Pichai Pathiram
From Naan Kadavul · 2009
- Lyricist
- Ilaiyaraja
- Singer
- Madhu Balakrishnan
- Music director
- Ilaiyaraja
- Details
- Naan Kadavul2009
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Pichai paathiram yenthi vanthen | I have come holding a begging bowl, |
| Aiyanae en aiyanae | Oh Lord, my Lord! |
| Pichai paathiram yenthi vanthen | I have come holding a begging bowl, |
| Aiyanae en aiyanae | Oh Lord, my Lord! |
| Male | |
| {Pindam ennum.. elumbodu sadhai narambu | {This physical body... with bones, flesh, and nerves, |
| Udhiramum adangiya udambu enum | And blood contained within this mortal body, |
| Pichai paathiram yenthi vanthen | I have come holding as a begging bowl, |
| Aiyanae en aiyanae} (2) | Oh Lord, my Lord!} (2) |
| Male | |
| Ammaiyum appanum thanthatha | Was this given by mother and father? |
| Illai aadhiyin val vinai soozhnthatha | Or is it enveloped by the strong karma of ancient beginnings? |
| Ammaiyum appanum thanthatha | Was this given by mother and father? |
| Illai aadhiyin val vinai soozhnthatha | Or is it enveloped by the strong karma of ancient beginnings? |
| Immaiyai naan ariyathatha… | Was I oblivious to this worldly life... |
| Immaiyai naan ariyathatha | Was I oblivious to this worldly life, |
| Siru bommaiyin nilayinil unmaiyai unarnthida | To realize the ultimate truth through the state of a small puppet? |
| Male | |
| Pichai paathiram yenthi vanthen | I have come holding a begging bowl, |
| Aiyanae en aiyanae | Oh Lord, my Lord! |
| Pichai paathiram yenthi vanthen | I have come holding a begging bowl, |
| Aiyanae en aiyanae | Oh Lord, my Lord! |
| Male | |
| Athanai selvamum un idathil | All wealth resides with You, |
| Naan pichaikku selvathu evvidathil | Where else should I go to beg? |
| Athanai selvamum un idathil | All wealth resides with You, |
| Naan pichaikku selvathu evvidathil | Where else should I go to beg? |
| Verum paathiram ullathu en idathil | Only an empty bowl exists with me, |
| Athan soothiramo athu un idathil | While its control strings remain with You. |
| Male | |
| Oru muraiya iru muraiya | Is it once or twice? |
| Pala murai pala pirappu edukka vaithai | You have forced me to take birth many times over. |
| Puthu vinaya pazha vinaya… | Is it new karma or old karma... |
| Kanam kanam dhinam enai thudikka vaithai | Moment by moment, day by day, You made me throb in distress. |
| Male | |
| Porullukku alainthidum porullattra vazhkaiyum thurathuthae | A meaningless life wandering after material goods chases me, |
| Un arul arul arul endru alaigindra manam indru pithatruthae | My mind wandering for Your grace, grace, grace now speaks deliriously. |
| Arul vizhiyal nokkuvai | Look upon me with eyes of grace, |
| Malar pathathal thaanguvai | Sustain me with Your lotus feet, |
| Un thiru karam enai aravanaithu unatharul pera | May Your divine hand embrace me to receive Your grace, |
| Male | |
| Pichai paathiram yenthi vanthen | I have come holding a begging bowl, |
| Aiyanae en aiyanae | Oh Lord, my Lord! |
| Male | |
| Pindam ennum.. elumbodu sadhai narambu | This physical body... with bones, flesh, and nerves, |
| Udhiramum adangiya udambu enum | And blood contained within this mortal body, |
| Pichai paathiram yenthi vanthen | I have come holding as a begging bowl, |
| Aiyanae en aiyanae | Oh Lord, my Lord! |
| Male | |
| Pichai paathiram yenthi vanthen | I have come holding a begging bowl, |
| Aiyanae en aiyanae | Oh Lord, my Lord! |
பிச்சை பாத்திரம்
ஏந்தி வந்தேன் ஐயனே
என் ஐயனே பிச்சை
பாத்திரம் ஏந்தி வந்தேன்
ஐயனே என் ஐயனே
I have come holding a begging bowl,
Oh Lord, my Lord!
I have come holding a begging bowl,
Oh Lord, my Lord!
