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Adutha Veedu album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Purushan Manaivi Uravuthan

From Adutha Veedu · 1989

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Adutha Veedu
Movie release year
1989
Lyrics added on
25 Oct 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Purushan manaivi uravuthaan punidhamaanadhu
Purindhu kondu vaazhvadhae inimaiyaanadhu
Panam kaasu irundhaalum varuma nimmadhi
Pazhanjoru adhu podhum manamae sannidhi
Podhumendru sollumaa pombalainga jaadhi
Purushan manaivi uravuthaan punidhamaanadhu
Purindhu kondu vaazhvadhae inimaiyaanadhu
Kolappam vandhaalae ada orakkam varadhu
Manam thelinjaalae oru mayakkam varadhu
Poona paduthu kedakkum aduppil yaanai thangaadhu
Erumbhu kooda karumbha virumbhum eduthu thingaadhu
Veetukku veedu vaasarppadi
Amaikkindra vaazhkkai aasappadi
Avanavan jodi jaadikketha moodi
Purushan manaivi uravuthaan punidhamaanadhu
Purindhu kondu vaazhvadhae inimaiyaanadhu
Panam kaasu irundhaalum varuma nimmadhi
Pazhanjoru adhu podhum manamae sannidhi
Podhumendru sollumaa pombalainga jaadhi
Purushan manaivi uravuthaan punidhamaanadhu
Purindhu kondu vaazhvadhae inimaiyaanadhu
Kaattukuruvikku solakarudhu melaasai
Thottakkaarikkoo andha kuruvi mela aasai
Aasa adakka therinja manasu padapadakkadhu
Pakkathula veetula ola kodhichu pasiyadangaadhu
Kaaveri pola neer irukka
Kaanala thedi nee parakka
Maalaiyitta maanae naalai nanmai thaanae
Purushan manaivi uravuthaan punidhamaanadhu
Purindhu kondu vaazhvadhae inimaiyaanadhu
Panam kaasu irundhaalum varuma nimmadhi
Pazhanjoru adhu podhum manamae sannidhi
Podhumendru sollumaa pombalainga jaadhi
Purushan manaivi uravuthaan punidhamaanadhu
Purindhu kondu vaazhvadhae inimaiyaanadhu
The bond between husband and wife is sacred.
Living with mutual understanding is what makes it sweet.
Even with wealth and money, will peace of mind come?
Plain leftover rice is enough when the heart is a shrine.
But will womankind ever say that is enough?
The bond between husband and wife is sacred.
Living with mutual understanding is what makes it sweet.
When confusion sets in, sleep will not come.
Once the mind is clear, no illusion can trouble you.
An elephant cannot fit in a hearth where a cat curls up.
Even an ant may crave sugarcane, but it cannot carry it away to eat.
Every home has its own threshold.
And life shapes itself around our desires.
Every couple is a matching lid made for its jar.
The bond between husband and wife is sacred.
Living with mutual understanding is what makes it sweet.
Even with wealth and money, will peace of mind come?
Plain leftover rice is enough when the heart is a shrine.
But will womankind ever say that is enough?
The bond between husband and wife is sacred.
Living with mutual understanding is what makes it sweet.
The wild bird longs for the ear of corn,
While the gardener woman longs to catch that bird.
A heart that knows how to check its desires will never flutter with worry.
A pot boiling in the neighbor's house cannot cure your hunger.
When you have water flowing like the Kaveri river,
Why do you fly chasing after a mirage?
Oh my wedded darling, tomorrow will surely bring good times.
The bond between husband and wife is sacred.
Living with mutual understanding is what makes it sweet.
Even with wealth and money, will peace of mind come?
Plain leftover rice is enough when the heart is a shrine.
But will womankind ever say that is enough?
The bond between husband and wife is sacred.
Living with mutual understanding is what makes it sweet.
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Purushan Manaivi Uravuthaan' is a philosophical folk-style song from the film Adutha Veedu (1989), highlighting the sanctity of marriage and the supreme value of mutual understanding over material wealth. Sung emphatically by Malaysia Vasudevan to the music of Shankar-Ganesh and lyrics by Vairamuthu, the song counsels that wealth alone cannot buy peace of mind, and even simple leftover food brings joy when shared with contentment and harmony. The song relies heavily on traditional Tamil proverbs and practical metaphors to emphasize that happiness lies in cherishing what one has within one's own home, rather than constantly yearning for external or unattainable desires.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyming)

“Purushan manaivi uravuthaan punidhamaanadhu / Purindhu kondu vaazhvadhae inimaiyaanadhu”

The second letter 'ru' rhymes across 'Purushan' and 'Purindhu', establishing a rhythmic flow.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

“Purushan manaivi uravuthaan punidhamaanadhu”

Repetition of the initial sound 'Pu' across words creates melodic cadence.

Uvamai (Simile / Idiomatic Comparison)

“Avanavan jodi jaadikketha moodi”

Compares a matched married couple to a jar and its perfectly fitted lid.

Metaphor (Contrast of Contentment vs. Pursuit)

“Kaaveri pola neer irukka / Kaanala thedi nee parakka”

Contrasts the reliable, flowing Kaveri river (real happiness at home) with a mirage (unrealistic or external desires).

Did you know?

Trivia

The lyrics incorporate multiple famous colloquial Tamil adages and proverbs—such as 'Jaadikketha moodi' (a lid tailored for the jar) and 'Veetukku veedu vaasarppadi' (every house has a doorstep)—to deliver timeless marital advice.

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