Paadupattu Panathai
From Pudhu Vazhvu · 1957
- Lyricist
- Saravanabavanandha
- Music director
- G. Ramanathan
- Details
- Pudhu Vazhvu1957
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Paadu pattu panathai ezhai kannmidaamal | Working hard without even blinking an eye, O poor soul, |
| Thedi veithu povadhenoo gnyaana thangamae | Why do you hoard wealth only to leave it behind when you die, my golden wise one? |
| Thedi veithu povadhenoo gnyaana thangamae | Why do you hoard wealth only to leave it behind when you die, my golden wise one? |
| Male | |
| Paadu pattu panathai ezhai kannmidaamal | Working hard without even blinking an eye, O poor soul, |
| Thedi veithu povadhenoo gnyaana thangamae | Why do you hoard wealth only to leave it behind when you die, my golden wise one? |
| Thedi veithu povadhenoo gnyaana thangamae | Why do you hoard wealth only to leave it behind when you die, my golden wise one? |
| Male | |
| Dhegam sadhamillaiyae gnyaana thangamae | This physical body is not permanent, my golden wise one. |
| Dhegam sadhamillaiyae | This physical body is not permanent. |
| Male | |
| Aaduvadhum paaduvadhum aaladimai seigirathum | Dancing, singing, and serving others like a slave, |
| Ooduvadhum theduvadhum gyaana thangamae | Running around and searching ceaselessly, my golden wise one, |
| Aaduvadhum paaduvadhum aaladimai seigirathum | Dancing, singing, and serving others like a slave, |
| Ooduvadhum theduvadhum gyaana thangamae | Running around and searching ceaselessly, my golden wise one, |
| Male | |
| Oru jaan vayittrukadi gyaana thangamae | Is all ultimately just for a one-span stomach, my golden wise one! |
| Male | |
| Meigyaana thangamidhu melaama thangamidhu | True spiritual wisdom is real gold, this is the supreme gold, |
| Aggyaana thangamellaam anithiya thangamadi | All ignorant worldly treasure is impermanent, my dear, |
| Meigyaana thangam idhu melaana thangam idhu | True wisdom is real gold, this is the supreme gold, |
| Aggyaana thangamellaam gyaana thangamae | All ignorant worldly treasures are merely trivial, my golden wise one, |
| Anithiya thangamadi meigyaana thangamae | Worldly treasure is transient, true spiritual wisdom is the real gold, |
| Anithiya thangamadi meigyaana thangamae | Worldly treasure is transient, true spiritual wisdom is the real gold. |
பாடுபட்டு பணத்தை ஏழைக் கன்னமிடாமல்
தேடி வைத்துப் போவதேனோ ஞானத் தங்கமே
தேடி வைத்துப் போவதேனோ ஞானத் தங்கமே
Working hard without even blinking an eye, O poor soul,
Why do you hoard wealth only to leave it behind when you die, my golden wise one?
Why do you hoard wealth only to leave it behind when you die, my golden wise one?
பாடுபட்டு பணத்தை ஏழைக் கன்னமிடாமல்
தேடி வைத்துப் போவதேனோ ஞானத் தங்கமே
தேடி வைத்துப் போவதேனோ ஞானத் தங்கமே
Working hard without even blinking an eye, O poor soul,
Why do you hoard wealth only to leave it behind when you die, my golden wise one?
Why do you hoard wealth only to leave it behind when you die, my golden wise one?
தேகம் சதமில்லையே ஞானத் தங்கமே
தேகம் சதமில்லையே
This physical body is not permanent, my golden wise one.
This physical body is not permanent.
ஆடுவதும் பாடுவதும் ஆளடிமை செய்கிறதும்
ஓடுவதும் தேடுவதும் ஞானத் தங்கமே
ஆடுவதும் பாடுவதும் ஆளடிமை செய்கிறதும்
ஓடுவதும் தேடுவதும் ஞானத் தங்கமே
Dancing, singing, and serving others like a slave,
Running around and searching ceaselessly, my golden wise one,
Dancing, singing, and serving others like a slave,
Running around and searching ceaselessly, my golden wise one,
ஒரு ஜாண் வயிற்றுக்கடி ஞானத் தங்கமே
Is all ultimately just for a one-span stomach, my golden wise one!
மெஞ்ஞானத் தங்கமிது மேலான தங்கமிது
அஞ்ஞானத் தங்கமெல்லாம் அனித்தியத் தங்கமடி
மெஞ்ஞானத் தங்கமிது மேலான தங்கமிது
அஞ்ஞானத் தங்கமெல்லாம் ஞானத் தங்கமே
அனித்தியத் தங்கமடி ஞானத் தங்கமே
அனித்தியத் தங்கமடி ஞானத் தங்கமே
True spiritual wisdom is real gold, this is the supreme gold,
All ignorant worldly treasure is impermanent, my dear,
True wisdom is real gold, this is the supreme gold,
All ignorant worldly treasures are merely trivial, my golden wise one,
Worldly treasure is transient, true spiritual wisdom is the real gold,
Worldly treasure is transient, true spiritual wisdom is the real gold.
