Pathai Enge Payanam Enge
From Pannaipurathu Pandavargal · 1982
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- S. P. Sailaja, K. J. Yesudas
- Music director
- Gangai Amaran
- Details
- Pannaipurathu Pandavargal1982
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Paadhai engae payanam engae | Where is the path, where is the journey? |
| Mayangum nenjae manithan nee | O confused heart, you are but human. |
| Aaru vatri ponaal keni undu engae | If the river dries up, where is the well? |
| Geedhai thanai naan sollavaa | Shall I recite the Bhagavad Gita to you? |
| Male | |
| Paadhai engae… | Where is the path... |
| Male | |
| Vannangal yaezhu vaanavil ondru | There are seven colors, but the rainbow is one. |
| Vannangal illamal vaanavil yaedhu | Without colors, what rainbow can exist? |
| Vaanaththil nooru vinmeengal undu | There are hundreds of stars in the sky, |
| Chandhiran ennaalum ondraethaan kannaa | But the moon is always only one, my dear. |
| Male | |
| Paandavargal andru thaniyaaga ponaal | If the Pandavas had walked alone back then, |
| Bhaaratha kadhaiyae veru vidhamaagum | The story of Mahabharata would have taken a different turn. |
| Thaangupavan nee intha kolam kollalaama | You are the pillar of support; should you assume this hopeless state? |
| Ajunan neeyadaavillai edu kaiyilae | You are Arjuna; pick up the bow in your hand! |
| Male | |
| Paadhai engae… | Where is the path... |
| Male | |
| Aarukku pinnae yaezhu varumendru | That seven comes after six, |
| Yaaridam kettaalum solvaargal kannaa | Anyone you ask will tell you, my dear. |
| Aasaigal vanthaal achchamum serum | When desires arise, fear joins them too. |
| Aaththiram kollaamal aaraya vendum | Without giving in to anger, one must reflect calmly. |
| Female | |
| Yaezhaiyin kann unnai thedaamal thedum | The eyes of the poor search for you endlessly. |
| Inbamo thunbamo nee tharuvathu allavaa | Be it joy or sorrow, isn't it all bestowed by you? |
| Poo mudiththu paarungal endru solla aasai | I wish to say, 'Wear flowers and see', |
| Oomai naan pesavo vaarththai illai annaa | But I am mute; I have no words to speak, brother. |
| Male | |
| Paadhai engae payanam engae | Where is the path, where is the journey? |
| Mayangum nenjae manithan nee | O confused heart, you are but human. |
| Aaru vatri ponaal keni undu engae | If the river dries up, where is the well? |
| Geedhai thanai naan sollavaa | Shall I recite the Bhagavad Gita to you? |
| Male | |
| Paadhai engae… | Where is the path... |
ஆண்
: பாதை எங்கே பயணம் எங்கே
மயங்கும் நெஞ்சே மனிதன் நீ
ஆறு வற்றி போனால் கேணி உண்டு எங்கே
கீதை தனை நான் சொல்லவா
Where is the path, where is the journey?
O confused heart, you are but human.
If the river dries up, where is the well?
Shall I recite the Bhagavad Gita to you?
பாதை எங்கே......
Where is the path...
வண்ணங்கள் ஏழு வானவில் ஒன்று
வண்ணங்கள் இல்லாமல் வானவில் ஏது
வானத்தில் நூறு விண்மீன்கள் உண்டு
சந்திரன் எந்நாளும் ஒன்றேதான் கண்ணா
There are seven colors, but the rainbow is one.
Without colors, what rainbow can exist?
There are hundreds of stars in the sky,
But the moon is always only one, my dear.
பாண்டவர்கள் அன்று தனியாக போனால்
பாரத கதையே வேறுவிதமாகும்
தாங்குபவன் நீ இந்த கோலம் கொள்ளலாமா
அர்ஜுனன் நீயடா வில்லை எடு கையிலே
If the Pandavas had walked alone back then,
The story of Mahabharata would have taken a different turn.
You are the pillar of support; should you assume this hopeless state?
You are Arjuna; pick up the bow in your hand!
பாதை எங்கே......
Where is the path...
ஆறுக்கு பின்னே ஏழு வருமென்று
யாரிடம் கேட்டாலும் சொல்வார்கள் கண்ணா
ஆசைகள் வந்தால் அச்சமும் சேரும்
ஆத்திரம் கொள்ளாமல் ஆராய வேண்டும்
That seven comes after six,
Anyone you ask will tell you, my dear.
