Saamiyaaraa Ponavanukku
From Ethir Kaatru · 1990
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| : Haa…aaa…haaa….aaa… | Vocalization |
| Haaa….aaa..haaa…aaa.. | Vocalization |
| Haa..aa…aa…haaa…aaa….aaa… | Vocalization |
| Male | |
| Saamiyaaraa ponavanukku | For the person who became an ascetic, |
| Samsaara nenappedhukku | Why think about worldly family life? |
| Samsaariyaa vaazhbavanukku | For the person living as a family man, |
| Sanniyaasa nenappedhukku | Why think about renunciation? |
| Aahaa ikkaraikku thaan | Aha, for this shore, |
| Andha akkara pacha | That shore looks green. |
| Ada akkaraikku ikkara pacha | Hey, for that shore, this shore looks green! |
| Naama inga irndhaa | If we stay here, |
| Adhu anga izhukkum | It pulls us over there. |
| Ada engaeyumae yedhum illa daa | Hey, there is ultimately nothing anywhere, my friend! |
| Chorus | |
| Hae hae | Hae hae |
| Saamiyaaraa ponavanukku | For the person who became an ascetic, |
| Samsaara nenappedhukku | Why think about worldly family life? |
| Samsaariyaa vaazhbavanukku | For the person living as a family man, |
| Sanniyaasa nenappedhukku | Why think about renunciation? |
| Male | |
| Vaazha nenaikkum manushanukku | For a man who wants to live, |
| Saavu oru kadaisi ella | Death is a final boundary. |
| Saaga nenachaa adhu kaiyila illa | If one wants to die, it is not in their hands. |
| Indha vaazhkkaiyla ethana tholla | How many troubles exist in this life! |
| Male | |
| Vaazha nenaikkum manushanukku | For a man who wants to live, |
| Saavu oru kadaisi ella | Death is a final boundary. |
| Chorus :Haan haa…aaaa aan | Chorus: Haan haa…aaaa aan |
| Male :Saaga nenachaa adhu kaiyila illa | Male: If one wants to die, it is not in their hands. |
| Indha vaazhkkaiyla ethana tholla | How many troubles exist in this life! |
| Chorus :Haan haa…aaaa aan | Chorus: Haan haa…aaaa aan |
| Male | |
| Aathangarai oram | By the riverbank, |
| Nee mudhalil kulikkum thanni | The water you bathe in first, |
| Adutha mora ponaa | When you go the next time, |
| Adhu vera pudhu thanni | That is different, new water. |
| Porandhu porandhu saagum | It dies continuously as it is born, |
| Adhu sethu sethu pozhaikkum | It revives as it dies. |
| Dhenamum dhenamum nadanthum | Even as it happens daily, |
| Idhu marandhu marandhu pogum | This gets forgotten again and again. |
| Indha olagathilae vaazhvadhilae | In living in this world, |
| Artham illa daa | There is no meaning, my friend! |
| Chorus | |
| Hae hae | Hae hae |
| Saamiyaaraa ponavanukku | For the person who became an ascetic, |
| Samsaara nenappedhukku | Why think about worldly family life? |
| Male :Hae hae | Male: Hae hae |
| Chorus :Samsaariyaa vaazhbavanukku | Chorus: For the person living as a family man, |
| Sanniyaasa nenappedhukku | Why think about renunciation? |
| Male :Hoi hoi | Male: Hoi hoi |
| Male | |
| Enna thirutha onna thirutha | To correct me, to correct you, |
| Ethana per porandhu vandhaan | How many people were born into this world? |
| Thathuvangala ezhudhi vechu | Writing down philosophies, |
| Ada vittu vittu odi maranjaan | Hey, they abandoned them and disappeared! |
| Male | |
| Enna thirutha onna thirutha | To correct me, to correct you, |
| Ethana per porandhu vandhaan | How many people were born into this world? |
| Chorus :Haan haa…aaaa aan | Chorus: Haan haa…aaaa aan |
| Male :Thathuvangala ezhudhi vechu | Male: Writing down philosophies, |
| Ada vittu vittu odi maranjaan | Hey, they abandoned them and disappeared! |
