Vaazhvinilae Sugamae
From Ashok Kumar · 1941
- Lyricist
- Udumalai Narayanakavi
- Singers
- M. K. Thiyagaraja Bagavathar, Kannamba
- Music director
- Alandur Sivasubramaniyam
- Details
- Ashok Kumar1941
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Vaazhvinilae sugamae… | In life, true happiness... |
| Kidaiyaadhu… | Is not found... |
| Kidaiyaadhu… | Is not found... |
| Kidaiyaadhu vaazhvinilae sugamae | Happiness is not found in life. |
| Kidaiyaadhu vaazhvinilae sugamae | Happiness is not found in life. |
| Kidaiyaadhu vaazhvinilae sugamae | Happiness is not found in life. |
| Kidaiyaadhu vaazhvinilae | Is not found in life. |
| Male | |
| Kodum kaanal neer thanil | In the water of a cruel mirage, |
| Dhaagam theerumo kidaiyaadhu | Will thirst ever be quenched? No, |
| Vaazhvinilae | In life. |
| Female | |
| Enniya dhavam… | The penance that is revered... |
| Female | |
| Periya punniyamidhuvae… | This indeed is the greatest virtue... |
| Female | |
| Uyar jeeva kaarunyam… | Noble compassion for all living beings... |
| Male | |
| Inisai vilai poi…iy…iy… | When sweet music is reduced to a commercial commodity... |
| Jadhi saerum kodumozhi pesuvadhaalae | By speaking harsh words that create division and hostility, |
| Female | |
| Nenjilirakkam konjam indriyae | Without even a trace of mercy in the heart, |
| Jeeva vadhai puriyum…aa…aa… | Committing slaughter of innocent living beings... |
| Nenjilirakkam konjam indriyae | Without even a trace of mercy in the heart, |
| Jeeva vadhai puriyum | Committing slaughter of innocent living beings, |
| Male | |
| Kolaignjargalaanaal parama dhayaalan | If people become cold killers, the Supreme Merciful Lord's... |
| Kolaignjargalaanaal parama dhayaalan | If people become cold killers, the Supreme Merciful Lord's... |
| Poorananarul siridhaenum | Complete and divine grace, even a little bit, |
| Male | |
| Kidaiyaadhu vaazhvinilae sugamae | Will not be obtained; happiness is not found in life. |
| Kidaiyaadhu vaazhvinilae | Is not found in life. |
| Female | |
| Vaazhvinilae sugamae kidaiyaadhu | Happiness is not found in life. |
| Vaazhvinilae aalvadhilae vaazhvadhilae | In living or ruling in this mortal world, |
| Male | |
| Kanavilum manporul maadharil oyaa | Even in dreams, bound unceasingly to land, wealth, and sensual desires, |
| Kanavilum manporul maadharil oyaa | Even in dreams, bound unceasingly to land, wealth, and sensual desires, |
| Moha maayaiyilae oyaa | Endlessly entangled in the illusion of worldly passion, |
| Moha maayaiyilae | In the illusion of worldly passion, |
| Female | |
| Hae…ae…ae…ae…meetchi kaanom | Ah... we find no salvation or liberation, |
| Dhisaithisai thirindhom | We wandered aimlessly in every direction, |
| Meetchi kaanom dhisaithisai thirindhom | We find no salvation, having wandered in all directions, |
| Arparai vandhanai seidhom | We bowed down and worshipped unworthy, base people. |
வாழ்வினிலே சுகமே
கிடையாது...
கிடையாது...
கிடையாது வாழ்வினிலே சுகமே
கிடையாது வாழ்வினிலே சுகமே
கிடையாது வாழ்வினிலே சுகமே
கிடையாது வாழ்வினிலே
In life, true happiness...
Is not found...
Is not found...
Happiness is not found in life.
Happiness is not found in life.
Happiness is not found in life.
Is not found in life.
கொடும் கானல் நீர்தனில்
தாகம் தீருமோ கிடையாது
வாழ்வினிலே
In the water of a cruel mirage,
Will thirst ever be quenched? No,
In life.
எண்ணரிய தவம்...
The penance that is revered...
பெரிய புண்ணியமிதுவே.....
This indeed is the greatest virtue...
உயர் ஜீவ காருண்யம்.....
Noble compassion for all living beings...
இன்னிசை விளை பொய்...ய்...ய்...
சதி சேரும் கொடுமொழி பேசுவதாலே
When sweet music is reduced to a commercial commodity...
By speaking harsh words that create division and hostility,
கிடையாது வாழ்வினிலே சுகமே
கிடையாது வாழ்வினிலே சுகமே
கிடையாது வாழ்வினிலே
Without even a trace of mercy in the heart,
Committing slaughter of innocent living beings...
Without even a trace of mercy in the heart,
Committing slaughter of innocent living beings,
நெஞ்சிலிரக்கம் கொஞ்சம் இன்றியே
ஜீவ வதை புரியும்...ஆ...ஆ...
நெஞ்சிலிரக்கம் கொஞ்சம் இன்றியே
ஜீவ வதை புரியும்
If people become cold killers, the Supreme Merciful Lord's...
If people become cold killers, the Supreme Merciful Lord's...
Complete and divine grace, even a little bit,
கொலைஞர்களானால் பரம தயாளன்
கொலைஞர்களானால் பரம தயாளன்
பூரணனருள் சிறிதேனும்
Will not be obtained; happiness is not found in life.
Is not found in life.
கிடையாது வாழ்வினிலே சுகமே
கிடையாது வாழ்வினிலே
Happiness is not found in life.
