Villambu Patta Punn
From Manamagal · 1951
- Lyricist
- Udumalai Narayanakavi
- Singer
- C. S. Jayaraman
- Music director
- C. R. Subbaraman
- Details
- Manamagal1951
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Yaagavaraayinum naagaakka kaavaakkal | No matter what else you fail to guard, guard your tongue; if you do not, |
| Sogappar solillukka pattu | You will fall into deep sorrow caught by flaws in your speech. |
| Sugam izhappaar endra vaagaarntha valluvan | So said the great Valluvar, warning that happiness will be lost, |
| Varambai unaraadhu saagaamal saagatheer thaaraniyorae | Oh citizens of the earth, do not suffer a living death without understanding these boundaries! |
| Male | |
| Villambu putta punn vedhanai tharadhu | The wound inflicted by a bow's arrow causes no lasting agony, |
| Endrum vaedhanai tharaadhu | It never causes perpetual suffering, |
| Sollambu sutta thunbam maaradhu | The misery caused by the arrow of words will never heal, |
| Thunbam maaradhu | This suffering will never change. |
| Male | |
| Thellathamil yettil ulla paattinilae | In the songs written upon the palm-leaf manuscripts of pure Tamil, |
| Avvai paatinilae kandu naam | Learning from the ethical verses of Avvaiyar, we |
| Nallavaraaai vaazhavendum naatinilae | Must live as good and noble people in this country. |
| Male & Chorus:Nallavaraaai vaazhavendum naatinilae | Male & Chorus: Must live as good and noble people in this country. |
| Male | |
| Yosanai illamal pesaadhae munpinn | Do not speak without thinking beforehand about the consequences, |
| Yosanai illamal pesaadhae nee | You, do not speak without forethought! |
| Unai marandhae ulagai yesaadhae | Forgetting your own flaws, do not curse the world, |
| Nee unai marandhae ulagai yesaadhae | You, forgetting yourself, do not curse the world! |
| Aasaiyinaal sinam adaiyaadhae | Do not be driven to destructive anger out of greed and desire, |
| Aasaiyinaal sinam adaiyaadhae | Do not be driven to destructive anger out of greed and desire! |
| Pagutharivaiyum izhanthu ularathae | Do not lose your sense of rationality and babble nonsensically. |
| Male & Chorus :Pagutharivaiyum izhanthu ularathae | Male & Chorus: Do not lose your sense of rationality and babble nonsensically. |
யாகவா ராயினும் நாகாக்க காவாக்கால்
சோகாப்பர் சொல்லிழுக்கப் பட்டு
சுகம் இழப்பார் என்ற வாகார்ந்த் வள்ளுவன்
வரம்பை உணராது சாகாமல் சாகதீர் தாரணியோரே
No matter what else you fail to guard, guard your tongue; if you do not,
You will fall into deep sorrow caught by flaws in your speech.
So said the great Valluvar, warning that happiness will be lost,
Oh citizens of the earth, do not suffer a living death without understanding these boundaries!
வில்லம்பு பட்ட புண் வேதனை தராது
வேதனை தராது
சொல்லம்பு சுட்ட துன்பம் மாறாது
துன்பம் மாறாது
The wound inflicted by a bow's arrow causes no lasting agony,
It never causes perpetual suffering,
The misery caused by the arrow of words will never heal,
This suffering will never change.
ஆண் மற்றும் குழு :
வில்லம்பு பட்ட புண் வேதனை தராது
வேதனை தராது
சொல்லம்பு சுட்ட துன்பம் மாறாது
துன்பம் மாறாது
In the songs written upon the palm-leaf manuscripts of pure Tamil,
Learning from the ethical verses of Avvaiyar, we
Must live as good and noble people in this country.
Male & Chorus: Must live as good and noble people in this country.
தெள்ளுதமிழ் ஏட்டில் உள்ள பாட்டினிலே
அவ்வை பாட்டினிலே கண்டு நாம்
நல்லவராய் வாழவேண்டும் நாட்டினிலே
ஆண் மற்றும் குழு :
நல்லவராய் வாழவேண்டும் நாட்டினிலே
Do not speak without thinking beforehand about the consequences,
You, do not speak without forethought!
Forgetting your own flaws, do not curse the world,
You, forgetting yourself, do not curse the world!
Do not be driven to destructive anger out of greed and desire,
Do not be driven to destructive anger out of greed and desire!
Do not lose your sense of rationality and babble nonsensically.
Male & Chorus: Do not lose your sense of rationality and babble nonsensically.
