Sathiyathin Sothanaikku
From Gruhapravesam · 1976
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Gruhapravesam1976
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Saththiyathin sodhanaikku | For the test of truth, |
| Eththanai per potti | How many are competing! |
| Saththiyathin sodhanaikku | For the test of truth, |
| Eththanai per potti | How many are competing! |
| Male | |
| Dharmam ennai vaattuthammaa | Righteousness afflicts me, Oh Mother, |
| Sonthangalai kaatti | By pointing out my own relatives. |
| Dharmam ennai vaattuthammaa | Righteousness afflicts me, Oh Mother, |
| Sonthangalai kaatti | By pointing out my own relatives. |
| Male | |
| Aththanaiyum thaangi vittaen | I have endured all of it, |
| Sakthiyinai koottu | Grant me more strength! |
| Aandavanum saernthu kondaan | Even God has joined in, |
| Sangadaththil maatti…. | Trapping me in distress... |
| Aandavanum saernthu kondaan | Even God has joined in, |
| Sangadaththil maatti…. | Trapping me in distress... |
| Male | |
| Saththiyathin sodhanaikku | For the test of truth, |
| Eththanai per potti | How many are competing! |
| Dharmam ennai vaattuthammaa | Righteousness afflicts me, Oh Mother, |
| Sonthangalai kaatti | By pointing out my own relatives. |
| Male | |
| Annan enbavan idithaangi | An elder brother is a lightning rod, |
| Avan aththanai perukkum sumaithaangi | He is the bearer of burdens for everyone. |
| Annan enbavan idithaangi | An elder brother is a lightning rod, |
| Avan aththanai perukkum sumaithaangi | He is the bearer of burdens for everyone. |
| Male | |
| Thunaivan enbavan kannaadi | A life partner is like a mirror, |
| Adhai sollaal adippaval pendaatti | A wife is one who strikes it with her words. |
| Sollaal adippaval pendaatti | A wife is one who strikes it with her words. |
| Male | |
| Saththiyathin sodhanaikku | For the test of truth, |
| Eththanai per potti | How many are competing! |
| Dharmam ennai vaattuthammaa | Righteousness afflicts me, Oh Mother, |
| Sonthangalai kaatti | By pointing out my own relatives. |
| Male | |
| Manithan vaazhkkai villangam | Human life is full of entanglements, |
| Avan magalukellaam miruthangam | While for his daughters, it plays rhythmic beatings like a mridangam. |
| Vaazhvil inbam oru neram | Happiness in life lasts but a moment, |
| Pin maraththil yaerum vedhaalam | Afterwards, the ghost climbs back up the tree. |
| Maraththil yaerum vedhaalam | The ghost climbs back up the tree. |
| Male | |
| Saththiyathin sodhanaikku | For the test of truth, |
| Eththanai per potti | How many are competing! |
| Dharmam ennai vaattuthammaa | Righteousness afflicts me, Oh Mother, |
| Sonthangalai kaatti | By pointing out my own relatives. |
| Male | |
| Idukkan varumpothu siriyendraan | He (Thiruvalluvar) said to smile when trouble comes, |
| Naan eththanai perukendru sirikkindraan | For how many people/troubles am I to keep smiling? |
| Idukkan varumpothu siriyendraan | He said to smile when trouble comes, |
| Naan eththanai perukendru sirikkindraan | For how many people/troubles am I to keep smiling? |
| Aduththathu nanmaiyendru ninaikkindrean | I keep believing that good things will happen next, |
| Naan adhanaalthaanae uyirodu irukkindrean | That is the only reason I am still alive. |
| Naan adhanaalthaanae uyirodu irukkindrean | That is the only reason I am still alive. |
| Male | |
| Saththiyathin sodhanaikku | For the test of truth, |
| Eththanai per potti | How many are competing! |
| Dharmam ennai vaattuthammaa | Righteousness afflicts me, Oh Mother, |
| Sonthangalai kaatti | By pointing out my own relatives. |
| Male | |
| Aththanaiyum thaangi vittaen | I have endured all of it, |
| Sakthiyinai kootti | Grant me more strength! |
| Aandavanum saerththu kondaan | Even God has joined in, |
| Sangadaththil maatti | Trapping me in distress. |
| Aandavanum saerththu kondaan | Even God has joined in, |
| Sangadaththil maatti | Trapping me in distress. |
| Male | |
| Saththiyathin sodhanaikku | For the test of truth, |
| Eththanai per potti | How many are competing! |
| Dharmam ennai vaattuthammaa | Righteousness afflicts me, Oh Mother, |
| Sonthangalai kaatti | By pointing out my own relatives. |
சத்தியத்தின் சோதனைக்கு
எத்தனை பேர் போட்டி
சத்தியத்தின் சோதனைக்கு
எத்தனை பேர் போட்டி
For the test of truth,
How many are competing!
