Ennaku Piditha Paadal: Thunbam Nergayil Yazh Eduthu - Transcendent Tamil & Its Translation.

For and with sincere thanks :-

Thiru Kathiravan Krishnamurthi of Westford, Massachusetts.

Every single word, in the post, belongs to him. Solely.

His patience in intricately explaining this beautiful Tamil song to ordinaries like me, requires a standing ovation.

I am giving him one, albeit virtually.

To have someone of such high status and intelligence with depth in Tamil language, do the translation, for the mere fact of running into my blog by chance, is indeed, a dream come true.

I am so thankful to him. For his genuine effort.

I have been vocal about the level of gratitude I owe him, and have written a couple of mails to him, since.

Without his translation, this post would not have materialised.

Nothing has been changed about the translation.

Nothing.

Nil.

His explanation is just precise.

Written from the heart.

Thus, I don't want to change a thing.

I read his translation in awe.

Tamil is just so immensely beautiful.

I am so very proud today.

Because I read, write and speak this amazing language.

I would have never been able to justify the exquisiteness of this language, had I not learned it.

Appa, thank you.

You instilled the love.

Thiru Kathiravan Krishnamurthi. Heartfelt thanks.

Words would not be sufficient to thank you.

Dinner. On us. When you and your little clan (Puggy, the world's most pampered pet, too) plan that much awaited Penang, Malaysia trip.

And, yes.

Appa always taught me to think good and pray for another.

Thiru Kathiravan Krishnamurthi

May The Almighty God bless you and your family with happiness, prosperity and well being for always.

My warmest regards to everyone at home.

Vani Ma'am, Mugil & Venil.

They already sound like family.

Love and affection, is indeed, the world's greatest antidote.

Thanks again.

வாழ்க தமிழ்.

As written by the very respected Thiru Kathiravan :-

The song was written during the days of Tamil renaissance.

Tamil that was sung in temples, stages and in dance performance was getting a back seat to Telugu and Skt in Tamil Nadu.

In the 1600s Tamil Trinity of Muthu Thanadavar, Marimuthu Pillai and later Arunachala Kavi pioneered Keerthanas.

Bharathidasan wrote the lines longing for olden days when Tamil music set to dance is performed.

This song is a outpouring of his wish.

First Para :

துன்பம் நேர்கையில் யாழ் எடுத்து நீ

இன்பம் சேர்க்க மாட்டாயா? - எமக்

கின்பம் சேர்க்க மாட்டாயா? - நல்

அன்பிலா நெஞ்சில் தமிழில் பாடி நீ

அல்லல் நீக்க மாட்டாயா? - கண்ணே

அல்லல் நீக்க மாட்டாயா?

yAzh is a precursor to veeNa used in music.

Ancient Tamil poets during Bhakthi era sang and pANars (instrumentalists) set them to music.

The system of paNs is still in vogue among the devotional singers.

yAzh_eduththu enakku inbam sErkka maattaayA.

It is a plea to the child (kanne-young one) to sing in Tamil with yAz accompaniment..

The poet is singing to a child.

The poet has love for the language but he puts sometimes in shoes of somebody who lack love in their heart.

When I run into (nErkayil) sadness (thunbam,

will you please play the harp (yAzh; bring me joy (inbam)

Sing in Tamil, please will you alleviate the distress (allal neekka) in the mind (nenju) of loveless (anbillaa)

Second Para :

வன்பும் எளிமையும் சூழும் நாட்டிலே

வாழ்வின் உணர்வு சேர்க்க - எம்

வாழ்வின் உணர்வு சேர்க்க - நீ

அன்றை நற்றமிழ்க் கூத்தின் முறையினால்

ஆடிக் காட்ட மாட்டாயா? கண்ணே

ஆடிக் காட்ட மாட்டாயா?

The poet not only wishes a song set to yAz music.

He wants more.

He pleads with the child to perform kooththu (a dance form).

vanbum eLimaiyum sUzhum naattilE

vanbu-extravaganze, haughty show

eLimai-simplicity -->humility.

In the land (naattil) bring surrounded (sUzhum) by both vanbu and eLimai,

will you please bring out the true feeling of life

Would you please give a show of fine Tamil koothu

Would you please?

anRai naRRamizhk koothu muRai(it could mean Tamil Koothu system of yesteryears (anRai)or the dance form sweet like amizhthu (nectar of celestials)

There are many types of koothu (it is a system of dance) mentioned in silappathikaaram composed by Chera Prince Ilango.

Third Para :

அறமிதென்றும் யாம் மறமிதென்றுமே

அறிகிலாத போது - யாம்

அறிகிலாத போது - தமிழ்

இறைவனாரின் திருக்குறளிலே ஒரு சொல்

இயம்பிக் காட்ட மாட்டாயா? - நீ

இயம்பிக் காட்ட மாட்டாயா?

The poet talks about Valluvar who wrote 1330 couplets divided into three chapters covering various aspects of life in terse form.

kuRaL -short poem, aRam-virtue.. maRam (thamizh)~ veera (skt)-valor. maRam is subtly different.. It is courage in a virtuous sense.

When we (yaam) are not clear about aRam and maRam

Would you please recite (iyambu) a couplet from our law giver.

iRaiyanaar- iRai is dispense.. give away, spill

iRaiyanar==valluvar who gave us moral code of living well.

Final Para :

புறம் இதென்றும் நல் அகம் இதென்றுமே

புலவர் கண்ட நூலின் - தமிழ்ப்

புலவர் கண்ட நூலின் - நல்

திறமை காட்டி உனை ஈன்ற எம்உயிர்ச்

செல்வம் ஆகமாட்டாயா? தமிழ்ச்

செல்வம் ஆக மாட்டாயா?

Bharathidaasan has composed a number of devotional songs set to music in his early days.

When he met Bharathi he had shared a number of his poems and Bharathiaar was impressed.

One of the common thing about these poets was that they were well versed in ancient texts and music.

The poet wishes the child to develop skills by reading the ancient texts that were characterized into: aham and puRam.

Aham deals with love and life concerning the hero and heroine.

Puram deals with war, virtues of emperors and life outside the family.

Won't you exhibit skills of Tamil poets

Won't you master aham and puRam of

yore and become

Wealth to this soul that begot (iinRa) you

Won’t you become a wealth for Tamil! Oh darling

The Tamil Lyrics :