When desires arise, fear joins them too.
Without giving in to anger, one must reflect calmly.
ஏழையின் கண் உன்னை தேடாமல் தேடும்
இன்பமோ துன்பமோ நீ தருவது அல்லவா
பூ முடித்து பாருங்கள் என்று சொல்ல ஆசை
ஊமை நான் பேசவோ வார்த்தை இல்லை அண்ணா
The eyes of the poor search for you endlessly.
Be it joy or sorrow, isn't it all bestowed by you?
I wish to say, 'Wear flowers and see',
But I am mute; I have no words to speak, brother.
பாதை எங்கே பயணம் எங்கே
மயங்கும் நெஞ்சே மனிதன் நீ
ஆறு வற்றி போனால் கேணி உண்டு எங்கே
கீதை தனை நான் சொல்லவா
Where is the path, where is the journey?
O confused heart, you are but human.
If the river dries up, where is the well?
Shall I recite the Bhagavad Gita to you?
பாதை எங்கே......
Where is the path...
Paadhai engae payanam engae
Where is the path, where is the journey?
Mayangum nenjae manithan nee
O confused heart, you are but human.
Aaru vatri ponaal keni undu engae
If the river dries up, where is the well?
Geedhai thanai naan sollavaa
Shall I recite the Bhagavad Gita to you?
Paadhai engae…
Where is the path...
Vannangal yaezhu vaanavil ondru
There are seven colors, but the rainbow is one.
Vannangal illamal vaanavil yaedhu
Without colors, what rainbow can exist?
Vaanaththil nooru vinmeengal undu
There are hundreds of stars in the sky,
Chandhiran ennaalum ondraethaan kannaa
But the moon is always only one, my dear.
Paandavargal andru thaniyaaga ponaal
If the Pandavas had walked alone back then,
Bhaaratha kadhaiyae veru vidhamaagum
The story of Mahabharata would have taken a different turn.
Thaangupavan nee intha kolam kollalaama
You are the pillar of support; should you assume this hopeless state?
Ajunan neeyadaavillai edu kaiyilae
You are Arjuna; pick up the bow in your hand!
Paadhai engae…
Where is the path...
Aarukku pinnae yaezhu varumendru
That seven comes after six,
Yaaridam kettaalum solvaargal kannaa
Anyone you ask will tell you, my dear.
Aasaigal vanthaal achchamum serum
When desires arise, fear joins them too.
Aaththiram kollaamal aaraya vendum
Without giving in to anger, one must reflect calmly.
Yaezhaiyin kann unnai thedaamal thedum
The eyes of the poor search for you endlessly.
Inbamo thunbamo nee tharuvathu allavaa
Be it joy or sorrow, isn't it all bestowed by you?
Poo mudiththu paarungal endru solla aasai
I wish to say, 'Wear flowers and see',
Oomai naan pesavo vaarththai illai annaa
But I am mute; I have no words to speak, brother.
Paadhai engae payanam engae
Where is the path, where is the journey?
Mayangum nenjae manithan nee
O confused heart, you are but human.
Aaru vatri ponaal keni undu engae
If the river dries up, where is the well?
Geedhai thanai naan sollavaa
Shall I recite the Bhagavad Gita to you?
Paadhai engae…
Where is the path...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This philosophical and emotionally resonant song offers counsel and strength to a troubled soul undergoing despair. Drawing heavy inspiration from the epic Mahabharata, the lyricist Kannadasan urges the listener to rise above confusion and weakness, likening them to Arjuna on the battlefield who needs to pick up his bow and fulfill his duty.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Allusion (Epical reference)
“Ajunan neeyadaavillai edu kaiyilae”
Refers directly to Mahabharata, the Pandavas, and Arjuna being counseled with the Gita on the battlefield.
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Paadhai engae payanam engae”
Repetition of the initial letter 'Pa' in 'Paadhai' and 'payanam'.
Metaphor
“Vannangal yaezhu vaanavil ondru”
Compares unity to colors forming a single rainbow and stars surrounding a single moon.
Rhetorical Question
“Aaru vatri ponaal keni undu engae”
Uses a questioning tone to provoke self-reflection about duty and life's direction.
Did you know?
Trivia
The film 'Pannaipurathu Pandavargal' (1982) features music composed by Gangai Amaran, brother of Maestro Ilaiyaraaja. The title of the film pays homage to their native village, Pannaipuram in Theni district, Tamil Nadu.
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