I need an English translation(preferably line-by-line) of the lyrics of the song 'Chinnanchirukkiliye' by Subramanya Bharati. Commentary welcome too!
Thanks!
Meaning- Chinnanchirukkiliye
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Lakshman
- Posts: 14188
- Joined: 10 Feb 2010, 18:52
Here is the meaning:
1: cinnam shirukkiLiyE kaNNammA shelvak-kaLanjiyamE ennaik-kali tIrttE ulagil Etram puriya vandAi
Oh my dear kaNNammA (a term of endearment), who is bright and beautiful as a little (cinnam ciru) parrot (kiLi). You are the the most precious gift/wealth that I possess (shelvak-kaLanjiyam). You have come (vandAy) to remove (tIrttE) my sins (kali) and elevate me (ERRam puriya) in this world (ulagil)
Comment: The word kiLi is a wonderful allegory here: while a kiLi/parrot is used to describe a beautiful woman/girl, here bhArati is describing the dEvi (parASakti) as his daughter. And the dEvi is described as tattai mozhiyAL (tattai = taTTai = parrot) - so a parrot is not just a parrot, BUT an indication of the divine. Or maybe a gentle reminder for all of us to see the divine in our daughters!
2: piLLaik-kaniyamudE kaNNammA pEshum por-chittiramE aLLi aNaittiDavE en munnE Adi varum tEnE
In this line, the poet describes his daughter/parASakti as the distilled essence/nectar (amudu) of the sweetness of childhood (piLLaik-kani). He then describes her as picturesque as a painting (por-cittiram), only one that talks (pEshum). As he sees this delicious little one (tEnE = as sweet as honey) come dancing (ADi varum) in front of him (yen munnE), all he wants to do is gather her up in his arms in a warm/tight embrace (aLLi aNaittiDavE).
3: Odi varugaiyilE kaNNammA uLLam kuLirudaDi Adit-tiridal kaNDAl unnaip-pOi Avi tazhuvudaDI
The poet says, as he sees her come running to him (ODi varugayilE), his heart bursts from ecstacy (uLLam kuLirudaDI), and as he sees her dancing and traipsing around (ADi tiridal kanDAl) his very soul (Avi) reaches out to her (unnaip-pOi) and embraces her (tazhuvudaDI) out of pride.
4: ucci tanai mughandAl garuvam Ongi vaLarudaDi mecci unnai yAr pugazhndAl mEni shilirkkudaDI
Here the poet says that as he kisses her forehead (ucci tanai mugarndAl), his pride knows no bounds (garuvam Ongi vaLarudaDI), and he feels horriipilations (mEni shilirkkudaDI) every time someone else (UrAr) praises (pugazhndAl) her (mecci unai).
5: kannattil muttamiTTAn uLLam tAn kaL veri koLLudaDi unnait-tazhuviDivO kaNnammA un mattamArudaDI
The poet says that as he kisses (muttamiTTAl) her cheek (kannattil), his heart is filled with wild joy (uLLam tAn kaLveri koLLudaDI). As I embrace you, I am crazy with joy!
6: shaTrun mukham shivandAl manadu sancalamAgudaDi neTri shurungak-kaNDAl enakku nenjam padaikkudaDI
The ever-indulgent father continues: even if your (un) face (mukham) reddens (sivandAl) in anger/displeasure slightly (shaTru), my mind is in a turmoil (manadu sancalamAgudaDI), and if I see even a small frown (neRRi Surungak-kanDAl), I panic (nejam padaikkudaDI)
Comment: Lessons on how we are supposed to look after the precious little princesses fate has given us to nourish and cherish.
7: un kaNNil nIr vazhindAl ennenjil udiram koTTudaDi en kaNNin pAvaiyenrO kaNNammA ennuyir
ninradanrO
Continuing with the sentiments expressed in the previous line, he continues: if I see tears (nIr vazhindAl) in your eyes (un kaNNil), my heart (nenjil) bleeds (udiram koTTudaDI). Oh Apple of my eye/Light of eye (en kaNNin pAvai), isn't my life (en uyir) yours (ninadanrO)...In some versions this is ninnAdanrO = ninnAdu anrO = my life stops when I see you are upset enough to cry)
8: shollu mazhalaiyilE kaNNammA inbangaL tIrttiDuvAi mullai shirippAlE enadu mUrkham tavirttiDuvAi
Oh little one! With your baby talk (shollu-mazhalayilE) you fill me life with all forms of joy, while with your innocent smile (mullaic-cirippAlE) you cure my follies (anger/stupidity).
9: inbak-kadaigaLellAm unnaip-pOl EdugaL sholvaduNDO anbu taruvadilE unainEr AghumOr deivamuNDO
Can romantic stories (inba kadaigaL) tell tales of love like only you can? Is there a god in this world who is as loving as you?
10: mArbilaNivadarkkE unnaippOl vaira maNigaLuNDO shIr peTru vAzhvadarkkE unnaippOl shelvam piridumuNDO
Are there jewels (vairamaNigaL) to wear on my chest (mArbil aNivadarkkO) that can out-shine you? To lead a productive/useful life, is there any wealth that comes close to possessing you?
