Thirumal Perumaikku
From Thirumal Perumai · 1968
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Thirumal Perumai1968
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Thirumaal perumaikku nigaraedhu… | What can equal the glory of Lord Thirumal... |
| Thirumaal perumaikku nigaraedhu | What can equal the glory of Lord Thirumal? |
| Undhan thiruvadi nizhalukku inaiyaedhu | What can match the shade of Your divine feet? |
| Perumaanae undhan thirunaamam | Oh Supreme Lord, Your holy name... |
| Pathu peyargalil vilangum avathaaram | Is manifested in ten avatars and ten names. |
| Male | |
| Thirumaal perumaikku nigaraedhu… | What can equal the glory of Lord Thirumal... |
| Male | |
| Kadal naduvae veezhndha sadhur vaedham | When the four Vedas fell into the middle of the ocean, |
| Thannai kaappadharkkae konda avathaaram | The avatar assumed solely to save them: |
| Macha avathaaram | The Matsya (Fish) Avatar. |
| Male | |
| Asurargal kodumaikku mudivaagum | To put an end to the cruelties of the demons, |
| Engal achudhanae undhan avathaaram | Oh Achyutha, Your incarnation: |
| Koorma avathaaram | The Kurma (Turtle) Avatar. |
| Male | |
| Boomiyai kaathida oru kaalam | To protect the Earth at one point in time, |
| Nee punaidhadhu mattroru avathaaram | Another avatar that You adorned: |
| Varaaga avathaaram | The Varaha (Boar) Avatar. |
| Male | |
| Naaraayanaa ennum thiru naamam | To firmly establish the holy name 'Narayana', |
| Nilai naattida innum oru avathaaram | Yet another incarnation taken: |
| Narasimma avathaaram | The Narasimha (Man-Lion) Avatar. |
| Male | |
| Maavali siram thannil kaal vaithu | Placing Your foot upon the head of King Mahabali, |
| Indha mannum vinnum alandha avathaaram | The avatar that measured this earth and the sky: |
| Vaamana avathaaram | The Vamana Avatar. |
| Male | |
| Thaai thandhai sollae uyar vaedham | Declaring that the word of mother and father is the highest Veda, |
| Endru saattriyadhum oru avathaaram | An avatar that proclaimed this divine moral: |
| Parasuraamar avathaaram | The Parashurama Avatar. |
| Male | |
| Oruvanukku ulagil oru thaaram | Showing the high virtue of one wife for one man in this world, |
| Enum uyarvinai kaattiya avathaaram | The avatar that demonstrated such greatness: |
| Raama avathaaram | The Rama Avatar. |
| Male | |
| Ragu kulam kondadhu oru raaman | The Raghu dynasty had one Rama, |
| Pinbu yedhu kulam kandadhu pala raaman | Later the Yadu dynasty saw the mighty Balarama: |
| Balaraaman | The Balarama Avatar. |
| Male | |
| Arasu murai vazhi neri kaakka | To protect the path of righteous governance and duty, |
| Nee adainthathu innoru avathaaram | Another avatar You attained: |
| Kannan avathaaram | The Krishna Avatar. |
| Male | |
| Vidhi nadandhadhena madhi mudindhadhena | As fate takes its course and intellect reaches its limit, |
| Vinaiyin payanae uruvaaga | Taking form as the very outcome of karma, |
| Nilai marandhavarum neri izhandhavarum | So that those who forgot their true nature and lost their way, |
| Unarum vannam thelivaaga | May clearly realize the ultimate truth, |
| Innal ozhithu puvi kaakka | To eradicate distress and save the earth, |
| Nee edukka vendum oru avathaaram | An avatar You must take in the future: |
| Kalki avathaaram | The Kalki Avatar. |
| Male | |
| Thirumaal perumaikku nigaraedhu | What can equal the glory of Lord Thirumal? |
| Undhan thiruvadi nizhalukku inaiyaedhu | What can match the shade of Your divine feet? |
| Thirumaal perumaikku nigaraedhu | What can equal the glory of Lord Thirumal? |
| Nigaraedhu… nigaraedhu… | Can anything equal it... anything equal it... |
திருமால் பெருமைக்கு நிகரேது.....
திருமால் பெருமைக்கு நிகரேது.....
உந்தன் திருவடி நிழலுக்கு இணையேது
பெருமானே உந்தன் திருநாமம்
பத்து பெயர்களில் விளங்கும் அவதாரம்
What can equal the glory of Lord Thirumal...
What can equal the glory of Lord Thirumal?
What can match the shade of Your divine feet?
Oh Supreme Lord, Your holy name...
Is manifested in ten avatars and ten names.