| Chorus :Haan haa…aaaa aan | Chorus: Haan haa…aaaa aan |
| Male | |
| Muzhichirukkum vaazhkka | Waking life |
| Oru kanava pola thambi | Is like a dream, my brother. |
| Idhil thookkathilae sorgam | In this, heaven in sleep, |
| Adhu enga varum ambi | Where will that come from, little brother? |
| Male | |
| Urutti urutti paaru | Roll it and look around, |
| Idhu naai kaiyil thaengaa | This is like a coconut in a dog's mouth. |
| Uzhudhu payira podu | Plough and sow seeds, |
| Idhu paara nelathu poongaa | This is like a garden on a rocky land. |
| Adhil uzhuvadhilae azhuvadhilae | In ploughing it, in crying over it, |
| Artham illa daa | There is no meaning, my friend! |
| Chorus | |
| Hae hae | Hae hae |
| Saamiyaaraa ponavanukku | For the person who became an ascetic, |
| Samsaara nenappedhukku | Why think about worldly family life? |
| Male :Hae hae | Male: Hae hae |
| Chorus :Samsaariyaa vaazhbavanukku | Chorus: For the person living as a family man, |
| Sanniyaasa nenappedhukku | Why think about renunciation? |
| Male | |
| Aahaa ikkaraikku thaan | Aha, for this shore, |
| Andha akkara pacha | That shore looks green. |
| Ada akkaraikku ikkara pacha | Hey, for that shore, this shore looks green! |
| Naama inga irndhaa | If we stay here, |
| Adhu anga izhukkum | It pulls us over there. |
| Ada engaeyumae yedhum illa daa | Hey, there is ultimately nothing anywhere, my friend! |
| Chorus | |
| Hae hae | Hae hae |
| Male :Saamiyaaraa ponavanukku | Male: For the person who became an ascetic, |
| Samsaara nenappedhukku | Why think about worldly family life? |
| Chorus :Hae hae | Chorus: Hae hae |
| Male :Samsaariyaa vaazhbavanukku | Male: For the person living as a family man, |
| Sanniyaasa nenappedhukku | Why think about renunciation? |
| Chorus | |
| Hae hae | Hae hae |
| Saamiyaaraa ponavanukku | For the person who became an ascetic, |
| Male :Hoi | Male: Hoi |
| Chorus :Samsaara nenappedhukku | Chorus: Why think about worldly family life? |
| Male :Hae hae | Male: Hae hae |
| Chorus :Samsaariyaa vaazhbavanukku | Chorus: For the person living as a family man, |
| Male :Hoi hoi | Male: Hoi hoi |
| Chorus :Sanniyaasa nenappedhukku | Chorus: Why think about renunciation? |
| Male :Hoi hoi hae | Male: Hoi hoi hae |
ஆஅ.....ஆஅ......ஆ.....
ஆஅ.....ஆஅ......ஆ.....
ஆஅ.....ஆஅ......ஆ.....ஆஅ....ஆஅ.....
Vocalization
Vocalization
Vocalization
சாமியாரா போனவனுக்கு
சம்சார நெனப்பெதுக்கு
சம்சாரியா வாழ்பவனுக்கு
சன்னியாச நெனப்பெதுக்கு
For the person who became an ascetic,
Why think about worldly family life?
For the person living as a family man,
Why think about renunciation?
Aha, for this shore,
That shore looks green.
Hey, for that shore, this shore looks green!
If we stay here,
It pulls us over there.
Hey, there is ultimately nothing anywhere, my friend!
ஆஹா இக்கரைக்குத்தான்
அந்த அக்கரை பச்சை
அட அக்கரைக்கு இக்கரை பச்சை
Hae hae
For the person who became an ascetic,
Why think about worldly family life?
For the person living as a family man,
Why think about renunciation?
நாம இங்க இருந்தா
அது அங்க இழுக்கும்
அட எங்கேயுமே ஏதும் இல்லடா
For a man who wants to live,
Death is a final boundary.
If one wants to die, it is not in their hands.
How many troubles exist in this life!
ஹே ஹே......
சாமியாரா போனவனுக்கு
சம்சார நெனப்பெதுக்கு
சம்சாரியா வாழ்பவனுக்கு
சன்னியாச நெனப்பெதுக்கு
For a man who wants to live,
Death is a final boundary.
Chorus: Haan haa…aaaa aan
Male: If one wants to die, it is not in their hands.
How many troubles exist in this life!
Chorus: Haan haa…aaaa aan
வாழ நெனைக்கும் மனுஷனுக்கு
சாவு ஒரு கடைசியல்ல...ஆ...