1: cinnam shirukkiLiyE kaNNammA shelvak-kaLanjiyamE ennaik-kali tIrttE ulagil Etram puriya vandAi
Oh my dear kaNNammA (a term of endearment), who is bright and beautiful as a little (cinnam ciru) parrot (kiLi). You are the the most precious gift/wealth that I possess (shelvak-kaLanjiyam). You have come (vandAy) to remove (tIrttE) my sins (kali) and elevate me (ERRam puriya) in this world (ulagil)
Comment: The word kiLi is a wonderful allegory here: while a kiLi/parrot is used to describe a beautiful woman/girl, here bhArati is describing the dEvi (parASakti) as his daughter. And the dEvi is described as tattai mozhiyAL (tattai = taTTai = parrot) - so a parrot is not just a parrot, BUT an indication of the divine. Or maybe a gentle reminder for all of us to see the divine in our daughters!
2: piLLaik-kaniyamudE kaNNammA pEshum por-chittiramE aLLi aNaittiDavE en munnE Adi varum tEnE
In this line, the poet describes his daughter/parASakti as the distilled essence/nectar (amudu) of the sweetness of childhood (piLLaik-kani). He then describes her as picturesque as a painting (por-cittiram), only one that talks (pEshum). As he sees this delicious little one (tEnE = as sweet as honey) come dancing (ADi varum) in front of him (yen munnE), all he wants to do is gather her up in his arms in a warm/tight embrace (aLLi aNaittiDavE).
3: Odi varugaiyilE kaNNammA uLLam kuLirudaDi Adit-tiridal kaNDAl unnaip-pOi Avi tazhuvudaDI
The poet says, as he sees her come running to him (ODi varugayilE), his heart bursts from ecstacy (uLLam kuLirudaDI), and as he sees her dancing and traipsing around (ADi tiridal kanDAl) his very soul (Avi) reaches out to her (unnaip-pOi) and embraces her (tazhuvudaDI) out of pride.
4: ucci tanai mughandAl garuvam Ongi vaLarudaDi mecci unnai yAr pugazhndAl mEni shilirkkudaDI
Here the poet says that as he kisses her forehead (ucci tanai mugarndAl), his pride knows no bounds (garuvam Ongi vaLarudaDI), and he feels horriipilations (mEni shilirkkudaDI) every time someone else (UrAr) praises (pugazhndAl) her (mecci unai).
5: kannattil muttamiTTAn uLLam tAn kaL veri koLLudaDi unnait-tazhuviDivO kaNnammA un mattamArudaDI
The poet says that as he kisses (muttamiTTAl) her cheek (kannattil), his heart is filled with wild joy (uLLam tAn kaLveri koLLudaDI). As I embrace you, I am crazy with joy!
6: shaTrun mukham shivandAl manadu sancalamAgudaDi neTri shurungak-kaNDAl enakku nenjam padaikkudaDI
The ever-indulgent father continues: even if your (un) face (mukham) reddens (sivandAl) in anger/displeasure slightly (shaTru), my mind is in a turmoil (manadu sancalamAgudaDI), and if I see even a small frown (neRRi Surungak-kanDAl), I panic (nejam padaikkudaDI)
Comment: Lessons on how we are supposed to look after the precious little princesses fate has given us to nourish and cherish.
7: un kaNNil nIr vazhindAl ennenjil udiram koTTudaDi en kaNNin pAvaiyenrO kaNNammA ennuyir
ninradanrO
Continuing with the sentiments expressed in the previous line, he continues: if I see tears (nIr vazhindAl) in your eyes (un kaNNil), my heart (nenjil) bleeds (udiram koTTudaDI). Oh Apple of my eye/Light of eye (en kaNNin pAvai), isn't my life (en uyir) yours (ninadanrO)...In some versions this is ninnAdanrO = ninnAdu anrO = my life stops when I see you are upset enough to cry)
8: shollu mazhalaiyilE kaNNammA inbangaL tIrttiDuvAi mullai shirippAlE enadu mUrkham tavirttiDuvAi
Oh little one! With your baby talk (shollu-mazhalayilE) you fill me life with all forms of joy, while with your innocent smile (mullaic-cirippAlE) you cure my follies (anger/stupidity).
9: inbak-kadaigaLellAm unnaip-pOl EdugaL sholvaduNDO anbu taruvadilE unainEr AghumOr deivamuNDO
Can romantic stories (inba kadaigaL) tell tales of love like only you can? Is there a god in this world who is as loving as you?
10: mArbilaNivadarkkE unnaippOl vaira maNigaLuNDO shIr peTru vAzhvadarkkE unnaippOl shelvam piridumuNDO
Are there jewels (vairamaNigaL) to wear on my chest (mArbil aNivadarkkO) that can out-shine you? To lead a productive/useful life, is there any wealth that comes close to possessing you?