Theeyinaal Sutta
From Orey Vazhi · 1959
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- C. S. Jayaraman
- Music director
- R. Govarthanam
- Details
- Orey Vazhi1959
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Theeyinaal sutta pun ullarum | A wound caused by fire will heal inside, |
| Aaradhae naavinaal sutta vadu | But the scar left by a harsh tongue will never heal. |
| Ennandri kondavarkkum uivundaam uivillai | There is redemption for those who destroy any virtue, but no salvation |
| Seinandri kondra magarkku | For those who betray a good deed of gratitude. |
| Deivam thozha al kolunan | She who worships not God, but worships her husband upon waking, |
| Thozhuthezhuvaal peiyena peiyum mazhai | If she bids the rain to fall, the rain will surely pour. |
| Male | |
| Ethanai vazhigal ethanai gunangal | How many paths, how many human qualities, |
| Ethanai vindhai manidharada | How many wondrous people exist, O friend! |
| Ithanai vazhiyil orae vazhi kaanbom | Among all these paths, let us find the one true path; |
| Evano avanae arinjanada | Whoever finds it is truly the wise one. |
| Male | |
| Ethanai vazhigal ethanai gunangal | How many paths, how many human qualities, |
| Ethanai vindhai manidharada | How many wondrous people exist, O friend! |
| Male | |
| Kobathinaal oru vaarthai sonnaal | If a single word is spoken out of anger, |
| Adhilkudumbam kalaindhadhada | A whole family gets shattered because of it. |
| Indru thaabathilae uyir vaadugiraal | Today she wilts in deep emotional anguish; |
| Idhu thalaividhi illaiyada | This is not mere destiny, O friend. |
| Male | |
| Kangalai polae kaathu valarthavan | The brother who protected and raised them like his own eyes, |
| Karai pol pirinthu vittaan | Has become separated like two riverbanks. |
| Andha annanai thedi alaibavan inbam | The one who wanders looking for that brother |
| Anaithum maranthu vittaan | Has forgotten all joy in life. |
| Male | |
| Ethanai vazhigal ethanai gunangal | How many paths, how many human qualities, |
| Ethanai vindhai manidharada | How many wondrous people exist, O friend! |
| Male | |
| Illara vaazhvil nallara pengalai | Why were virtuous women living in domestic harmony |
| Deivam endru yen sonnar | Referred to as living deities? |
| Avar sindhanai ondraai seigaiyum ondraai | Because their thought is one and their action is one; |
| Thigazhvadhanaal sonnaar | They said so because of their seamless integrity. |
| Male | |
| Ethanai vazhigal ethanai gunangal | How many paths, how many human qualities, |
| Ethanai vindhai manidharada | How many wondrous people exist, O friend! |
| Ithanai vazhiyil orae vazhi kaanbom | Among all these paths, let us find the one true path; |
| Evano avanae arinjanada | Whoever finds it is truly the wise one. |
| Male | |
| Vaanathirkku orae nilavu | There is only one moon for the sky, |
| Maanidarkkellam orae inam | There is only one human race for all mankind, |
| Vanakathirkku uriyadhu orae deivam | There is only one God worthy of reverence, |
| Vaazhkaikku inbam orae vazhi | And there is only one true path to happiness in life. |
தீயினால் சுட்டப் புண் உள்ளாறும் ஆறாதே
நாவினால் சுட்ட வடு.....
எந்நன்றி கொன்றார்க்கும் உய்வுண்டாம் உய்வில்லை
செய்நன்றி கொன்ற மகற்கு...
தெய்வம் தொழாஅள் கொழுநன் தொழுதெழுவாள்
பெய்யெனப் பெய்யும் மழை.
A wound caused by fire will heal inside,
But the scar left by a harsh tongue will never heal.
There is redemption for those who destroy any virtue, but no salvation
For those who betray a good deed of gratitude.
She who worships not God, but worships her husband upon waking,
If she bids the rain to fall, the rain will surely pour.
எத்தனை வழிகள் எத்தனை குணங்கள்
எத்தனை விந்தை மனிதரடா
இத்தனை வழியில் ஒரே வழி காண்போன்
எவனோ அவனே அறிஞனடா
How many paths, how many human qualities,
How many wondrous people exist, O friend!
Among all these paths, let us find the one true path;
Whoever finds it is truly the wise one.
எத்தனை வழிகள் எத்தனை குணங்கள்
எத்தனை விந்தை மனிதரடா
How many paths, how many human qualities,
How many wondrous people exist, O friend!
கோபத்தினால் ஒரு வார்த்தை சொன்னாள்
அதில் குடும்பம் கலைந்ததடா
இன்று தாபத்திலே உயிர் வாடுகிறாள்
இது தலைவிதி இல்லையடா.....
If a single word is spoken out of anger,
A whole family gets shattered because of it.
Today she wilts in deep emotional anguish;
This is not mere destiny, O friend.
கண்களைப் போலே காத்து வளர்த்தவன்
கரை போல் பிரிந்து விட்டான்
அந்த அண்ணனைத் தேடி அலைபவன் இன்பம்
அனைத்தும் மறந்து விட்டான்.....
The brother who protected and raised them like his own eyes,
Has become separated like two riverbanks.
The one who wanders looking for that brother
Has forgotten all joy in life.
எத்தனை வழிகள் எத்தனை குணங்கள்
எத்தனை விந்தை மனிதரடா
How many paths, how many human qualities,
How many wondrous people exist, O friend!
இல்லற வாழ்வில் நல்லறப் பெண்களை
தெய்வமென்று ஏன் சொன்னார்
அவர் சிந்தனை ஒன்றாய் செய்கையும் ஒன்றாய்
திகழ்வதனால் சொன்னார்
Why were virtuous women living in domestic harmony
Referred to as living deities?