சாக நெனச்சா அது கையில இல்லை
இந்த வாழ்க்கையில எத்தனை தொல்லை
By the riverbank,
The water you bathe in first,
When you go the next time,
That is different, new water.
It dies continuously as it is born,
It revives as it dies.
Even as it happens daily,
This gets forgotten again and again.
In living in this world,
There is no meaning, my friend!
வாழ நெனைக்கும் மனுஷனுக்கு
சாவு ஒரு கடைசியல்ல
குழு :
ஹேய் ஹேய் ஹேய்
சாக நெனச்சா அது கையில இல்லை
இந்த வாழ்க்கையில எத்தனை தொல்லை
குழு :
ஹேய் ஹேய் ஹேய்
Hae hae
For the person who became an ascetic,
Why think about worldly family life?
Male: Hae hae
Chorus: For the person living as a family man,
Why think about renunciation?
Male: Hoi hoi
ஆத்தங்கரை ஓரம் நீ
முதலில் குளிக்கும் தண்ணி
அடுத்த மொற போனா அது
வேற புதுத் தண்ணி
To correct me, to correct you,
How many people were born into this world?
Writing down philosophies,
Hey, they abandoned them and disappeared!
பொறந்து பொறந்து சாகும்
அது செத்து செத்து பொழைக்கும்
தெனமும் தெனமும் நடந்தும்
இது மறந்து மறந்து போகும்
இந்த ஒலகத்திலே வாழ்வதிலே
அர்த்தம் இல்லடா
To correct me, to correct you,
How many people were born into this world?
Chorus: Haan haa…aaaa aan
Male: Writing down philosophies,
Hey, they abandoned them and disappeared!
Chorus: Haan haa…aaaa aan
ஹே ஹே......
சாமியாரா போனவனுக்கு
சம்சார நெனப்பெதுக்கு
ஹேய் ஹேய்
குழு :
சம்சாரியா வாழ்பவனுக்கு
சன்னியாச நெனப்பெதுக்கு
ஹேய் ஹேய்
Waking life
Is like a dream, my brother.
In this, heaven in sleep,
Where will that come from, little brother?
என்னத் திருத்த ஒன்னத் திருத்த
எத்தனை பேர் பொறந்து வந்தான்
தத்துவங்கள எழுதி வெச்சு
அட விட்டு விட்டு ஓடி மறஞ்சான்
Roll it and look around,
This is like a coconut in a dog's mouth.
Plough and sow seeds,
This is like a garden on a rocky land.
In ploughing it, in crying over it,
There is no meaning, my friend!
என்னத் திருத்த ஒன்னத் திருத்த
எத்தனை பேர் பொறந்து வந்தான்
குழு :
ஆஅ ஹா ஹா ஹா
தத்துவங்கள எழுதி வெச்சு
அட விட்டு விட்டு ஓடி மறஞ்சான்
குழு :
ஆஅ ஹா ஹா ஹா
Hae hae
For the person who became an ascetic,
Why think about worldly family life?
Male: Hae hae
Chorus: For the person living as a family man,
Why think about renunciation?
முழிச்சிருக்கும் வாழ்க்க
ஒரு கனவப் போல தம்பி
இதில் தூக்கத்திலே சொர்க்கம்
அது எங்க வரும் அம்பி
Aha, for this shore,
That shore looks green.
Hey, for that shore, this shore looks green!
If we stay here,
It pulls us over there.
Hey, there is ultimately nothing anywhere, my friend!
உருட்டி உருட்டிப் பாரு
இது நாய் கையில் தேங்கா
உழுது பயிரப் போடு
இது பாறை நெலத்துப் பூங்கா
அதில் உழுவதிலே அழுவதிலே
அர்த்தம் இல்லடா
Hae hae
Male: For the person who became an ascetic,
Why think about worldly family life?
Chorus: Hae hae
Male: For the person living as a family man,
Why think about renunciation?
ஹே ஹே......
சாமியாரா போனவனுக்கு
சம்சார நெனப்பெதுக்கு
ஹேய் ஹேய்
குழு :
சம்சாரியா வாழ்பவனுக்கு
சன்னியாச நெனப்பெதுக்கு
Hae hae
For the person who became an ascetic,
Male: Hoi
Chorus: Why think about worldly family life?
Male: Hae hae
Chorus: For the person living as a family man,
Male: Hoi hoi
Chorus: Why think about renunciation?