{ பிண்டம் என்னும்
எலும்போடு சதை நரம்பு
உதிரமும் அடங்கிய உடம்பு
எனும் பிச்சை பாத்திரம் ஏந்தி
வந்தேன் ஐயனே என் ஐயனே } (2)
{This physical body... with bones, flesh, and nerves,
And blood contained within this mortal body,
I have come holding as a begging bowl,
Oh Lord, my Lord!} (2)
அம்மையும் அப்பனும்
தந்ததா இல்லை ஆதியின் வல்
வினை சூழ்ந்ததா அம்மையும்
அப்பனும் தந்ததா இல்லை
ஆதியின் வல் வினை சூழ்ந்ததா
இம்மையை நான் அறியாததா
இம்மையை நான் அறியாததா
சிறு பொம்மையின் நிலையினில்
உண்மையை உணர்ந்திட
Was this given by mother and father?
Or is it enveloped by the strong karma of ancient beginnings?
Was this given by mother and father?
Or is it enveloped by the strong karma of ancient beginnings?
Was I oblivious to this worldly life...
Was I oblivious to this worldly life,
To realize the ultimate truth through the state of a small puppet?
பிச்சை பாத்திரம்
ஏந்தி வந்தேன் ஐயனே
என் ஐயனே பிச்சை
பாத்திரம் ஏந்தி வந்தேன்
ஐயனே என் ஐயனே
I have come holding a begging bowl,
Oh Lord, my Lord!
I have come holding a begging bowl,
Oh Lord, my Lord!
அத்தனை செல்வமும்
உன் இடத்தில் நான் பிச்சைக்கு
செல்வது எவ்விடத்தில் அத்தனை
செல்வமும் உன் இடத்தில் நான்
பிச்சைக்கு செல்வது எவ்விடத்தில்
வெறும் பாத்திரம் உள்ளது என்
இடத்தில் அதன் சூத்திரமோ அது
உன் இடத்தில்
All wealth resides with You,
Where else should I go to beg?
All wealth resides with You,
Where else should I go to beg?
Only an empty bowl exists with me,
While its control strings remain with You.
ஒரு முறையா இரு
முறையா பல முறை பல
பிறப்பு எடுக்க வைத்தாய்
புது வினையா பழ வினையா
கணம் கணம் தினம் எனை
துடிக்க வைத்தாய்
Is it once or twice?
You have forced me to take birth many times over.
Is it new karma or old karma...
Moment by moment, day by day, You made me throb in distress.
பொருளுக்கு
அலைந்திடும் பொருளற்ற
வாழ்கையும் துரத்துதே
உன் அருள் அருள் அருள்
என்று அலைகின்ற மனம்
இன்று பிதற்றுதே அருள்
விழியால் நோக்குவாய்
மலர் பத்தால் தாங்குவாய்
உன் திரு கரம் எனை
அரவணைத்து உனதருள் பெற
A meaningless life wandering after material goods chases me,
My mind wandering for Your grace, grace, grace now speaks deliriously.
Look upon me with eyes of grace,
Sustain me with Your lotus feet,
May Your divine hand embrace me to receive Your grace,
பிச்சை பாத்திரம்
ஏந்தி வந்தேன் ஐயனே
என் ஐயனே
I have come holding a begging bowl,
Oh Lord, my Lord!
பிண்டம் என்னும்
எலும்போடு சதை நரம்பு
உதிரமும் அடங்கிய உடம்பு
எனும் பிச்சை பாத்திரம் ஏந்தி
வந்தேன் ஐயனே என் ஐயனே
This physical body... with bones, flesh, and nerves,
And blood contained within this mortal body,
I have come holding as a begging bowl,
Oh Lord, my Lord!
பிச்சை பாத்திரம்
ஏந்தி வந்தேன் ஐயனே
என் ஐயனே
I have come holding a begging bowl,
Oh Lord, my Lord!
Pichai paathiram yenthi vanthen
I have come holding a begging bowl,
Aiyanae en aiyanae
Oh Lord, my Lord!
Pichai paathiram yenthi vanthen
I have come holding a begging bowl,
Aiyanae en aiyanae
Oh Lord, my Lord!
{Pindam ennum.. elumbodu sadhai narambu
{This physical body... with bones, flesh, and nerves,
Udhiramum adangiya udambu enum
And blood contained within this mortal body,
Pichai paathiram yenthi vanthen
I have come holding as a begging bowl,
Aiyanae en aiyanae} (2)
Oh Lord, my Lord!} (2)
Ammaiyum appanum thanthatha
Was this given by mother and father?
Illai aadhiyin val vinai soozhnthatha
Or is it enveloped by the strong karma of ancient beginnings?
