosaari' and 'Pulavanum'.
Refrain / Addressing Form (Gnaana Thangam Song Genre)
“Gyaana thangamae”
The repeated address 'Gyaana Thangamae' follows the traditional Siddhar folk song style where spiritual advice is delivered to a persona named Gnaana Thangam.
Did you know?
Trivia
This song from 'Mamiyar Mechiya Marumagal' (1959) is written in the classic 'Gnaana Thangam Pattu' folk genre, traditionally used by Tamil Siddhars to impart philosophical truths. Udumalai Narayanakavi, known as 'Kavirayar', adapted this traditional form to infuse Dravidian rationalist ideology and expose social charlatans. Sang by S. C. Krishnan, whose voice was iconic for satirical and comedic folk numbers in 1950s Tamil cinema, the song remains a classic example of social reform lyrics in film music.
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