Male: Hoi hoi hae
ஆஹா இக்கரைக்குத்தான்
அந்த அக்கரை பச்சை
அட அக்கரைக்கு இக்கரை பச்சை
நாம இங்க இருந்தா
அது அங்க இழுக்கும்
அட எங்கேயுமே ஏதும் இல்லடா
ஹே ஹே......
சாமியாரா போனவனுக்கு
சம்சார நெனப்பெதுக்கு
குழு :
ஹேய் ஹேய்
சம்சாரியா வாழ்பவனுக்கு
சன்னியாச நெனப்பெதுக்கு
குழு :
ஹேய் ஹேய்
ஹே ஹே......
சாமியாரா போனவனுக்கு
சம்சார நெனப்பெதுக்கு
ஹேய் ஹேய்
குழு :
சம்சாரியா வாழ்பவனுக்கு
சன்னியாச நெனப்பெதுக்கு
ஹேய் ஹோய் ஹோய்
: Haa…aaa…haaa….aaa…
Vocalization
Haaa….aaa..haaa…aaa..
Vocalization
Haa..aa…aa…haaa…aaa….aaa…
Vocalization
Saamiyaaraa ponavanukku
For the person who became an ascetic,
Samsaara nenappedhukku
Why think about worldly family life?
Samsaariyaa vaazhbavanukku
For the person living as a family man,
Sanniyaasa nenappedhukku
Why think about renunciation?
Aahaa ikkaraikku thaan
Aha, for this shore,
Andha akkara pacha
That shore looks green.
Ada akkaraikku ikkara pacha
Hey, for that shore, this shore looks green!
Naama inga irndhaa
If we stay here,
Adhu anga izhukkum
It pulls us over there.
Ada engaeyumae yedhum illa daa
Hey, there is ultimately nothing anywhere, my friend!
Hae hae
Hae hae
Saamiyaaraa ponavanukku
For the person who became an ascetic,
Samsaara nenappedhukku
Why think about worldly family life?
Samsaariyaa vaazhbavanukku
For the person living as a family man,
Sanniyaasa nenappedhukku
Why think about renunciation?
Vaazha nenaikkum manushanukku
For a man who wants to live,
Saavu oru kadaisi ella
Death is a final boundary.
Saaga nenachaa adhu kaiyila illa
If one wants to die, it is not in their hands.
Indha vaazhkkaiyla ethana tholla
How many troubles exist in this life!
Vaazha nenaikkum manushanukku
For a man who wants to live,
Saavu oru kadaisi ella
Death is a final boundary.
Chorus :Haan haa…aaaa aan
Chorus: Haan haa…aaaa aan
Male :Saaga nenachaa adhu kaiyila illa
Male: If one wants to die, it is not in their hands.
Indha vaazhkkaiyla ethana tholla
How many troubles exist in this life!
Chorus :Haan haa…aaaa aan
Chorus: Haan haa…aaaa aan
Aathangarai oram
By the riverbank,
Nee mudhalil kulikkum thanni
The water you bathe in first,
Adutha mora ponaa
When you go the next time,
Adhu vera pudhu thanni
That is different, new water.
Porandhu porandhu saagum
It dies continuously as it is born,
Adhu sethu sethu pozhaikkum
It revives as it dies.
Dhenamum dhenamum nadanthum
Even as it happens daily,
Idhu marandhu marandhu pogum
This gets forgotten again and again.
Indha olagathilae vaazhvadhilae
In living in this world,
Artham illa daa
There is no meaning, my friend!
Hae hae
Hae hae
Saamiyaaraa ponavanukku
For the person who became an ascetic,
Samsaara nenappedhukku
Why think about worldly family life?
Male :Hae hae
Male: Hae hae
Chorus :Samsaariyaa vaazhbavanukku
Chorus: For the person living as a family man,
Sanniyaasa nenappedhukku
Why think about renunciation?
Male :Hoi hoi
Male: Hoi hoi
Enna thirutha onna thirutha
To correct me, to correct you,
Ethana per porandhu vandhaan
How many people were born into this world?
Thathuvangala ezhudhi vechu
Writing down philosophies,
Ada vittu vittu odi maranjaan
Hey, they abandoned them and disappeared!
Enna thirutha onna thirutha
To correct me, to correct you,
Ethana per porandhu vandhaan
How many people were born into this world?
Chorus :Haan haa…aaaa aan
Chorus: Haan haa…aaaa aan
Male :Thathuvangala ezhudhi vechu
Male: Writing down philosophies,
Ada vittu vittu odi maranjaan
Hey, they abandoned them and disappeared!
