Panchali Katharukiral
From Sigaram · 1991
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- M. Balamuralikrishna
- Music director
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Details
- Sigaram1991
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kaal irandil | With her two legs |
| Maanaththai moodikkondu | Trying to cover her dignity |
| Kai irandil maarbodu | With her two hands across her chest |
| Kavasam kondu | Formed like armor |
| Thannai thaan kaaththu vida | Trying to protect herself |
| Thaviththu kondu | Struggling in deep distress |
| Than kaiyaal thanmaanam | Her own self-respect with her own hands |
| Kaathukkondu | Trying to safeguard |
| Male | |
| Paanchaali kadharugiraal | Panchali cries out in despair |
| Parandhaaman varavillai | Lord Krishna (Parandhaman) has not arrived yet |
| Male | |
| {Than maarbhil irundha karam | The hand that was on her chest |
| Eduththu vittaal | She removed it |
| Thalaikku mel than kaiyai | Her hands above her head |
| Kuviththuvittaal} (2) | She folded together in surrender |
| Male | |
| Yen kaiyil yedhum illai | The hand that was on her chest |
| Endru sonnaal | She removed it |
| Yen kaiyil yedhum illai | Her hands above her head |
| Endru sonnaal | She folded together in surrender |
| Kaatchchi thandhu kannan avan | There is nothing in my control/hands |
| Kaakka vandhaan | When she declared |
| Male | |
| Thaan yendra aathmaavil | There is nothing in my control/hands |
| Inbam illai | When she declared |
| Saran adaindha jeevanukku | Lord Krishna appeared before her |
| Thunbam illai | And came to protect her |
| Male | |
| Paanchaali kadharugiraal | In a soul filled with ego |
| Parandhaaman varavillai | There is no happiness |
| Paanchaali kadharugiraal | For a soul that completely surrenders |
| Parandhaaman varavillai | There is no sorrow |
பாஞ்சாலி
கதறுகிறாள் பரந்தாமன்
வரவில்லை பாஞ்சாலி
கதறுகிறாள் பரந்தாமன்
வரவில்லை
With her two legs
Trying to cover her dignity
With her two hands across her chest
Formed like armor
Trying to protect herself
Struggling in deep distress
Her own self-respect with her own hands
Trying to safeguard
கால் இரண்டில்
மானத்தை மூடிக்கொண்டு
கண் இரண்டில் மார்போடு
கவசம் கொண்டு தன்னை
தான் காத்து விட தவித்து
கொண்டு தன் கையால்
தன்மானம் காத்துகொண்டு
Panchali cries out in despair
Lord Krishna (Parandhaman) has not arrived yet
பாஞ்சாலி
கதறுகிறாள் பரந்தாமன்
வரவில்லை
The hand that was on her chest
She removed it
Her hands above her head
She folded together in surrender
{ தன் மார்பில்
இருந்த கரம் எடுத்து
விட்டால் தலைக்கு
மேல் தன் கையை
குவித்து விட்டால் } (2)
The hand that was on her chest
She removed it
Her hands above her head
She folded together in surrender
There is nothing in my control/hands
When she declared
என் கையில்
ஏதும் இல்லை என்று
சொன்னால் என் கையில்
ஏதும் இல்லை என்று
சொன்னால் காட்சி தந்து
கண்ணன் அவன் காக்க
வந்தான்
There is nothing in my control/hands
When she declared
Lord Krishna appeared before her
And came to protect her
தான் என்ற
ஆத்மாவில் இன்பம்
இல்லை சரண் அடைந்த
ஜீவனுக்கு துன்பம் இல்லை
In a soul filled with ego
There is no happiness
For a soul that completely surrenders
There is no sorrow
பாஞ்சாலி
கதறுகிறாள் பரந்தாமன்
வரவில்லை பாஞ்சாலி
கதறுகிறாள் பரந்தாமன்
வரவில்லை
Kaal irandil
With her two legs
Maanaththai moodikkondu
Trying to cover her dignity
Kai irandil maarbodu
With her two hands across her chest
Kavasam kondu
Formed like armor
Thannai thaan kaaththu vida
Trying to protect herself
Thaviththu kondu
Struggling in deep distress
Than kaiyaal thanmaanam
Her own self-respect with her own hands
Kaathukkondu
Trying to safeguard
Paanchaali kadharugiraal
Panchali cries out in despair
Parandhaaman varavillai
Lord Krishna (Parandhaman) has not arrived yet
{Than maarbhil irundha karam
The hand that was on her chest
Eduththu vittaal
She removed it
Thalaikku mel than kaiyai
Her hands above her head
Kuviththuvittaal} (2)
She folded together in surrender
Yen kaiyil yedhum illai
The hand that was on her chest
Endru sonnaal
She removed it
Yen kaiyil yedhum illai
Her hands above her head
Endru sonnaal
She folded together in surrender
Kaatchchi thandhu kannan avan
There is nothing in my control/hands
Kaakka vandhaan
When she declared
Thaan yendra aathmaavil
There is nothing in my control/hands
Inbam illai
When she declared
Saran adaindha jeevanukku
Lord Krishna appeared before her
Thunbam illai
And came to protect her
Paanchaali kadharugiraal
In a soul filled with ego
Parandhaaman varavillai
There is no happiness
Paanchaali kadharugiraal
For a soul that completely surrenders
Parandhaaman varavillai
There is no sorrow
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This profound song allegorizes Panchali's (Draupadi's) disrobing scene from the epic Mahabharata to illustrate the core philosophy of total spiritual surrender (Saranagathi). As long as Draupadi relies on her own physical effort and ego to save her honor, Lord Krishna does not appear. Only when she lets go of her own efforts and raises both hands above her head in absolute surrender does the divine intervene to protect her modesty. Lyricist Vairamuthu uses this story to impart a universal philosophical message: an ego-driven soul clinging to 'I' and 'mine' can never find true joy, whereas a soul that completely surrenders its self-will to the divine is liberated from all suffering.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Allegory (Uvamaani)
“Paanchaali kadharugiraal Parandhaaman varavillai”
The epic story of Draupadi's Vastraharan is used as an extended metaphor for the human ego versus absolute divine surrender (Saranagathi).
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Thannai thaan kaaththu vida / Thaviththu kondu”
Repetition of the initial 'Th' sound across consecutive lines creating poetic rhythm.
Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme / Anthesis)
“Inbam illai / Thunbam illai”
Rhyming of the second letter 'nba' along with contrasting philosophical concepts of joy (Inbam) and sorrow (Thunbam).
Anaphora (Repetition)
“Yen kaiyil yedhum illai Endru sonnaal”
Repetition of lines to emphasize Panchali's realization of her utter powerlessness.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song is featured in the 1991 Tamil musical drama movie 'Sigaram', starring legendary singer S. P. Balasubrahmanyam. Uniquely, SPB himself composed the music for this film in addition to acting as the protagonist, a music director. Lyricist Vairamuthu brilliantly encapsulated the profound Vedantic philosophy of 'Saranagathi' using simple Mahabharata imagery in this track.
Keep listening
More from Sigaram
Sigaram
Sigaram
Sigaram
Sigaram
Sigaram
Sigaram