Piravatha Varam Vendum
From Karaikkal Ammaiyar · 1973
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- K. B. Sundarambal
- Music director
- Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan
- Details
- Karaikkal Ammaiyar1973
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Piravaadha varam vendum | I seek the boon of no more birth. |
| Ini piravaadha varam vendum | Hereafter, I pray for the boon never to be born again. |
| En pizhaiyaalae naan meendum | If due to my past misdeeds I am born once again, |
| Piranthu vittaal | Born once more into this world, |
| Unnai maravaadha varam vendum | I pray for the boon to never forget you. |
| Female | |
| Piravaadha varam vendum | I seek the boon of no more birth. |
| En pizhaiyaalae naan meendum | If due to my past misdeeds I am born once again, |
| Piranthu vittaal | Born once more into this world, |
| Unnai maravaadha varam vendum | I pray for the boon to never forget you. |
| Female | |
| Piravaadha varam vendum | I seek the boon of no more birth. |
| Female | |
| Iravaadha inba anbum | An undying, joyful love, |
| Uravaadha thooya panbum | A pure character that builds righteous bonds, |
| Female | |
| Niraivaana unmai nenjum | And a heart full of absolute truth— |
| Iraivaa nee thandhaalum | Even if you grant me all these, O Lord, |
| Female | |
| Piravaadha varam vendum | I still seek the boon of no more birth. |
| En pizhaiyaalae naan meendum | If due to my past misdeeds I am born once again, |
| Piranthu vittaal | Born once more into this world, |
| Unnai maravaadha varam vendum | I pray for the boon to never forget you. |
| Female | |
| Pani padarntha thiru kailangiriyil | On the snow-covered sacred Mount Kailash, |
| Ani thiranda malar munivar un kulamum | Where crowds of flower-adorned sages and your divine lineage assemble, |
| Iniya gandharavar isai perum pulavar | Sweet Gandharvas and great scholarly poets, |
| Anaivarum thozhuthu un iru padham paniya | All bow down and worship at your two holy feet, |
| Female | |
| Vaanavar thaanavar naadu kulunga | Shaking the realms of celestials and demons alike, |
| Paavai manohari maadhar kulunga | Making the captivating damsels tremble with delight, |
| Naaranan naanmugan maeni kulunga | Causing Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma to shake with joy, |
| Naa magal poo magal vaazhvu kulunga | Causing Goddess Saraswati and Goddess Lakshmi to rejoice in bliss, |
| Female | |
| Sekkilai suthama natpugal ezhuvagai | With flawless, pure friendships of seven kinds, |
| Arpudha panbugal oppiya isaiyena | Sounding like music composed of marvelous virtues, |
| Mathalam sethari kokkari muzhamozhi | As drums, cymbals, and horns resound loudly, |
| Thaththimi thathjunu thakida thagavena | To the rhythmic beats of 'Thaththimi Thathjunu Thakida Thagavena', |
| Muzhanga nadamidum | As you dance to the roaring cosmic rhythms, |
| Sathangai aniyidhu padhangal nidhamum | Your feet adorned with tinkling anklets, daily... |
| Vanangi vazhi pada | To bow before those feet and worship... |
| Female | |
| Piravaadha varam vendum | I seek the boon of no more birth. |
| En pizhaiyaalae naan meendum | If due to my past misdeeds I am born once again, |
| Piranthu vittaal | Born once more into this world, |
| Unnai maravaadha varam vendum | I pray for the boon to never forget you. |
| Female | |
| Piravaadha varam vendum | I seek the boon of no more birth. |
பிறவாத வரம் வேண்டும்
இனி பிறவாத வரம் வேண்டும்
என் பிழையாலே நான் மீண்டும்
பிறந்து விட்டால்
உன்னை மறவாத மனம் வேண்டும்
I seek the boon of no more birth.
Hereafter, I pray for the boon never to be born again.
