Kurangu Varum Thottamadi Lyrics Meaning — Panathottam | T. M. Soundarajan
T. M. Soundarajan’s “Kurangu Varum Thottamadi” is from the album Panathottam. Lyricist Kannadasan and composers Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy created the song. It begins by contrasting a monkey’s fruit garden with the “garden of money” built by humanity. This comparison sets up a philosophical warning.
The verses state that a community once strong as a lion was destroyed by gold. Greed is described as an unconquerable force. The lyrics suggest that even if a camel could pass through a needle’s eye, this desire for wealth would remain.
Kurangu Varum Thottamadi PazhathottamA garden of fruit is where the monkey comes.
Vandu Varum Thottamadi MalarthottamA garden of flowers is where the bee comes.
Manidhanukku Thottamadi ManathottamFor humanity, the garden was meant to be the mind.
Andha Manidhan Vilaiyadumidam PanathottamBut mankind’s playground is the garden of money.
Panathottam PanathottamThe garden of money, the garden of money.
Manathottam Podum EndruTo cultivate the garden of the mind
Mayavanar Kodutha UdalThis body the Creator gave us
Panathottam PottadheyadiWas used to plant a garden of money, my dear.
Muthamma Panathottam PottadheyadiMuthamma, it was used to plant a garden of money.
Manathottam Podum EndruTo cultivate the garden of the mind
Mayavanar Kodutha UdalThis body the Creator gave us
Panathottam PottadheyadiWas used to plant a garden of money, my dear.
Muthamma Panathottam PottadheyadiMuthamma, it was used to plant a garden of money.
Sangathal Pirandha InamA society born from community,
Singam Pola Valarndha GunamA character that grew strong like a lion.
Sangathal Pirandha InamA culture that came from unity,
Singam Pola Valarndha GunamA spirit that rose with the courage of a lion.
Thangathal AzhindhatheyadiWas completely ruined by gold, my dear.
Muthamma Thangathal AzhindhatheyadiMuthamma, it was completely ruined by gold.
Muthamma Thangathal AzhindhatheyadiMuthamma, it was completely ruined by gold.
Manathottam Podum EndruTo cultivate the garden of the mind
Mayavanar Kodutha UdalThis body the Creator gave us
Panathottam PottadheyadiWas used to plant a garden of money, my dear.
Muthamma Panathottam PottadheyadiMuthamma, it was used to plant a garden of money.
En Muthamma Panathottam PottadheyadiMy dear, it was used to plant a garden of money.
Oosi Munai KadhukulleThrough the eye of a needle,
Ottagangal PonalumEven if a camel were to pass,
Kasasai PogathadiThe lust for money will never leave you.
En Muthamma Kattaiyilum VegathadiMy dear, it won’t even burn away on the funeral pyre.
Vera Oosi Munai KadhukulleYes, through a needle’s tiny eye,
Ottagangal PonalumEven if a camel could somehow pass,
Kasasai PogathadiThis greed for wealth will not depart.
En Muthamma Kattaiyilum VegathadiMy dear, it won’t even burn away with the body.
En Muthamma Kattaiyilum VegathadiMy dear, it won’t even burn away with the body.
Manathottam Podum EndruTo cultivate the garden of the mind
Mayavanar Kodutha UdalThis body the Creator gave us
Panathottam PottadheyadiWas used to plant a garden of money, my dear.
Muthamma Panathottam PottadheyadiMuthamma, it was used to plant a garden of money.
Ennaiyudan ThanneeraiLike oil and water,
Eppadithan KalandhalumNo matter how you try to mix them,
Ennaiyudan ThanneeraiJust like oil poured into water,
Eppadithan KalandhalumRegardless of how they are shaken together,
Irandum Ondru SerathadiThe two will never become one, my dear.
Muthamma Iyarkkai Gunam MaradhadiMuthamma, a person’s fundamental nature will never change.
Muthamma Iyarkkai Gunam MaradhadiMuthamma, a person’s fundamental nature will never change.
Manathottam Podum EndruTo cultivate the garden of the mind
Mayavanar Kodutha UdalThis body the Creator gave us
Panathottam PottadheyadiWas used to plant a garden of money, my dear.
Muthamma Panathottam PottadheyadiMuthamma, it was used to plant a garden of money.
En Muthamma Panathottam PottadheyadiMy dear, it was used to plant a garden of money.
The song uses simple images from nature to deliver a firm message about materialism. It suggests that once a person’s nature is corrupted by wealth, it cannot be changed, like oil and water. The meaning of the ‘Kurangu Varum Thottamadi’ lyrics is a direct critique of prioritizing money over the mind.