Ammaiyum appanum thanthatha
Was this given by mother and father?
Illai aadhiyin val vinai soozhnthatha
Or is it enveloped by the strong karma of ancient beginnings?
Immaiyai naan ariyathatha…
Was I oblivious to this worldly life...
Immaiyai naan ariyathatha
Was I oblivious to this worldly life,
Siru bommaiyin nilayinil unmaiyai unarnthida
To realize the ultimate truth through the state of a small puppet?
Pichai paathiram yenthi vanthen
I have come holding a begging bowl,
Aiyanae en aiyanae
Oh Lord, my Lord!
Pichai paathiram yenthi vanthen
I have come holding a begging bowl,
Aiyanae en aiyanae
Oh Lord, my Lord!
Athanai selvamum un idathil
All wealth resides with You,
Naan pichaikku selvathu evvidathil
Where else should I go to beg?
Athanai selvamum un idathil
All wealth resides with You,
Naan pichaikku selvathu evvidathil
Where else should I go to beg?
Verum paathiram ullathu en idathil
Only an empty bowl exists with me,
Athan soothiramo athu un idathil
While its control strings remain with You.
Oru muraiya iru muraiya
Is it once or twice?
Pala murai pala pirappu edukka vaithai
You have forced me to take birth many times over.
Puthu vinaya pazha vinaya…
Is it new karma or old karma...
Kanam kanam dhinam enai thudikka vaithai
Moment by moment, day by day, You made me throb in distress.
Porullukku alainthidum porullattra vazhkaiyum thurathuthae
A meaningless life wandering after material goods chases me,
Un arul arul arul endru alaigindra manam indru pithatruthae
My mind wandering for Your grace, grace, grace now speaks deliriously.
Arul vizhiyal nokkuvai
Look upon me with eyes of grace,
Malar pathathal thaanguvai
Sustain me with Your lotus feet,
Un thiru karam enai aravanaithu unatharul pera
May Your divine hand embrace me to receive Your grace,
Pichai paathiram yenthi vanthen
I have come holding a begging bowl,
Aiyanae en aiyanae
Oh Lord, my Lord!
Pindam ennum.. elumbodu sadhai narambu
This physical body... with bones, flesh, and nerves,
Udhiramum adangiya udambu enum
And blood contained within this mortal body,
Pichai paathiram yenthi vanthen
I have come holding as a begging bowl,
Aiyanae en aiyanae
Oh Lord, my Lord!
Pichai paathiram yenthi vanthen
I have come holding a begging bowl,
Aiyanae en aiyanae
Oh Lord, my Lord!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This profound philosophical composition from the movie 'Naan Kadavul' presents the human body itself—composed of bones, flesh, nerves, and blood—as a metaphorical begging bowl before God. The speaker questions whether human life is merely a product of parental lineage or the result of accumulated primal karmic cycles, recognizing human existence as a helpless puppet controlled by divine will. Realizing that all spiritual richness resides with the Almighty, the speaker surrenders all material pursuits. Having endured countless cycles of birth and suffering, the devotee desperately begs for divine eyes of grace, shelter under the Lord's lotus feet, and ultimate release from worldly suffering.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Udhiramum adangiya udambu enum / Pichai paathiram yenthi vanthen”
The speaker metaphorically frames the physical body composed of flesh, bones, and blood as a begging bowl ('pichai paathiram').
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Siru bommaiyin nilayinil unmaiyai unarnthida”
Human existence is compared to a small puppet ('siru bommai') controlled by string mechanics ('soothiram') held by the divine.
Epizeuxis / Repetition
“Un arul arul arul endru alaigindra manam indru pithatruthae”
The word 'arul' (grace) is repeated consecutively to emphasize intense spiritual longing and devotion.
Antithesis / Contrast
“Puthu vinaya pazha vinaya…”
Contrasting 'puthu vinai' (new karma) with 'pazha vinai' (old karma), as well as material wealth ('porullukku') with meaningless life ('porullattra vazhkai').
Did you know?
Trivia
Although the prompt credits Ilaiyaraaja as lyricist, the famous lyrics for this song were authored by the veteran Tamil poet Vaali, set to music by Ilaiyaraaja and sung by Madhu Balakrishnan. Picturized on the protagonist played by Arya in director Bala's acclaimed film 'Naan Kadavul', the song deeply reflects the Advaita Vedanta philosophy and the ascetic lifestyle of Kasi Aghoris.
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