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Lyrics & meaning

Pendatti Purushan

From Pattaliyin Vetri · 1960

Lyricist
Udumalai Narayanakavi
Singers
P. Susheela, T. V. Rathinam
Music director
S. Rajeswara Rao
Details
Pattaliyin Vetri1960

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Pendaataati purushanukkuBetween wife and husband,
Palamaana sonthamaeIt is a strong relationship.
Pillai kutti aana pinnaeOnce children are born,
Piriyaatha panthamaeIt becomes an inseparable bond.
Female
Pendaataati purushanukkuBetween wife and husband,
Palamaana sonthamaeIt is a strong relationship.
Pillai kutti aana pinnaeOnce children are born,
Piriyaatha panthamaeIt becomes an inseparable bond.
Female
Nadu kaavil paatham thannilUpon his foot in the middle of the grove,
Paambae kadikkumendraarThey say a serpent bit him.
Vazhi thedalaanaenae paar meethu naanaeI have come searching for a remedy across this world.
Aiyyo….oo…oo….oo…oo….oo….oo..Alas! Oh...
Vazhi thedalaanaenae paar meethu naanaeI have come searching for a remedy across this world.
Female
Mangala maangalyam malligai poo pocheThe sacred mangalsutra and jasmine flowers are lost,
Mannavan thannodu vaazhkkaiyum pocheLife itself along with my husband is lost.
Nangai en male anbu nalgidum naagappaaShow mercy upon this maiden, O Lord Snake Nagappa!
Nangai en male anbu nalgidum naagappaaShow mercy upon this maiden, O Lord Snake Nagappa!
Naadhanin uyir meela neeyandri yaarappa….Who else but you can revive my lord's life, O father?
Naadhanin uyir meela neeyandri yaarappa…Who else but you can revive my lord's life, O father?
Female
Mangala maangalyam malligai poo pocheThe sacred mangalsutra and jasmine flowers are lost,
Mannavan thannodu vaazhkkaiyum pocheLife itself along with my husband is lost.
Mangala maangalyam malligai poo pocheThe sacred mangalsutra and jasmine flowers are lost,
Mannavan thannodu vaazhkkaiyum pocheLife itself along with my husband is lost.
Female
Mannulagil oorvalaththil mithiththaanaeHe trampled upon me during a procession on this earth,
Enthan manimudi meedhu kaalil udhaiththaanaeHe kicked upon my jeweled crown with his foot,
Munnamengal kuttigalai vathaiththaanaeEarlier, he harmed our little offspring,
Munnamengal kuttigalai vathaiththaanaeEarlier, he harmed our little offspring,
Muppazhaiyum pippazhiyum mudiththaenaeI have settled all scores and taken my revenge!
Female
Ival meela maattaan ini vaazha maattaanHe will not recover, he shall not live anymore!
Vidhi yaarai vittathu vidhi yaarai vittathuWhom has destiny spared? Whom has destiny spared?
Female
Pasu maattu paalu kozhi andam thaaraenI shall offer cow's milk and hen's eggs,
Palakaara patchanangal veruveru pandamSweets, savories, and various other delicacies,
Isai paadi padham pottri thandam seivaenI will sing music, praise your feet, and bow down in worship,
Isai paadi padham pottri thandam seivaenI will sing music, praise your feet, and bow down in worship,
Ippothae theerkka vendum en naathan kandamRight now, you must remove the mortal danger from my lord!
Female
Pasu maattu paalu kozhi andam thaaraenI shall offer cow's milk and hen's eggs,
Palakaara patchanangal veruveru pandamSweets, savories, and various other delicacies,
Female
Sethavan pizhaiththathu jegaththin meedhilaeA dead person coming back to life in this world,
Eppavum kidaiyaathuHas never happened before!
Sethavan pizhaiththathu jegaththin meedhilaeA dead person coming back to life in this world,
Eppavum kidaiyaathuHas never happened before!
Deiva neethi Idhu ini seivathaethuThis is divine justice, what can be done now?
Female
Ivan jeevan ponathu ponathuthaanHis life is gone, gone for good!
Ival meela maattaan ini vaazhamaattaanHe will not recover, he shall not live anymore!
Ival meela maattaan ini vaazhamaattaanHe will not recover, he shall not live anymore!
Vidhi yaarai vittathu vidhi yaarai vittathuWhom has destiny spared? Whom has destiny spared?
Female
Paththini naanae enbathuTo prove to everyone that I am a chaste woman,
Evarum theriyavae intha paar melae sudum agniLet a burning fire rage across this earth,
Paththi eriyavaeLet it catch fire and burn bright!
Dhushta paambu nee ariyavaeKnow this well, you wicked serpent,
Un suttram yaavum azhiyavae….May your entire lineage and kin be destroyed!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This dramatic duet sequence depicts a tragic encounter between a grieving wife begging for her husband's life and the vengeful serpent that bit him. The wife speaks of the sacred, unbreakable bond of marriage and family, lamenting the loss of her marital bliss. She offers prayers, milk, and offerings to the snake deity, begging it to restore her husband's life. However, the serpent refuses, stating that her husband trampled upon its crown and killed its offspring in the past, making his death a matter of divine retribution and karma. In response to the serpent's stubborn refusal, the devoted wife invokes her chastity ('Karpu') and curses the wicked serpent and its entire kin to perish in righteous fire.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Moni / Rhyme & Alliteration (Edhugai and Monai)

Pendaataati purushanukku / Palamaana sonthamae

Tamil poetic rhyming of initial and second letters across lines, such as 'Pendaataati' / 'Palamaana' / 'Pillai' / 'Piriyaatha' and 'Mannulagil' / 'Enthan' / 'Munnamengal'.

Metaphor & Symbolism

Mangala maangalyam malligai poo poche

'Mangala maangalyam malligai poo poche' uses mangalsutra and jasmine flowers as symbols of auspiciousness, marital status, and happy life.

Personification & Dialogue Structure

Muppazhaiyum pippazhiyum mudiththaenae

The serpent is personified as a rational, vengeful character capable of speech, representing the law of Karma.

Did you know?

Trivia

This dramatic dialogue-style song from 'Pattaliyin Vetri' (1960) features legendary singers P. Susheela and T. V. Rathinam portraying the grieving wife and the vengeful serpent respectively. Written by the famed rationalist poet Udumalai Narayanakavi and composed by S. Rajeswararao, the song blends folk dramatic tropes with classical themes of chastity and karma.

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