For the test of truth,
How many are competing!
ஆண்
: தர்மம் என்னை வாட்டுதம்மா
சொந்தங்களை காட்டி
தர்மம் என்னை வாட்டுதம்மா
சொந்தங்களை காட்டி
Righteousness afflicts me, Oh Mother,
By pointing out my own relatives.
Righteousness afflicts me, Oh Mother,
By pointing out my own relatives.
அத்தனையும் தாங்கி விட்டேன்
சக்தியினைக் கூட்டி
ஆண்டவனும் சேர்ந்துக் கொண்டான்
சங்கடத்தில் மாட்டி..
ஆண்டவனும் சேர்ந்துக் கொண்டான்
சங்கடத்தில் மாட்டி..
I have endured all of it,
Grant me more strength!
Even God has joined in,
Trapping me in distress...
Even God has joined in,
Trapping me in distress...
சத்தியத்தின் சோதனைக்கு
எத்தனை பேர் போட்டி
தர்மம் என்னை வாட்டுதம்மா
சொந்தங்களை காட்டி
For the test of truth,
How many are competing!
Righteousness afflicts me, Oh Mother,
By pointing out my own relatives.
அண்ணன் என்பவன் இடிதாங்கி
அவன் அத்தனை பேருக்கும் சுமைதாங்கி
அண்ணன் என்பவன் இடிதாங்கி
அவன் அத்தனை பேருக்கும் சுமைதாங்கி
An elder brother is a lightning rod,
He is the bearer of burdens for everyone.
An elder brother is a lightning rod,
He is the bearer of burdens for everyone.
துணைவன் என்பவன் கண்ணாடி
அதைச் சொல்லால் அடிப்பவள் பெண்டாட்டி
சொல்லால் அடிப்பவள் பெண்டாட்டி
A life partner is like a mirror,
A wife is one who strikes it with her words.
A wife is one who strikes it with her words.
சத்தியத்தின் சோதனைக்கு
எத்தனை பேர் போட்டி
தர்மம் என்னை வாட்டுதம்மா
சொந்தங்களை காட்டி
For the test of truth,
How many are competing!
Righteousness afflicts me, Oh Mother,
By pointing out my own relatives.
மனிதன் வாழ்க்கை வில்லங்கம்
அவன் மக்களுக்கெல்லாம் மிருதங்கம்
வாழ்வில் இன்பம் ஒரு நேரம்
பின் மரத்தில் ஏறும் வேதாளம்
மரத்தில் ஏறும் வேதாளம்
Human life is full of entanglements,
While for his daughters, it plays rhythmic beatings like a mridangam.
Happiness in life lasts but a moment,
Afterwards, the ghost climbs back up the tree.
The ghost climbs back up the tree.
சத்தியத்தின் சோதனைக்கு
எத்தனை பேர் போட்டி
தர்மம் என்னை வாட்டுதம்மா
சொந்தங்களை காட்டி
For the test of truth,
How many are competing!
