FolkMalayalamearly 19th century
Veeravirada Kumara Vibho
വീരവിരാട കുമാര വിഭോ
Veeravirada Kumara Vibho is one of the most popular songs of Thiruvathirakali, the circle dance performed by women in Kerala during Onam and Thiruvathira. It comes from Irayimman Thampi's Kathakali play Uthara Swayamvaram.
- Written by
- Irayimman Thampi (died 1856)
- Music
- Irayimman Thampi
- Context
- Song from the Kathakali play Uthara Swayamvaram, sung for Thiruvathirakali
- Year
- early 19th century
- Language
- Malayalam
Veeravirada Kumara Vibho lyrics with English translation
Full text as given on Malayalam Wikisource, with the line repetitions used in singing.
വീരവിരാട കുമാര വിഭോ, ചാരുതരഗുണ സാഗരഭോ മാരലാവണ്യ, നാരി മനോഹാരി താരുണ്യ ജയ ജയ ഭൂരി കാരുണ്യ, വന്നീടുക ചാരത്തിഹ പാരിൽത്തവ നേരത്തവരാരുത്തര സാരസ്യസാരമറിവതിനും ചാരത്തിഹ പാരിൽത്തവ നേരത്തവരാരുത്തര സാരസ്യസാരമറിവതിനും നല്ല മാരസ്യ ലീലകൾ ചെയ് വതിനും
Veeraviraata kumaara vibho, chaarutharaguna saagarabho Maaralaavanya, naari manohaari thaarunya Jaya jaya bhoori kaarunya, vanneeduka Chaarathiha paarilthava Nerathavaaruthara saarasyasaaramarivathinum Chaarathiha paarilthava Nerathavaaruthara saarasyasaaramarivathinum Nalla maarasya leelakal chey vathinum
O mighty prince, son of valiant Virata, ocean of graceful virtues, lovely as the god of love, youthful charmer of women's hearts, victory, victory to you, full of kindness; come close to us; on this earth who is your equal, O Uttara, in knowing the very essence of delight, close to us; on this earth who is your equal, O Uttara, in knowing the very essence of delight, and in playing the sweet games of love?
നാളീക ലോചനമാരേ നാം വ്രീള കളഞ്ഞു വിവിധമോരോ നാളീക ലോചനമാരേ നാം വ്രീള കളഞ്ഞു വിവിധമോരോ കേളികളാടി മുദരാഗ മാലകൾ പാടി കരം കൊട്ടി ചാലവേ ചാടി തിരുമുന്നിൽ താളത്തൊടു മേളത്തൊടു മേളിച്ചനുകൂലത്തൊടു- മാളികളേ നടനം ചെയ്യേണം താളത്തൊടു മേളത്തൊടുവ്മേളിച്ചനുകൂലത്തൊടു- മാളികളേ നടനം ചെയ്യേണം; നല്ല- കേളി ജഗത്തിൽ വളർത്തേണം
Naaleeka lochanamaare naam vreela kalanju vividhamoro Naaleeka lochanamaare naam vreela kalanju vividhamoro Kelikalaadi mudaraaga maalakal paadi karam kotti chaalave chaadi Thirumunnil thaalathodu melathodu melichanukoolathodu- maalikale nadanam cheyyenam Thaalathodu melathoduvmelichanukoolathodu- maalikale nadanam cheyyenam; nalla- keli jagathil valarthenam
Lotus-eyed friends, let us cast off our shyness and, in many ways, lotus-eyed friends, let us cast off our shyness and, in many ways, play our games, sing garlands of joyful songs, clap our hands and leap with grace; before the prince, in rhythm and in tune, joined in harmony, friends, we must dance; in rhythm and in tune, joined in harmony, friends, we must dance; and fine festivity we must spread through the world.
ഹൃദ്യതരമൊന്നു പാടീടുവാൻ ഉദ്യോഗമേതും കുറയ്ക്കരുതേ ഹൃദ്യതരമൊന്നു പാടീടുവാൻ ഉദ്യോഗമേതും കുറയ്ക്കരുതേ വിദ്യുല്ലതാംഗീ, ചൊല്ലീടുക പദ്യങ്ങൾ ഭംഗി കലർന്നു നീ സദ്യോമതാംഗീ ധണം ധകതദ്ധിമിതദ്ധയ്യ തദ്ധോമെന്ന് മദ്ദളം വാദയ ചന്ദ്രലേഖേ ധകതദ്ധിമിതദ്ധയ്യ തദ്ധോം തദ്ധോമെന്നു മദ്ദളം വാദയ ചന്ദ്രലേഖേ, നല്ല പദ്യങ്ങൾ ചൊല്ലു നീ രത്ന രേഖേ...