Chorus :Haan haa…aaaa aan
Chorus: Haan haa…aaaa aan
Muzhichirukkum vaazhkka
Waking life
Oru kanava pola thambi
Is like a dream, my brother.
Idhil thookkathilae sorgam
In this, heaven in sleep,
Adhu enga varum ambi
Where will that come from, little brother?
Urutti urutti paaru
Roll it and look around,
Idhu naai kaiyil thaengaa
This is like a coconut in a dog's mouth.
Uzhudhu payira podu
Plough and sow seeds,
Idhu paara nelathu poongaa
This is like a garden on a rocky land.
Adhil uzhuvadhilae azhuvadhilae
In ploughing it, in crying over it,
Artham illa daa
There is no meaning, my friend!
Hae hae
Hae hae
Saamiyaaraa ponavanukku
For the person who became an ascetic,
Samsaara nenappedhukku
Why think about worldly family life?
Male :Hae hae
Male: Hae hae
Chorus :Samsaariyaa vaazhbavanukku
Chorus: For the person living as a family man,
Sanniyaasa nenappedhukku
Why think about renunciation?
Aahaa ikkaraikku thaan
Aha, for this shore,
Andha akkara pacha
That shore looks green.
Ada akkaraikku ikkara pacha
Hey, for that shore, this shore looks green!
Naama inga irndhaa
If we stay here,
Adhu anga izhukkum
It pulls us over there.
Ada engaeyumae yedhum illa daa
Hey, there is ultimately nothing anywhere, my friend!
Hae hae
Hae hae
Male :Saamiyaaraa ponavanukku
Male: For the person who became an ascetic,
Samsaara nenappedhukku
Why think about worldly family life?
Chorus :Hae hae
Chorus: Hae hae
Male :Samsaariyaa vaazhbavanukku
Male: For the person living as a family man,
Sanniyaasa nenappedhukku
Why think about renunciation?
Hae hae
Hae hae
Saamiyaaraa ponavanukku
For the person who became an ascetic,
Male :Hoi
Male: Hoi
Chorus :Samsaara nenappedhukku
Chorus: Why think about worldly family life?
Male :Hae hae
Male: Hae hae
Chorus :Samsaariyaa vaazhbavanukku
Chorus: For the person living as a family man,
Male :Hoi hoi
Male: Hoi hoi
Chorus :Sanniyaasa nenappedhukku
Chorus: Why think about renunciation?
Male :Hoi hoi hae
Male: Hoi hoi hae
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Saamiyaaraa Ponavanukku from Ethir Kaatru (1990), penned by lyricist Vaali, is a philosophical track exploring the human condition, perennial discontent, and the grass-is-greener syndrome. It highlights how humans are rarely satisfied with their current state—an ascetic dreams of family life while a family man longs for renunciation. Through conversational philosophical lines, the song reflects on how people constantly seek what they do not have, trapped in illusions of happiness. Vaali uses vivid metaphors like the constantly flowing river water to represent the fleeting nature of life and time. Despite numerous philosophers offering wisdom throughout history, human nature remains stuck in cycle of desires, struggles, and discontentment, making raw worldly pursuits ultimately futile.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Proverb / Idiom (Pazhamozhi)
“Aahaa ikkaraikku thaan / Andha akkara pacha”
Uses the famous Tamil proverb 'Ikkaraikku akkara pacha' (The grass is always greener on the other side) to illustrate constant human dissatisfaction.
Metaphor / Contrast (Ethir-nidhai)
“Saamiyaaraa ponavanukku / Samsaara nenappedhukku / Samsaariyaa vaazhbavanukku / Sanniyaasa nenappedhukku”
Contrasts the desires of an ascetic (Saamiyaaraa) with that of a family man (Samsaariyaa) to point out human paradoxical nature.
Simile / Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“Idhu naai kaiyil thaengaa / Uzhudhu payira podu / Idhu paara nelathu poongaa”
Compares dynamic life and useless human struggles to a dog holding a coconut ('naai kaiyil thaengaa') and trying to cultivate rocky land.
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Trivia
Ethir Kaatru (1990) was directed by Muktha S. Sundar and featured music composed by Ilaiyaraaja. Lyricist Vaali was well known for blending deep philosophical truths into simple, accessible colloquial Tamil vernacular for film songs.
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