Righteousness afflicts me, Oh Mother,
By pointing out my own relatives.
இடுக்கண் வரும்போது சிரியென்றான்
நான் எத்தனை பேருக்கென்று சிரிக்கின்றேன்
இடுக்கண் வரும்போது சிரியென்றான்
நான் எத்தனை பேருக்கென்று சிரிக்கின்றேன்
அடுத்தது நன்மையென்று நினைக்கின்றேன்
நான் அதனால்தானே உயிரோடு இருக்கின்றேன்
நான் அதனால்தானே உயிரோடு இருக்கின்றேன்
He (Thiruvalluvar) said to smile when trouble comes,
For how many people/troubles am I to keep smiling?
He said to smile when trouble comes,
For how many people/troubles am I to keep smiling?
I keep believing that good things will happen next,
That is the only reason I am still alive.
That is the only reason I am still alive.
சத்தியத்தின் சோதனைக்கு
எத்தனை பேர் போட்டி
தர்மம் என்னை வாட்டுதம்மா
சொந்தங்களை காட்டி
For the test of truth,
How many are competing!
Righteousness afflicts me, Oh Mother,
By pointing out my own relatives.
அத்தனையும் தாங்கி விட்டேன்
சக்தியினைக் கூட்டி
ஆண்டவனும் சேர்ந்துக் கொண்டான்
சங்கடத்தில் மாட்டி..
ஆண்டவனும் சேர்ந்துக் கொண்டான்
சங்கடத்தில் மாட்டி..
I have endured all of it,
Grant me more strength!
Even God has joined in,
Trapping me in distress.
Even God has joined in,
Trapping me in distress.
சத்தியத்தின் சோதனைக்கு
எத்தனை பேர் போட்டி
தர்மம் என்னை வாட்டுதம்மா
சொந்தங்களை காட்டி
For the test of truth,
How many are competing!
Righteousness afflicts me, Oh Mother,
By pointing out my own relatives.
Saththiyathin sodhanaikku
For the test of truth,
Eththanai per potti
How many are competing!
Saththiyathin sodhanaikku
For the test of truth,
Eththanai per potti
How many are competing!
Dharmam ennai vaattuthammaa
Righteousness afflicts me, Oh Mother,
Sonthangalai kaatti
By pointing out my own relatives.
Dharmam ennai vaattuthammaa
Righteousness afflicts me, Oh Mother,
Sonthangalai kaatti
By pointing out my own relatives.
Aththanaiyum thaangi vittaen
I have endured all of it,
Sakthiyinai koottu
Grant me more strength!
Aandavanum saernthu kondaan
Even God has joined in,
Sangadaththil maatti….
Trapping me in distress...
Aandavanum saernthu kondaan
Even God has joined in,
Sangadaththil maatti….
Trapping me in distress...
Saththiyathin sodhanaikku
For the test of truth,
Eththanai per potti
How many are competing!
Dharmam ennai vaattuthammaa
Righteousness afflicts me, Oh Mother,
Sonthangalai kaatti
By pointing out my own relatives.
Annan enbavan idithaangi
An elder brother is a lightning rod,
Avan aththanai perukkum sumaithaangi
He is the bearer of burdens for everyone.
Annan enbavan idithaangi
An elder brother is a lightning rod,
Avan aththanai perukkum sumaithaangi
He is the bearer of burdens for everyone.
Thunaivan enbavan kannaadi
A life partner is like a mirror,
Adhai sollaal adippaval pendaatti
A wife is one who strikes it with her words.
Sollaal adippaval pendaatti
A wife is one who strikes it with her words.
Saththiyathin sodhanaikku
For the test of truth,
Eththanai per potti
How many are competing!
Dharmam ennai vaattuthammaa
Righteousness afflicts me, Oh Mother,
Sonthangalai kaatti
By pointing out my own relatives.
Manithan vaazhkkai villangam
Human life is full of entanglements,
Avan magalukellaam miruthangam
While for his daughters, it plays rhythmic beatings like a mridangam.