ஆண் மற்றும் குழு :
வில்லம்பு பட்ட புண் வேதனை தராது
வேதனை தராது
சொல்லம்பு சுட்ட துன்பம் மாறாது
துன்பம் மாறாது
யோசனை இல்லாமல் பேசாதே முன்பின்
யோசனை இல்லாமல் பேசாதே நீ
உன்னை மறந்தே உலகை ஏசாதே
நீ உன்னை மறந்தே உலகை ஏசாதே
ஆசையினால் சினம் அடையாதே
ஆசையினால் சினம் அடையாதே
பகுத்தறிவையும் இழந்து உளறாதே
ஆண் மற்றும் குழு :
பகுத்தறிவையும் இழந்து உளறாதே
ஆண் மற்றும் குழு :
வில்லம்பு பட்ட புண் வேதனை தராது
வேதனை தராது
சொல்லம்பு சுட்ட துன்பம் மாறாது
துன்பம் மாறாது
Yaagavaraayinum naagaakka kaavaakkal
No matter what else you fail to guard, guard your tongue; if you do not,
Sogappar solillukka pattu
You will fall into deep sorrow caught by flaws in your speech.
Sugam izhappaar endra vaagaarntha valluvan
So said the great Valluvar, warning that happiness will be lost,
Varambai unaraadhu saagaamal saagatheer thaaraniyorae
Oh citizens of the earth, do not suffer a living death without understanding these boundaries!
Villambu putta punn vedhanai tharadhu
The wound inflicted by a bow's arrow causes no lasting agony,
Endrum vaedhanai tharaadhu
It never causes perpetual suffering,
Sollambu sutta thunbam maaradhu
The misery caused by the arrow of words will never heal,
Thunbam maaradhu
This suffering will never change.
Thellathamil yettil ulla paattinilae
In the songs written upon the palm-leaf manuscripts of pure Tamil,
Avvai paatinilae kandu naam
Learning from the ethical verses of Avvaiyar, we
Nallavaraaai vaazhavendum naatinilae
Must live as good and noble people in this country.
Male & Chorus:Nallavaraaai vaazhavendum naatinilae
Male & Chorus: Must live as good and noble people in this country.
Yosanai illamal pesaadhae munpinn
Do not speak without thinking beforehand about the consequences,
Yosanai illamal pesaadhae nee
You, do not speak without forethought!
Unai marandhae ulagai yesaadhae
Forgetting your own flaws, do not curse the world,
Nee unai marandhae ulagai yesaadhae
You, forgetting yourself, do not curse the world!
Aasaiyinaal sinam adaiyaadhae
Do not be driven to destructive anger out of greed and desire,
Aasaiyinaal sinam adaiyaadhae
Do not be driven to destructive anger out of greed and desire!
Pagutharivaiyum izhanthu ularathae
Do not lose your sense of rationality and babble nonsensically.
Male & Chorus :Pagutharivaiyum izhanthu ularathae
Male & Chorus: Do not lose your sense of rationality and babble nonsensically.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song from the film 'Manamagal' (1951) serves as a moral guide emphasizing restraint in speech, emotional regulation, and rational living. Written by Udumalai Narayanakavi, it integrates classic ethical Tamil literature—specifically quoting Thirukkural couplets (Kurals 127 and 129) and referencing Saint Avvaiyar's teachings. The lyrics emphasize that while physical wounds caused by weapons heal over time, emotional wounds inflicted by harsh words cause permanent scarring. The second half of the song reinforces Dravidian rationalist values of the era, warning against mindless anger, greedy desires, unconsidered speech, and blaming society for personal shortcomings. It calls on humanity to embrace moral wisdom found in ancient Tamil texts to lead a righteous and harmonious life.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Literary Allusion (Ilakkia Kurippu)
“Yaagavaraayinum naagaakka kaavaakkal”
Direct borrowing and paraphrasing of Thirukkural couplets (Kural 127: 'Yagavarayinum nagakka...' and Kural 129: 'Theeyanal sutta punn...'), as well as referencing Avvaiyar's didactic poetry.
Metaphor (Uvamanai)
“Sollambu sutta thunbam maaradhu”
'Sollambu' (Arrow of words) metaphorically compares destructive, cruel words to sharp arrows shot from a bow.
Emoni / Ethugai (Consonance / Second-letter Rhyme)
“Villambu putta punn vedhanai tharadhu”
Use of matching second consonants across lines ('Villambu' / 'Sollambu', 'Aasaiyinaal' / 'Pagutharivaiyum') to establish rhythm.
Antithesis (Muran)
“Villambu putta punn vedhanai tharadhu ... Sollambu sutta thunbam maaradhu”
Contrast between the physical wound of a bow's arrow ('Villambu') which heals, versus the psychological wound of a word's arrow ('Sollambu') which never heals.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Manamagal' (1951) was directed by S. V. Sahasranamam and written by N. S. Krishnan, featuring music composed by C. R. Subburaman. Udumalai Narayanakavi, known as 'Kavirayar', frequently embedded Thirukkural quotes, reformist ideals, and rationalist principles of the Dravidian movement directly into film song lyrics.
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