Thaali Ondru Thaevai Enna
From Thirukkalyanam · 1978
- Lyricist
- Lyricist Not Known
- Singer
- Vani Jairam
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Thirukkalyanam1978
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Thaali ondru thaevai enna | Why is a sacred thread needed |
| Maanaseega vaazhvil | In a mental, soulful bond of life? |
| Thaali ondru thaevai enna | Why is a sacred thread needed |
| Maanaseega vaazhvil | In a mental, soulful bond of life? |
| Dharmam ennum sannadhiyil | In the sanctum of righteousness, |
| Kaadhal ondru podhumadi | Love alone is sufficient, my dear. |
| Female | |
| Thaali ondru thaevai enna | Why is a sacred thread needed |
| Maanaseega vaazhvil | In a mental, soulful bond of life? |
| Female | |
| {Saevai seiya ninaitha manam | A mind that resolves to serve |
| Vaeredhaiyum ninaippadhillai | Thinks of nothing else; |
| Dheivam thandha vazhi nandandhaal | If one walks the path ordained by God, |
| Ennaalum thanimai illai} (2) | There is no loneliness on any day. |
| Paarvathikku gangai vandhaal | Ganga came alongside Parvathi, |
| Dheviyudan valli vandhaal | Valli came along with Deivanai; |
| Naanum oru gangai alla | But I am no Ganga, |
| Naayaganum sivanum alla | Nor is my beloved Lord Shiva. |
| Female | |
| Thaali ondru thaevai enna | Why is a sacred thread needed |
| Maanaseega vaazhvil | In a mental, soulful bond of life? |
| Female | |
| {Sindhanaiyil vaazhndhirundhaal | If one lives in thoughts and devotion, |
| Dheiva sugam kodi varum | Millions of divine pleasures will arrive; |
| Saeraadha vaazhvinilum | Even in a life without union, |
| Kanneeril kavidhai varum} (2) | Poetry emerges from tears. |
| Ullirukkum kovililae | In the temple that lies within, |
| Or iraivan kudiyirukka | When a single deity resides, |
| Ooraarkku kaatchi enna | Why display it to the townsfolk? |
| Unmaikku saatchi enna | What witness is needed for the truth? |
| Female | |
| Thaali ondru thaevai enna | Why is a sacred thread needed |
| Maanaseega vaazhvil | In a mental, soulful bond of life? |
| Female | |
| {Karparasi nee irukka | When you exist as a virtuous wife, |
| Kannagiyai pol irukka | Resembling Kannagi in purity, |
| Innum oru kaadhaliyaa | Am I another lover? |
| Naan enna maadhaviyaa} (2) | Am I Madhavi to come between? |
| Un nizhalai paarkkaiyilae | Just looking at your shadow, |
| Kallellaam urugumadi | Even stones would melt away, my dear. |
| En kadhaiyai vittu vidu.. | Leave my story aside.. |
| Ennodu mudiyumadi… | It will end with me, my dear... |
| Female | |
| Thaali ondru thaevai enna | Why is a sacred thread needed |
| Maanaseega vaazhvil | In a mental, soulful bond of life? |
தாலி ஒன்று தேவையென்ன
மானசீக வாழ்வில்
தாலி ஒன்று தேவையென்ன
மானசீக வாழ்வில்
தர்மம் என்னும் சன்னதியில்
காதல் ஒன்று போதுமடி
Why is a sacred thread needed
In a mental, soulful bond of life?
Why is a sacred thread needed
In a mental, soulful bond of life?
In the sanctum of righteousness,
Love alone is sufficient, my dear.
தாலி ஒன்று தேவையென்ன
மானசீக வாழ்வில்
Why is a sacred thread needed
In a mental, soulful bond of life?
{சேவை செய்ய நினைத்த மனம்
வேறெதையும் நினைப்பதில்லை
தெய்வம் தந்த வழி நடந்தால்
எந்நாளும் தனிமை இல்லை} (2)
பார்வதிக்கு கங்கை வந்தாள்
தேவியுடன் வள்ளி வந்தாள்
நானும் ஒரு கங்கையல்ல
நாயகனும் சிவனுமல்ல......
A mind that resolves to serve
Thinks of nothing else;
If one walks the path ordained by God,
There is no loneliness on any day.
Ganga came alongside Parvathi,
Valli came along with Deivanai;
But I am no Ganga,
Nor is my beloved Lord Shiva.
தாலி ஒன்று தேவையென்ன
மானசீக வாழ்வில்
Why is a sacred thread needed
In a mental, soulful bond of life?
{சிந்தனையில் வாழ்ந்திருந்தால்
தெய்வ சுகம் கோடி வரும்
சேராத வாழ்வினிலும்
கண்ணீரில் கவிதை வரும்} (2)
உள்ளிருக்கும் கோயிலிலே
ஓரிறைவன் குடியிருக்க
ஊரார்க்கும் காட்சியென்ன
உண்மைக்கும் சாட்சியென்ன......
If one lives in thoughts and devotion,
Millions of divine pleasures will arrive;
Even in a life without union,
Poetry emerges from tears.
In the temple that lies within,
When a single deity resides,
Why display it to the townsfolk?
What witness is needed for the truth?