If due to my past misdeeds I am born once again,
Born once more into this world,
I pray for the boon to never forget you.
பிறவாத வரம் வேண்டும்
என் பிழையாலே நான் மீண்டும்
பிறந்து விட்டால்
உன்னை மறவாத மனம் வேண்டும்
I seek the boon of no more birth.
If due to my past misdeeds I am born once again,
Born once more into this world,
I pray for the boon to never forget you.
பிறவாத வரம் வேண்டும்
I seek the boon of no more birth.
இறவாத இன்பம் அன்பும்
உறவாத தூய பண்பும்
An undying, joyful love,
A pure character that builds righteous bonds,
நிறைவான உண்மை நெஞ்சும்
இறைவா நீ தந்தாலும்
And a heart full of absolute truth—
Even if you grant me all these, O Lord,
பிறவாத வரம் வேண்டும்
என் பிழையாலே நான் மீண்டும்
பிறந்து விட்டால்
உன்னை மறவாத மனம் வேண்டும்
I still seek the boon of no more birth.
If due to my past misdeeds I am born once again,
Born once more into this world,
I pray for the boon to never forget you.
பனி படர்ந்த திரு கைலங்கிரியில்
அணி திரண்ட மலர் முனிவர் உன் குலமும்
இனிய கந்தர்வர் இசை பெரும் புலவர்
அனைவரும் தொழுது உன் இரு பாதம் பணிய
On the snow-covered sacred Mount Kailash,
Where crowds of flower-adorned sages and your divine lineage assemble,
Sweet Gandharvas and great scholarly poets,
All bow down and worship at your two holy feet,
வானவர் தானவர் நாடு குலுங்க
பாவை மனோஹரி மாதர் குலுங்க
நாரணன் நான்முகன் மேனி குலுங்க
நா மகள் பூ மகள் வாழ்வு குலுங்க
Shaking the realms of celestials and demons alike,
Making the captivating damsels tremble with delight,
Causing Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma to shake with joy,
Causing Goddess Saraswati and Goddess Lakshmi to rejoice in bliss,
செக்கிளை சுத்தமா நட்புகள் எழுவகை
அற்புத பண்புகள் ஒப்பிய இசையென
மத்தளம் செதர் கொக்கரி முழுமொழி
தத்திமி தத்ஜுனு தகிட தகவென
சதங்கை அணியிது பதங்கள் நிதமும்
வணங்கி வழி பட
With flawless, pure friendships of seven kinds,
Sounding like music composed of marvelous virtues,
As drums, cymbals, and horns resound loudly,
To the rhythmic beats of 'Thaththimi Thathjunu Thakida Thagavena',
As you dance to the roaring cosmic rhythms,
Your feet adorned with tinkling anklets, daily...
To bow before those feet and worship...
பிறவாத வரம் வேண்டும்
என் பிழையாலே நான் மீண்டும்
பிறந்து விட்டால்
உன்னை மறவாத மனம் வேண்டும்
I seek the boon of no more birth.
If due to my past misdeeds I am born once again,
Born once more into this world,
I pray for the boon to never forget you.
பிறவாத வரம் வேண்டும்
I seek the boon of no more birth.
Piravaadha varam vendum
I seek the boon of no more birth.
Ini piravaadha varam vendum
Hereafter, I pray for the boon never to be born again.
En pizhaiyaalae naan meendum
If due to my past misdeeds I am born once again,
Piranthu vittaal
Born once more into this world,
Unnai maravaadha varam vendum
I pray for the boon to never forget you.
Piravaadha varam vendum
I seek the boon of no more birth.
En pizhaiyaalae naan meendum
If due to my past misdeeds I am born once again,
Piranthu vittaal
Born once more into this world,
Unnai maravaadha varam vendum
I pray for the boon to never forget you.
Piravaadha varam vendum
I seek the boon of no more birth.