திருமால் பெருமைக்கு நிகரேது.....
What can equal the glory of Lord Thirumal...
கடல் நடுவே வீழ்ந்த சதுர்வேதம்
தன்னைக் காப்பதற்கே கொண்ட அவதாரம்
மச்ச அவதாரம்
When the four Vedas fell into the middle of the ocean,
The avatar assumed solely to save them:
The Matsya (Fish) Avatar.
அசுரர்கள் கொடுமைக்கு முடிவாகும்
எங்கள் அச்சுதனே உந்தன் அவதாரம்
கூர்ம அவதாரம்
To put an end to the cruelties of the demons,
Oh Achyutha, Your incarnation:
The Kurma (Turtle) Avatar.
பூமியைக் காத்திட ஒரு காலம்
நீ புனைந்தது மற்றொரு அவதாரம்
வராக அவதாரம்
To protect the Earth at one point in time,
Another avatar that You adorned:
The Varaha (Boar) Avatar.
நாராயணா என்னும் திருநாமம்
நிலை நாட்டிட இன்னும் ஒரு அவதாரம்
நரசிம்ம அவதாரம்
To firmly establish the holy name 'Narayana',
Yet another incarnation taken:
The Narasimha (Man-Lion) Avatar.
மாவலிச் சிரம் தன்னில் கால் வைத்து
இந்த மண்ணும் விண்ணும் அளந்த அவதாரம்
வாமன அவதாரம்
Placing Your foot upon the head of King Mahabali,
The avatar that measured this earth and the sky:
The Vamana Avatar.
தாய் தந்தை சொல்லே உயர் வேதம்
என்று சாற்றியதும் ஒரு அவதாரம்
பரசுராம அவதாரம்
Declaring that the word of mother and father is the highest Veda,
An avatar that proclaimed this divine moral:
The Parashurama Avatar.
ஒருவனுக்கு உலகில் ஒரு தாரம்
எனும் உயர்வினைக் காட்டிய அவதாரம்
ராம அவதாரம்
Showing the high virtue of one wife for one man in this world,
The avatar that demonstrated such greatness:
The Rama Avatar.
ரகு குலம் கொண்டது ஒரு ராமன்
பின்பு யது குலம் கண்டது பலராமன்
பலராமன்
The Raghu dynasty had one Rama,
Later the Yadu dynasty saw the mighty Balarama:
The Balarama Avatar.
அரசு முறை வழிநெறி காக்க
நீ அடைந்தது இன்னொரு அவதாரம்
கண்ணன் அவதாரம்
To protect the path of righteous governance and duty,
Another avatar You attained:
The Krishna Avatar.
விதி நடந்ததென மதி முடிந்ததென
வினையின் பயனே உருவாக
நிலை மறந்தவரும் நெறி இழந்தவரும்
உணரும் வண்ணம் தெளிவாக
இன்னல் ஒழித்து புவி காக்க
நீ எடுக்க வேண்டும் ஒரு அவதாரம்
கல்கி அவதாரம்
As fate takes its course and intellect reaches its limit,
Taking form as the very outcome of karma,
So that those who forgot their true nature and lost their way,
May clearly realize the ultimate truth,
To eradicate distress and save the earth,
An avatar You must take in the future:
The Kalki Avatar.
திருமால் பெருமைக்கு நிகரேது.....
உந்தன் திருவடி நிழலுக்கு இணையேது
திருமால் பெருமைக்கு நிகரேது.....
நிகரேது.....நிகரேது.....
What can equal the glory of Lord Thirumal?
What can match the shade of Your divine feet?
What can equal the glory of Lord Thirumal?
Can anything equal it... anything equal it...
Thirumaal perumaikku nigaraedhu…
What can equal the glory of Lord Thirumal...
Thirumaal perumaikku nigaraedhu
What can equal the glory of Lord Thirumal?
Undhan thiruvadi nizhalukku inaiyaedhu
What can match the shade of Your divine feet?
Perumaanae undhan thirunaamam
Oh Supreme Lord, Your holy name...
Pathu peyargalil vilangum avathaaram
Is manifested in ten avatars and ten names.
Thirumaal perumaikku nigaraedhu…
What can equal the glory of Lord Thirumal...
Kadal naduvae veezhndha sadhur vaedham
When the four Vedas fell into the middle of the ocean,
Thannai kaappadharkkae konda avathaaram
The avatar assumed solely to save them:
Macha avathaaram
The Matsya (Fish) Avatar.
Asurargal kodumaikku mudivaagum
To put an end to the cruelties of the demons,
Engal achudhanae undhan avathaaram
Oh Achyutha, Your incarnation:
Koorma avathaaram
The Kurma (Turtle) Avatar.