தாலி ஒன்று தேவையென்ன
மானசீக வாழ்வில்
Why is a sacred thread needed
In a mental, soulful bond of life?
{கற்பரசி நீயிருக்க
கண்ணகியைப் போலிருக்க
இன்னும் ஒரு காதலியா
நானென்ன மாதவியா} (2)
உன் நிழலை பார்க்கையிலே
கல்லெல்லாம் உருகுமடி
என் கதையை விட்டுவிடு
என்னோடு முடியுமடி
When you exist as a virtuous wife,
Resembling Kannagi in purity,
Am I another lover?
Am I Madhavi to come between?
Just looking at your shadow,
Even stones would melt away, my dear.
Leave my story aside..
It will end with me, my dear...
தாலி ஒன்று தேவையென்ன
மானசீக வாழ்வில்
Why is a sacred thread needed
In a mental, soulful bond of life?
Thaali ondru thaevai enna
Why is a sacred thread needed
Maanaseega vaazhvil
In a mental, soulful bond of life?
Thaali ondru thaevai enna
Why is a sacred thread needed
Maanaseega vaazhvil
In a mental, soulful bond of life?
Dharmam ennum sannadhiyil
In the sanctum of righteousness,
Kaadhal ondru podhumadi
Love alone is sufficient, my dear.
Thaali ondru thaevai enna
Why is a sacred thread needed
Maanaseega vaazhvil
In a mental, soulful bond of life?
{Saevai seiya ninaitha manam
A mind that resolves to serve
Vaeredhaiyum ninaippadhillai
Thinks of nothing else;
Dheivam thandha vazhi nandandhaal
If one walks the path ordained by God,
Ennaalum thanimai illai} (2)
There is no loneliness on any day.
Paarvathikku gangai vandhaal
Ganga came alongside Parvathi,
Dheviyudan valli vandhaal
Valli came along with Deivanai;
Naanum oru gangai alla
But I am no Ganga,
Naayaganum sivanum alla
Nor is my beloved Lord Shiva.
Thaali ondru thaevai enna
Why is a sacred thread needed
Maanaseega vaazhvil
In a mental, soulful bond of life?
{Sindhanaiyil vaazhndhirundhaal
If one lives in thoughts and devotion,
Dheiva sugam kodi varum
Millions of divine pleasures will arrive;
Saeraadha vaazhvinilum
Even in a life without union,
Kanneeril kavidhai varum} (2)
Poetry emerges from tears.
Ullirukkum kovililae
In the temple that lies within,
Or iraivan kudiyirukka
When a single deity resides,
Ooraarkku kaatchi enna
Why display it to the townsfolk?
Unmaikku saatchi enna
What witness is needed for the truth?
Thaali ondru thaevai enna
Why is a sacred thread needed
Maanaseega vaazhvil
In a mental, soulful bond of life?
{Karparasi nee irukka
When you exist as a virtuous wife,
Kannagiyai pol irukka
Resembling Kannagi in purity,
Innum oru kaadhaliyaa
Am I another lover?
Naan enna maadhaviyaa} (2)
Am I Madhavi to come between?
Un nizhalai paarkkaiyilae
Just looking at your shadow,
Kallellaam urugumadi
Even stones would melt away, my dear.
En kadhaiyai vittu vidu..
Leave my story aside..
Ennodu mudiyumadi…
It will end with me, my dear...
Thaali ondru thaevai enna
Why is a sacred thread needed
Maanaseega vaazhvil
In a mental, soulful bond of life?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song explores deep emotional self-sacrifice, spiritual love, and morality beyond formal marital ties. The speaker reflects on how true love lives in the heart and mind rather than requiring a physical symbol like the 'thaali' (sacred marriage thread) or public validation. She places pure devotion and righteousness above societal norms, stating that true emotion needs no external witness or display to the world. Drawing on classic Tamil epics and mythology, she contrasts her situation with the co-wives of gods (Parvathi-Ganga) and the central figures of Silappatikaram (Kannagi-Madhavi). Refusing to act as a third person ('Madhavi') in a couple's pure life, she chooses to quietly sacrifice her own feelings, letting her solitary love story end with her.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Allusion (Puraana / Ilaikkiya Kurippu)
“Kannagiyai pol irukka / Naan enna maadhaviyaa”
References mythological and literary figures (Parvathi, Ganga, Kannagi, Madhavi) to contrast divine/epic situations with human moral dilemmas.
Metaphor (Uruvagamm)
“Ullirukkum kovililae Or iraivan kudiyirukka”
Compares the human heart and conscience to an internal temple ('Ullirukkum kovil') housing a single god/beloved.
Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Karparasi nee irukka / Kannagiyai pol irukka”
The second consonant sound 'r' creates poetic rhythm across consecutive lines ('Karparasi' / 'Kannagiyai').
Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi)
“Un nizhalai paarkkaiyilae Kallellaam urugumadi”
Uses exaggeration to emphasize deep sorrow and nobility, stating that even stones would melt looking at the shadow.
Did you know?
Trivia
The lyrics heavily invoke characters from the Tamil epic 'Silappatikaram'—specifically Kannagi (the archetype of chastity and devotion) and Madhavi (the second love)—to frame a narrative of selfless moral sacrifice.
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