Iravaadha inba anbum
An undying, joyful love,
Uravaadha thooya panbum
A pure character that builds righteous bonds,
Niraivaana unmai nenjum
And a heart full of absolute truth—
Iraivaa nee thandhaalum
Even if you grant me all these, O Lord,
Piravaadha varam vendum
I still seek the boon of no more birth.
En pizhaiyaalae naan meendum
If due to my past misdeeds I am born once again,
Piranthu vittaal
Born once more into this world,
Unnai maravaadha varam vendum
I pray for the boon to never forget you.
Pani padarntha thiru kailangiriyil
On the snow-covered sacred Mount Kailash,
Ani thiranda malar munivar un kulamum
Where crowds of flower-adorned sages and your divine lineage assemble,
Iniya gandharavar isai perum pulavar
Sweet Gandharvas and great scholarly poets,
Anaivarum thozhuthu un iru padham paniya
All bow down and worship at your two holy feet,
Vaanavar thaanavar naadu kulunga
Shaking the realms of celestials and demons alike,
Paavai manohari maadhar kulunga
Making the captivating damsels tremble with delight,
Naaranan naanmugan maeni kulunga
Causing Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma to shake with joy,
Naa magal poo magal vaazhvu kulunga
Causing Goddess Saraswati and Goddess Lakshmi to rejoice in bliss,
Sekkilai suthama natpugal ezhuvagai
With flawless, pure friendships of seven kinds,
Arpudha panbugal oppiya isaiyena
Sounding like music composed of marvelous virtues,
Mathalam sethari kokkari muzhamozhi
As drums, cymbals, and horns resound loudly,
Thaththimi thathjunu thakida thagavena
To the rhythmic beats of 'Thaththimi Thathjunu Thakida Thagavena',
Muzhanga nadamidum
As you dance to the roaring cosmic rhythms,
Sathangai aniyidhu padhangal nidhamum
Your feet adorned with tinkling anklets, daily...
Vanangi vazhi pada
To bow before those feet and worship...
Piravaadha varam vendum
I seek the boon of no more birth.
En pizhaiyaalae naan meendum
If due to my past misdeeds I am born once again,
Piranthu vittaal
Born once more into this world,
Unnai maravaadha varam vendum
I pray for the boon to never forget you.
Piravaadha varam vendum
I seek the boon of no more birth.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic devotional composition expresses the intense spiritual longing of Karaikkal Ammaiyar for liberation (Moksha) from the endless cycle of birth and rebirth. She prays to Lord Shiva for the ultimate gift: never to be born again into the mortal world. However, recognizing that her past karma might compel another birth, her single condition is that she must never forget Him, maintaining unbroken devotion throughout any existence.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Refrain (Pallavi repetition)
“Piravaadha varam vendum”
The core phrase 'Piravaadha varam vendum' (I seek the boon of no more birth) is repeated constantly throughout the song, underscoring the singer's primary spiritual goal.
Second-letter Rhyme (Ethukai)
“Iravaadha inba anbum / Uravaadha thooya panbum / Niraivaana unmai nenjum”
The second consonant 'ra' creates a rhythmic harmony across consecutive lines.
Rhythmic Onomatopoeia (Sollukattu)
“Thaththimi thathjunu thakida thagavena”
Pneumonic syllables representing drum patterns mimicking Lord Shiva's cosmic dance (Ananda Thandavam).
Hyperbole and Imagery
“Vaanavar thaanavar naadu kulunga”
Dramatic imagery illustrating the entire cosmos, gods, goddesses, and realms trembling with joy at Shiva's dance.
Did you know?
Trivia
This song is directly adapted from the historic 6th-century Tamil Saivite hymn 'Arputha Thiruvanthathi' composed by Karaikkal Ammaiyar, one of the 63 Nayanmars. For the 1973 film, Kannadasan penned lyrics matching her original classical verse ('Iravaadha Anbu Vendum'), set to music by Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan and powerfully rendered by legendary musician K. B. Sundarambal.
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