Petra Thaaithanai Magan
From Arutperum Jothi · 1971
- Lyricist
- Ramalinga Adigalar
- Singer
- Seerkazhi Govindarajan
- Music director
- T. R. Pappa
- Details
- Arutperum Jothi1971
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Pettra thaaithanai magan maranthaalum | Even if the son forgets the mother who gave birth to him, |
| Pettra thaaithanai magan maranthaalum | Even if the son forgets the mother who gave birth to him, |
| Pillaiyai perum thaai maranthaalum | Even if the mother who gave birth forgets her child, |
| Pettra thaaithanai magan maranthaalum | Even if the son forgets the mother who gave birth to him, |
| Pillaiyai perum thaai maranthaalum | Even if the mother who gave birth forgets her child, |
| Male | |
| Uttra thegaththai uyir maranthaalum | Even if the soul forgets the physical body it inhabited, |
| Uyirai meviya udal maranthaalum | Even if the body forgets the life force that pervaded it, |
| Pettra thaaithanai magan maranthaalum | Even if the son forgets the mother who gave birth to him, |
| Pillaiyai perum thaai maranthaalum…. | Even if the mother who gave birth forgets her child, |
| Male | |
| Kattra nenjagam kalai maranthaalum | Even if the learned mind forgets the arts and knowledge acquired, |
| Kattra nenjagam kalai maranthaalum | Even if the learned mind forgets the arts and knowledge acquired, |
| Kangal nindru imaippathu maranthaalum | Even if the eyes stop functioning and forget how to blink, |
| Nattravarththavar ullirunthu ongum | The sacred name radiating from within the souls of holy ascetics, |
| Nattravarththavar ullirunthu ongum | The sacred name radiating from within the souls of holy ascetics, |
| Namasivayaththai naan maravaenae… | The holy mantra 'Namasivaya' — I shall never forget! |
| Namasivayaththai naan maravaenae… | The holy mantra 'Namasivaya' — I shall never forget! |
பெற்ற தாய்தனை மகன் மறந்தாலும்
பெற்ற தாய்தனை மகன் மறந்தாலும்
பிள்ளையை பெறும் தாய் மறந்தாலும்
பெற்ற தாய்தனை மகன் மறந்தாலும்
பிள்ளையை பெறும் தாய் மறந்தாலும்
Even if the son forgets the mother who gave birth to him,
Even if the son forgets the mother who gave birth to him,
Even if the mother who gave birth forgets her child,
Even if the son forgets the mother who gave birth to him,
Even if the mother who gave birth forgets her child,
உற்ற தேகத்தை உயிர் மறந்தாலும்
உயிரை மேவிய உடல் மறந்தாலும்..
பெற்ற தாய்தனை மகன் மறந்தாலும்
பிள்ளையை பெறும் தாய் மறந்தாலும்....
Even if the soul forgets the physical body it inhabited,
Even if the body forgets the life force that pervaded it,
Even if the son forgets the mother who gave birth to him,
Even if the mother who gave birth forgets her child,
கற்ற நெஞ்சகம் கலை மறந்தாலும்
கற்ற நெஞ்சகம் கலை மறந்தாலும்
கண்கள் நின்று இமைப்பது மறந்தாலும்
நற்றவர்த்தவர் உள்ளிருந்து ஓங்கும்
நற்றவர்த்தவர் உள்ளிருந்து ஓங்கும்
நமச்சிவாயத்தை நான் மறவேனே
நமச்சிவாயத்தை நான் மறவேனே
Even if the learned mind forgets the arts and knowledge acquired,
Even if the learned mind forgets the arts and knowledge acquired,
Even if the eyes stop functioning and forget how to blink,
The sacred name radiating from within the souls of holy ascetics,
The sacred name radiating from within the souls of holy ascetics,
The holy mantra 'Namasivaya' — I shall never forget!
The holy mantra 'Namasivaya' — I shall never forget!
Pettra thaaithanai magan maranthaalum
Even if the son forgets the mother who gave birth to him,
Pettra thaaithanai magan maranthaalum
Even if the son forgets the mother who gave birth to him,
Pillaiyai perum thaai maranthaalum
Even if the mother who gave birth forgets her child,
Pettra thaaithanai magan maranthaalum
Even if the son forgets the mother who gave birth to him,
Pillaiyai perum thaai maranthaalum
Even if the mother who gave birth forgets her child,
Uttra thegaththai uyir maranthaalum
Even if the soul forgets the physical body it inhabited,
Uyirai meviya udal maranthaalum
Even if the body forgets the life force that pervaded it,
Pettra thaaithanai magan maranthaalum
Even if the son forgets the mother who gave birth to him,
Pillaiyai perum thaai maranthaalum….
Even if the mother who gave birth forgets her child,
Kattra nenjagam kalai maranthaalum
Even if the learned mind forgets the arts and knowledge acquired,
Kattra nenjagam kalai maranthaalum
Even if the learned mind forgets the arts and knowledge acquired,
Kangal nindru imaippathu maranthaalum
Even if the eyes stop functioning and forget how to blink,
Nattravarththavar ullirunthu ongum
The sacred name radiating from within the souls of holy ascetics,
Nattravarththavar ullirunthu ongum
The sacred name radiating from within the souls of holy ascetics,
Namasivayaththai naan maravaenae…
The holy mantra 'Namasivaya' — I shall never forget!
Namasivayaththai naan maravaenae…
The holy mantra 'Namasivaya' — I shall never forget!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This famous devotional hymn from Thiru Arutpa was composed by Saint Ramalinga Adigalar (Vallalar). It expresses absolute and unwavering devotion to Lord Shiva. Vallalar lists several unthinkable, unnatural impossibilities in existence—such as a mother forgetting her offspring, a child forgetting its mother, a soul forgetting its body, a learned scholar forgetting knowledge, or eyes forgetting the involuntary action of blinking.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Ethukai (Second-letter rhyme)
“Pettra thaaithanai magan maranthaalum”
The second consonant 'ற்' (rr) rhymes consistently across major stanza openings: Pettra, Uttra, Kattra, and Nattra.
Monaai (First-letter alliteration)
“Uttra thegaththai uyir maranthaalum”
Repetition of the initial vowel sound 'U' in 'Uttra' and 'Uyirai' creates rhythmic alliteration.
Hyperbole / Auxesis (Emphasis through impossible scenarios)
“Kangal nindru imaippathu maranthaalum”
The poet stacks natural impossibilities to emphasize that his mindfulness of the Panchakshara mantra transcends all worldly and biological phenomena.
Did you know?
Trivia
This poem is part of the revered 'Thiruarutpa' written by Vallalar in the 19th century. It was adapted into the 1971 Tamil biographical movie 'Arutperum Jothi', composed by T. R. Pappa and rendered with majestic devotion by the legendary Carnatic singer Seerkazhi Govindarajan.
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