Paadu pattu panathai ezhai kannmidaamal
Working hard without even blinking an eye, O poor soul,
Thedi veithu povadhenoo gnyaana thangamae
Why do you hoard wealth only to leave it behind when you die, my golden wise one?
Thedi veithu povadhenoo gnyaana thangamae
Why do you hoard wealth only to leave it behind when you die, my golden wise one?
Paadu pattu panathai ezhai kannmidaamal
Working hard without even blinking an eye, O poor soul,
Thedi veithu povadhenoo gnyaana thangamae
Why do you hoard wealth only to leave it behind when you die, my golden wise one?
Thedi veithu povadhenoo gnyaana thangamae
Why do you hoard wealth only to leave it behind when you die, my golden wise one?
Dhegam sadhamillaiyae gnyaana thangamae
This physical body is not permanent, my golden wise one.
Dhegam sadhamillaiyae
This physical body is not permanent.
Aaduvadhum paaduvadhum aaladimai seigirathum
Dancing, singing, and serving others like a slave,
Ooduvadhum theduvadhum gyaana thangamae
Running around and searching ceaselessly, my golden wise one,
Aaduvadhum paaduvadhum aaladimai seigirathum
Dancing, singing, and serving others like a slave,
Ooduvadhum theduvadhum gyaana thangamae
Running around and searching ceaselessly, my golden wise one,
Oru jaan vayittrukadi gyaana thangamae
Is all ultimately just for a one-span stomach, my golden wise one!
Meigyaana thangamidhu melaama thangamidhu
True spiritual wisdom is real gold, this is the supreme gold,
Aggyaana thangamellaam anithiya thangamadi
All ignorant worldly treasure is impermanent, my dear,
Meigyaana thangam idhu melaana thangam idhu
True wisdom is real gold, this is the supreme gold,
Aggyaana thangamellaam gyaana thangamae
All ignorant worldly treasures are merely trivial, my golden wise one,
Anithiya thangamadi meigyaana thangamae
Worldly treasure is transient, true spiritual wisdom is the real gold,
Anithiya thangamadi meigyaana thangamae
Worldly treasure is transient, true spiritual wisdom is the real gold.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Paadu Pattu Panathai is a philosophical, Siddhar-style song sung by the legendary Carnatic singer and actor M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar in the film Pudhu Vazhvu (1957). Addressing a metaphorical golden wise soul (Gnyaana Thangam), the song questions the futile human drive to tirelessly accumulate material wealth, reminding the listener that the mortal body itself is impermanent and wealth cannot be taken past death. The song vividly portrays how human beings spend their lives singing, dancing, working as slaves, and running endlessly, all merely to satisfy the hunger of a small one-span stomach. It contrasts worldly treasures born of ignorance with the true, eternal wealth of spiritual enlightenment (Meignyaanam).
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor and Refrain (Adukyi / Refrain)
“Thedi veithu povadhenoo gnyaana thangamae”
The phrase 'Gnyaana Thangamae' (Golden Wise Soul) is repeated throughout as a term of endearment and spiritual address, serving as a guiding refrain typical of Tamil mystic poetry.
Iyaiybu (Internal Rhyming / Rhythm)
“Aaduvadhum paaduvadhum aaladimai seigirathum / Ooduvadhum theduvadhum gyaana thangamae”
The repetition of 'vadhum' suffixes (Aaduvadhum, paaduvadhum, Ooduvadhum, theduvadhum) creates a rhythmic flow reflecting the constant, mechanical bustle of human life.
Antithesis (Meignyaanam vs. Aggyaanam)
“Meigyaana thangamidhu melaama thangamidhu / Aggyaana thangamellaam anithiya thangamadi”
Contrasts true spiritual wisdom (Meignyaanam) with worldly ignorance (Aggyaanam) to emphasize that material possessions are transient while spiritual realization is supreme.
Did you know?
Trivia
This song is composed in the tradition of Tamil Siddhar Padalgal (philosophical folk songs of Tamil mystics), which frequently use intimate refrains like 'Gnyaana Thangame' or 'Kudambai' to deliver sharp Advaitic critiques of materialism. It marks one of the notable late-career performances of M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar (MKT), Tamil cinema's first grand superstar.
Keep listening
More from Pudhu Vazhvu
Pudhu Vazhvu
Pudhu Vazhvu
Pudhu Vazhvu
Pudhu Vazhvu
Pudhu Vazhvu
Pudhu Vazhvu