Boomiyai kaathida oru kaalam
To protect the Earth at one point in time,
Nee punaidhadhu mattroru avathaaram
Another avatar that You adorned:
Varaaga avathaaram
The Varaha (Boar) Avatar.
Naaraayanaa ennum thiru naamam
To firmly establish the holy name 'Narayana',
Nilai naattida innum oru avathaaram
Yet another incarnation taken:
Narasimma avathaaram
The Narasimha (Man-Lion) Avatar.
Maavali siram thannil kaal vaithu
Placing Your foot upon the head of King Mahabali,
Indha mannum vinnum alandha avathaaram
The avatar that measured this earth and the sky:
Vaamana avathaaram
The Vamana Avatar.
Thaai thandhai sollae uyar vaedham
Declaring that the word of mother and father is the highest Veda,
Endru saattriyadhum oru avathaaram
An avatar that proclaimed this divine moral:
Parasuraamar avathaaram
The Parashurama Avatar.
Oruvanukku ulagil oru thaaram
Showing the high virtue of one wife for one man in this world,
Enum uyarvinai kaattiya avathaaram
The avatar that demonstrated such greatness:
Raama avathaaram
The Rama Avatar.
Ragu kulam kondadhu oru raaman
The Raghu dynasty had one Rama,
Pinbu yedhu kulam kandadhu pala raaman
Later the Yadu dynasty saw the mighty Balarama:
Balaraaman
The Balarama Avatar.
Arasu murai vazhi neri kaakka
To protect the path of righteous governance and duty,
Nee adainthathu innoru avathaaram
Another avatar You attained:
Kannan avathaaram
The Krishna Avatar.
Vidhi nadandhadhena madhi mudindhadhena
As fate takes its course and intellect reaches its limit,
Vinaiyin payanae uruvaaga
Taking form as the very outcome of karma,
Nilai marandhavarum neri izhandhavarum
So that those who forgot their true nature and lost their way,
Unarum vannam thelivaaga
May clearly realize the ultimate truth,
Innal ozhithu puvi kaakka
To eradicate distress and save the earth,
Nee edukka vendum oru avathaaram
An avatar You must take in the future:
Kalki avathaaram
The Kalki Avatar.
Thirumaal perumaikku nigaraedhu
What can equal the glory of Lord Thirumal?
Undhan thiruvadi nizhalukku inaiyaedhu
What can match the shade of Your divine feet?
Thirumaal perumaikku nigaraedhu
What can equal the glory of Lord Thirumal?
Nigaraedhu… nigaraedhu…
Can anything equal it... anything equal it...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic devotional hymn from the movie Thirumal Perumai (1968) praises the supreme grandeur of Lord Vishnu (Thirumal) and systematically describes the Dashavatara (ten divine incarnations). Lyricist Kannadasan beautifully captures the cosmic purpose behind each avatar: saving the Vedas as Matsya, supporting the cosmos as Kurma, rescuing the Earth as Varaha, protecting devotion as Narasimha, humbling pride as Vamana, honoring parental duty as Parashurama, establishing ideal morality as Rama, maintaining order as Balarama, restoring righteousness as Krishna, and finally, the prophecy of Kalki to cleanse world suffering. The overall theme highlights that no divine grace compares to the shelter of Lord Thirumal's feet, celebrating how God manifests periodically across ages to destroy evil, preserve righteousness, and guide humanity toward ultimate liberation.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Rhetorical Question
“Thirumaal perumaikku nigaraedhu…”
The opening line 'Thirumaal perumaikku nigaraedhu' asks 'What can equal the glory of Thirumal?', emphasizing that His glory is incomparable.
Ethukai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Kadal naduvae veezhndha sadhur vaedham”
The second letters 'd' in 'Kadal' and 'Thannai' (with consonant harmony) or 'r' in 'Oruvanukku' and 'Enum' align with traditional Tamil poetic rules.
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Pathu peyargalil vilangum avathaaram”
Repeated structural refrain with 'avathaaram' at the end of every stanza to build rhythmic structure.
Antithesis / Contrast
“Indha mannum vinnum alandha avathaaram”
Contrasting 'mannum' (earth/ground) and 'vinnum' (sky/heaven) to show the infinite span measured by Vamana.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by K. V. Mahadevan and rendered powerfully by T. M. Soundararajan, this song acts as a musical summary of the Dashavatara in Vaishnavite tradition. Lyricist Kannadasan successfully packaged complex Puranic lore into crisp, highly memorable poetic Tamil lines that remain a benchmark in Tamil film music devotional writing.
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