Because their thought is one and their action is one;
They said so because of their seamless integrity.
எத்தனை வழிகள் எத்தனை குணங்கள்
எத்தனை விந்தை மனிதரடா
இத்தனை வழியில் ஒரே வழி காண்போன்
எவனோ அவனே அறிஞனடா
How many paths, how many human qualities,
How many wondrous people exist, O friend!
Among all these paths, let us find the one true path;
Whoever finds it is truly the wise one.
வானத்திற்கு ஒரே நிலவு
மானிடர்க்கெல்லாம் ஒரே இனம்
வணக்கத்திற்கு உரியது ஒரே தெய்வம்
வாழ்க்கைக்கு இன்பம் ஒரே வழி...
There is only one moon for the sky,
There is only one human race for all mankind,
There is only one God worthy of reverence,
And there is only one true path to happiness in life.
Theeyinaal sutta pun ullarum
A wound caused by fire will heal inside,
Aaradhae naavinaal sutta vadu
But the scar left by a harsh tongue will never heal.
Ennandri kondavarkkum uivundaam uivillai
There is redemption for those who destroy any virtue, but no salvation
Seinandri kondra magarkku
For those who betray a good deed of gratitude.
Deivam thozha al kolunan
She who worships not God, but worships her husband upon waking,
Thozhuthezhuvaal peiyena peiyum mazhai
If she bids the rain to fall, the rain will surely pour.
Ethanai vazhigal ethanai gunangal
How many paths, how many human qualities,
Ethanai vindhai manidharada
How many wondrous people exist, O friend!
Ithanai vazhiyil orae vazhi kaanbom
Among all these paths, let us find the one true path;
Evano avanae arinjanada
Whoever finds it is truly the wise one.
Ethanai vazhigal ethanai gunangal
How many paths, how many human qualities,
Ethanai vindhai manidharada
How many wondrous people exist, O friend!
Kobathinaal oru vaarthai sonnaal
If a single word is spoken out of anger,
Adhilkudumbam kalaindhadhada
A whole family gets shattered because of it.
Indru thaabathilae uyir vaadugiraal
Today she wilts in deep emotional anguish;
Idhu thalaividhi illaiyada
This is not mere destiny, O friend.
Kangalai polae kaathu valarthavan
The brother who protected and raised them like his own eyes,
Karai pol pirinthu vittaan
Has become separated like two riverbanks.
Andha annanai thedi alaibavan inbam
The one who wanders looking for that brother
Anaithum maranthu vittaan
Has forgotten all joy in life.
Ethanai vazhigal ethanai gunangal
How many paths, how many human qualities,
Ethanai vindhai manidharada
How many wondrous people exist, O friend!
Illara vaazhvil nallara pengalai
Why were virtuous women living in domestic harmony
Deivam endru yen sonnar
Referred to as living deities?
Avar sindhanai ondraai seigaiyum ondraai
Because their thought is one and their action is one;
Thigazhvadhanaal sonnaar
They said so because of their seamless integrity.
Ethanai vazhigal ethanai gunangal
How many paths, how many human qualities,
Ethanai vindhai manidharada
How many wondrous people exist, O friend!
Ithanai vazhiyil orae vazhi kaanbom
Among all these paths, let us find the one true path;
Evano avanae arinjanada
Whoever finds it is truly the wise one.
Vaanathirkku orae nilavu
There is only one moon for the sky,
Maanidarkkellam orae inam
There is only one human race for all mankind,
Vanakathirkku uriyadhu orae deivam
There is only one God worthy of reverence,
Vaazhkaikku inbam orae vazhi
And there is only one true path to happiness in life.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Orey Vazhi' serves as a profound philosophical treatise on moral integrity, family unity, and human purpose. It opens with classic Thirukkural verses that warn against the lasting damage of harsh words, the unpardonable sin of ingratitude, and the noble power of devotion within a household. Moving into the main narrative, it laments how anger and miscommunication can tear apart loving families and break bonds between brothers who were once as close as eyes to a body. Ultimately, Kannadasan advocates for moral clarity and spiritual unity. Despite the endless diversity of human traits and worldly pursuits, the song asserts that true wisdom lies in realizing oneness: one human family, one divine reality, and one righteous path to genuine happiness.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Intertextuality / Quotation (Thirukkural)
“Theeyinaal sutta pun ullarum / Aaradhae naavinaal sutta vadu”
The opening lines (1-6) directly incorporate classical Tamil couplets from Thiruvalluvar's Tirukkural (Kural 129, Kural 110, and Kural 55) to establish moral authority.
Anaphora (Repetition for Emphasis)
“Ethanai vazhigal ethanai gunangal / Ethanai vindhai manidharada”
The word 'Ethanai' (How many) is repeated at the start of consecutive phrases to highlight the overwhelming variety of human behaviors and paths.
Simile (Upamai)
“Kangalai polae kaathu valarthavan / Karai pol pirinthu vittaan”
'Kangalai polae' compares brotherly care to the vigilance with which one protects one's own eyes, while 'karai pol' compares separation to divided riverbanks.
Parallelism / Monotony for Rhetorical Effect
“Vaanathirkku orae nilavu / Maanidarkkellam orae inam”
The repetition of 'orae' (one single) across multiple lines builds a strong rhythmic cadence while delivering the central thesis of universal oneness.
Did you know?
Trivia
The opening portion of 'Orey Vazhi' is famous in Tamil cinema history for verbatim integrating three Thirukkural couplets set to classical melody before transitioning into Kannadasan's film lyrics, showcasing a unique bridge between 2,000-year-old Sangam-era ethics and mid-20th-century film music.
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