Vaazhvil inbam oru neram
Happiness in life lasts but a moment,
Pin maraththil yaerum vedhaalam
Afterwards, the ghost climbs back up the tree.
Maraththil yaerum vedhaalam
The ghost climbs back up the tree.
Saththiyathin sodhanaikku
For the test of truth,
Eththanai per potti
How many are competing!
Dharmam ennai vaattuthammaa
Righteousness afflicts me, Oh Mother,
Sonthangalai kaatti
By pointing out my own relatives.
Idukkan varumpothu siriyendraan
He (Thiruvalluvar) said to smile when trouble comes,
Naan eththanai perukendru sirikkindraan
For how many people/troubles am I to keep smiling?
Idukkan varumpothu siriyendraan
He said to smile when trouble comes,
Naan eththanai perukendru sirikkindraan
For how many people/troubles am I to keep smiling?
Aduththathu nanmaiyendru ninaikkindrean
I keep believing that good things will happen next,
Naan adhanaalthaanae uyirodu irukkindrean
That is the only reason I am still alive.
Naan adhanaalthaanae uyirodu irukkindrean
That is the only reason I am still alive.
Saththiyathin sodhanaikku
For the test of truth,
Eththanai per potti
How many are competing!
Dharmam ennai vaattuthammaa
Righteousness afflicts me, Oh Mother,
Sonthangalai kaatti
By pointing out my own relatives.
Aththanaiyum thaangi vittaen
I have endured all of it,
Sakthiyinai kootti
Grant me more strength!
Aandavanum saerththu kondaan
Even God has joined in,
Sangadaththil maatti
Trapping me in distress.
Aandavanum saerththu kondaan
Even God has joined in,
Sangadaththil maatti
Trapping me in distress.
Saththiyathin sodhanaikku
For the test of truth,
Eththanai per potti
How many are competing!
Dharmam ennai vaattuthammaa
Righteousness afflicts me, Oh Mother,
Sonthangalai kaatti
By pointing out my own relatives.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poignant song from 'Gruhapravesam' (1976), written by Kannadasan and set to music by M. S. Viswanathan, expresses the deep anguish of a man burdened by family responsibilities and moral dilemmas. The protagonist reflects on how his commitment to righteousness (Dharmam) and truth causes him immense suffering, especially when his own relatives become the source of his trials. He likens an elder brother to a lightning arrester who absorbs all shocks for the family and a heavy burden bearer. Despite feeling betrayed and trapped by fate, he references the Thirukkural's wisdom ('Idukkan Varungkal Nuga') about smiling through adversity, questioning how many hardships one man can endure with a smile. It is only his faint hope that good times lie ahead that keeps him alive, capturing the philosophical resilience and tragic nobility characteristic of Kannadasan's reflective lyrics.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvameyam)
“Annan enbavan idithaangi / Avan aththanai perukkum sumaithaangi”
The elder brother is metaphorically compared to a lightning rod (idithaangi) that shields others from shocks and a rest-stop pillar (sumaithaangi) that carries everyone's weight.
Literary Allusion
“Idukkan varumpothu siriyendraan”
Direct reference to Thiruvalluvar's Thirukkural couplet 'Idukkan Varungkal Nuga' (Smile when grief arrives).
Cultural Allegory
“Pin maraththil yaerum vedhaalam”
Uses the mythical Vikramaditya and Vedhaalam motif ('maraththil yaerum vedhaalam') to symbolize recurring setbacks and endless burdens.
Ethai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Saththiyathin sodhanaikku / Eththanai per potti”
Rhyming of the second letter 'th' in Saththiyathin and Eththanai.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song brilliantly integrates classical Thirukkural moral philosophy with the domestic grief of 1970s middle-class family sagas. Sung by T. M. Soundararajan with heartfelt grief, it remains one of Kannadasan's celebrated philosophical compositions on brotherly duty and existential endurance.
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