In living or ruling in this mortal world,
வாழ்வினிலே சுகமே கிடையாது
வாழ்வினிலே ஆள்வதிலே வாழ்வதிலே
Even in dreams, bound unceasingly to land, wealth, and sensual desires,
Even in dreams, bound unceasingly to land, wealth, and sensual desires,
Endlessly entangled in the illusion of worldly passion,
In the illusion of worldly passion,
கிடையாது வாழ்வினிலே
சுகமே கிடையாது வாழ்வினிலே
Ah... we find no salvation or liberation,
We wandered aimlessly in every direction,
We find no salvation, having wandered in all directions,
We bowed down and worshipped unworthy, base people.
கனவிலும் மண்பொருள் மாதரில் ஓயா
கனவிலும் மண்பொருள் மாதரில் ஓயா
மோஹ மாயையிலே ஓயா
மோஹ மாயையிலே
ஹே.....ஏ.....ஏ.....ஏ....மீட்சி காணோம்
திசைதிசை திரிந்தோம்
மீட்சி காணோம் திசைதிசை திரிந்தோம்
அற்பரை வந்தனை செய்தோம்
கிடையாது வாழ்வினிலே சுகமே
கிடையாது வாழ்வினிலே
Vaazhvinilae sugamae…
In life, true happiness...
Kidaiyaadhu…
Is not found...
Kidaiyaadhu…
Is not found...
Kidaiyaadhu vaazhvinilae sugamae
Happiness is not found in life.
Kidaiyaadhu vaazhvinilae sugamae
Happiness is not found in life.
Kidaiyaadhu vaazhvinilae sugamae
Happiness is not found in life.
Kidaiyaadhu vaazhvinilae
Is not found in life.
Kodum kaanal neer thanil
In the water of a cruel mirage,
Dhaagam theerumo kidaiyaadhu
Will thirst ever be quenched? No,
Vaazhvinilae
In life.
Enniya dhavam…
The penance that is revered...
Periya punniyamidhuvae…
This indeed is the greatest virtue...
Uyar jeeva kaarunyam…
Noble compassion for all living beings...
Inisai vilai poi…iy…iy…
When sweet music is reduced to a commercial commodity...
Jadhi saerum kodumozhi pesuvadhaalae
By speaking harsh words that create division and hostility,
Nenjilirakkam konjam indriyae
Without even a trace of mercy in the heart,
Jeeva vadhai puriyum…aa…aa…
Committing slaughter of innocent living beings...
Nenjilirakkam konjam indriyae
Without even a trace of mercy in the heart,
Jeeva vadhai puriyum
Committing slaughter of innocent living beings,
Kolaignjargalaanaal parama dhayaalan
If people become cold killers, the Supreme Merciful Lord's...
Kolaignjargalaanaal parama dhayaalan
If people become cold killers, the Supreme Merciful Lord's...
Poorananarul siridhaenum
Complete and divine grace, even a little bit,
Kidaiyaadhu vaazhvinilae sugamae
Will not be obtained; happiness is not found in life.
Kidaiyaadhu vaazhvinilae
Is not found in life.
Vaazhvinilae sugamae kidaiyaadhu
Happiness is not found in life.
Vaazhvinilae aalvadhilae vaazhvadhilae
In living or ruling in this mortal world,
Kanavilum manporul maadharil oyaa
Even in dreams, bound unceasingly to land, wealth, and sensual desires,
Kanavilum manporul maadharil oyaa
Even in dreams, bound unceasingly to land, wealth, and sensual desires,
Moha maayaiyilae oyaa
Endlessly entangled in the illusion of worldly passion,
Moha maayaiyilae
In the illusion of worldly passion,
Hae…ae…ae…ae…meetchi kaanom
Ah... we find no salvation or liberation,
Dhisaithisai thirindhom
We wandered aimlessly in every direction,
Meetchi kaanom dhisaithisai thirindhom
We find no salvation, having wandered in all directions,
Arparai vandhanai seidhom
We bowed down and worshipped unworthy, base people.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This deeply philosophical song from the 1941 film Ashok Kumar reflects on the illusory nature of material existence and the absence of lasting happiness in worldly pursuits. The lyricist compares worldly pleasures to a mirage (kaanal neer) that can never satisfy true spiritual thirst. The song stresses that real virtue lies in Jeeva Kaarunyam (compassion for all living beings) and warns that those who engage in violence, speak divisive words, or live heartlessly will be deprived of God's grace. Furthermore, the song highlights the tragedy of human obsession with the classic three worldly temptations—land, wealth, and sensual desires (man, porul, maadhar). It laments how people wander aimlessly through life, groveling before unworthy individuals and losing their path to salvation (meetchi).
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uvamai (Metaphor/Simile)
“Kodum kaanal neer thanil”
Compares worldly happiness to drinking water from a mirage (kaanal neer), illustrating that material desires can never quench spiritual thirst.
Anaphora / Repetition (Adukkuthodar)
“Kidaiyaadhu vaazhvinilae sugamae”
Emphatic repetition of 'Kidaiyaadhu' (Not found) underscores the absolute impossibility of finding true peace through material life.
Traditional Alliterative Triad (Muumani / Triad Trope)
“Kanavilum manporul maadharil oyaa”
References the classical Tamil philosophical triad of worldly attachments: land (man), wealth (porul), and sensual desire/women (maadhar).
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Dhisaithisai thirindhom”
Alliteration of the 'Dh' sound in 'Dhisaithisai thirindhom' creates a rhythmic sense of wandering in circles.
Did you know?
Trivia
Ashok Kumar (1941) was a landmark Tamil film starring the legendary M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar (MKT). The lyrics were penned by Udumalai Narayanakavi, a celebrated reformist lyricist known for weaving strong ethical, social, and spiritual lessons into classical Carnatic-style cinema music.
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