Hridyatharamonnu paadeeduvaan udyogamethum kuraykkaruthe Hridyatharamonnu paadeeduvaan udyogamethum kuraykkaruthe Vidyullathaangi, cholleeduka padyangal bhangi Kalarnnu nee sadyomathaangi Dhanam dhakathaddhimithaddhayya thaddhomennu Maddalam vaadaya chandralekhe Dhakathaddhimithaddhayya thaddhom thaddhomennu Maddalam vaadaya chandralekhe, nalla Padyangal chollu nee rathna rekhe...
To sing something truly delightful, spare no effort, to sing something truly delightful, spare no effort; you of lightning-slender form, recite verses full of grace, you of fresh beauty; "dhanam dhaka-taddhimi-taddhayya taddhom" - so play the maddalam drum, crescent-moon maiden; "dhaka-taddhimi-taddhayya taddhom taddhom" - so play the maddalam drum, crescent-moon maiden, and fine verses you must recite, jewel-bright one...
പാണീവളകൾ കിലുങ്ങീടവേ പാരം ചേണുറ്റ കൊങ്ക കുലുങ്ങീടവേ പാണീവളകൾ കിലുങ്ങീടവേ പാരം ചേണുറ്റ കൊങ്ക കുലുങ്ങീടവേ വേണിയഴിഞ്ഞും നവസുമ ശ്രേണി പൊഴിഞ്ഞും കളമൃദു വാണി മൊഴിഞ്ഞും സഖി ഹേ കല്യാണി ഘനവേണി ശുകവാണി സുശ്രോണീ, നാ- മിണങ്ങിക്കുമ്മിയടിച്ചീടേണം കല്യാണി ഘനവേണി ശുകവാണി സുശ്രോണീ നാമിണങ്ങീക്കുമ്മിയടിച്ചീടേണം നന്നായ് വണങ്ങിക്കുമ്മിയടിച്ചീടേണം, നന്നായ് വണങ്ങിക്കുമ്മിയടിച്ചീടേണം, നന്നായ് വണങ്ങിക്കുമ്മിയടിച്ചീടേണം.
Paaneevalakal kilungeedave paaram chenutta konka kulungeedave Paaneevalakal kilungeedave paaram chenutta konka kulungeedave Veniyazhinjum navasuma shreni pozhinjum Kalamridu vaani mozhinjum sakhi he Kalyaani ghanaveni shukavaani sushroni, naa- minangikkummiyadicheedenam Kalyaani ghanaveni shukavaani sushroni Naaminangeekkummiyadicheedenam nannaay Vanangikkummiyadicheedenam, nannaay Vanangikkummiyadicheedenam, nannaay Vanangikkummiyadicheedenam.
With the bangles on our wrists jingling and our lovely forms swaying, with the bangles on our wrists jingling and our lovely forms swaying, with our braids coming loose and fresh flowers falling from them, speaking in soft, sweet voices, O friend, lovely one with thick dark hair, parrot-voiced, graceful one, let us join together and dance the kummi; lovely one with thick dark hair, parrot-voiced, graceful one, let us join together and dance the kummi, and gracefully, bowing low, dance the kummi, and gracefully, bowing low, dance the kummi, and gracefully, bowing low, dance the kummi.
Translation: Lyriccs (original translation). Transliteration: Lyriccs.
The story behind Veeravirada Kumara Vibho
Irayimman Thampi (1782-1856), the Travancore court poet best known for the lullaby Omanathinkal Kidavo, also wrote attakkathas, the literary texts of Kathakali plays. Uthara Swayamvaram draws on the Virata Parva of the Mahabharata, where the Pandavas live in disguise at the court of King Virata, whose son is Prince Uttara.
In this song the young women of the palace praise the prince and call one another to sing, clap and dance before him. Its lively rhythm made it a natural fit for Thiruvathirakali, also called kaikottikali, in which women move in a circle around a lamp, clapping in time while a leader sings each line and the group repeats it. The song remains a staple of Thiruvathirakali performances at Onam and Thiruvathira.
What Veeravirada Kumara Vibho means
The first stanza addresses Uttara as the son of Virata, an ocean of virtues and as handsome as the god of love, and invites him to come near. The following stanzas turn to the dancers themselves: they urge one another to put aside shyness, to sing garlands of joyful songs, to keep rhythm and harmony, and to play the maddalam drum, whose syllables are imitated in the text.
The final stanza captures the dance in motion, with bangles jingling, braids coming loose and flowers falling, as the women join hands for the kummi. The song is less a narrative than a celebration of music, movement and companionship, which is why it has outlived the stage play and become part of Kerala's festive tradition.
Quick facts
- Written by Irayimman Thampi (1782-1856).
- Part of his Kathakali play Uthara Swayamvaram, based on the Virata Parva of the Mahabharata.
- One of the best-known songs for Thiruvathirakali, the women's circle dance of Kerala.
- The third stanza imitates the drum syllables of the maddalam.