Food & Hunger

This proverb highlights the delicate balance required in nature for agriculture and life. It explains that extreme conditions in either direction—too much rain (leading to waterlogging and rot) or too little rain (leading to drying up)—result in the same outcome: a lack of food and resources. It is used to describe situations where both extremes are equally detrimental.

This expression highlights the fundamental importance of food for survival. It conveys that food is the essence of life and that all living beings depend on it to exist. It is often used to remind people of the sacredness of food and the necessity of basic sustenance before pursuing higher spiritual or intellectual goals.

This expression highlights that debts taken for basic survival needs like clothing (batta) and food (potta) are transient and must be cleared quickly. It is often used to emphasize that one cannot delay repaying small but essential debts or to point out that basic necessities are the first priorities that get consumed immediately, leaving no long-term asset behind.

This proverb highlights the traditional Indian perspective on food and health. It suggests that eating twice a day is a comfortable, pleasurable life for a common person (Bhoga), while restricting oneself to a single meal is a practice of self-control and spiritual focus (Yoga/Upavasa). It is often used to emphasize moderation and the benefits of fasting or controlled eating.

This proverb highlights that basic survival and the struggle for sustenance are the most significant and constant burdens a person can face. It emphasizes that hunger or the lack of resources to eat outweighs all other worldly concerns.

This expression is used to describe a state of extreme desperation or dire necessity where someone is forced to give up something incredibly precious or vital just to survive a crisis. It highlights a situation where there are no good choices left and one must make a heartbreaking sacrifice.

This proverb describes how basic human needs transcend quality or luxury when the need is urgent. A starving person does not care if the food is delicious or plain; similarly, an exhausted person can fall asleep on any surface, regardless of comfort.

This proverb highlights that no matter how many skills, educational degrees, or talents a person possesses, the ultimate goal of all their efforts is to earn a livelihood and satisfy their basic need for food. It is used to remind people that every profession or skill has the same fundamental purpose: survival.

All professions are only so many means of livelihood.

This proverb highlights the immense value and comfort of a simple, wholesome meal like dal-rice (pappannam). It is used to describe how someone is willing to go to great lengths or travel long distances for something they truly cherish or find satisfying, often used in the context of food or simple pleasures.

This expression emphasizes that food is the most basic and essential wealth. If one has a meal to eat, they are as rich as a millionaire, highlighting that basic sustenance is more important than extreme wealth.

This expression is used to describe a state of extreme poverty or a household where there is no food. It implies that the stove (hearth) has been cold for so long that a cat can comfortably sleep inside it without being disturbed by fire or cooking activities.

This is a traditional agricultural proverb from the Guntur region of Andhra Pradesh. It highlights the local weather patterns and their impact on farming. It suggests that if clouds form specifically over the Medarasaladurga hill in a certain small shape (size of a goat's leg), it is a sign of impending drought or lack of rain, meaning the crops in neighboring villages like Thulluru and Dondapadu will fail to the point where even basic fodder won't be available.

This expression is used to emphasize that mere talk or empty promises do not produce practical results or satisfy physical needs. It highlights the importance of action over words, often used when someone provides excuses or tall tales instead of providing actual help or food.

We must assist in deeds not in words. (Latin.) Words don't fill the belly. (Portuguese.) * Molto fumo, e poco arrosto. † Re opulentandum non verbis, ‡ Palavras naõ enchem barriga.

This proverb highlights that basic survival and hunger take precedence over social status, caste, or background. When a person is starving, their primary concern is obtaining food (sustenance) rather than worrying about pride, pedigree, or social divisions. It is used to emphasize that necessity and practical needs are more important than superficial social identities.

This proverb highlights the importance of essential resources in a livelihood. Just as a household feels incomplete and lacks nutrition without dairy cattle, a farm cannot be productive without organic manure. It is used to describe situations where the fundamental elements required for success or prosperity are missing.

This expression describes a situation where one is forced to seek a loan or credit during a time of extreme scarcity or crisis. It signifies an act of desperation or a burden upon an already struggling person, as borrowing during a famine is difficult to repay and even harder to obtain.

This expression refers to extreme poverty where a person has nothing to eat and is constantly hungry, leading to frequent yawning (a physical sign of exhaustion or an empty stomach). It is used to describe a state of utter destitution where physical weakness and hunger are the only things one 'possesses'.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where there is a serious crisis or a basic need (represented by the child's hunger), but someone else is focused on inappropriate, selfish, or absurd desires that are completely out of place given the circumstances.

This expression highlights the fundamental importance of the earth (land) as the source of all basic necessities. 'Potta' (stomach/food) refers to agriculture and crops, while 'Batta' (cloth) refers to natural fibers like cotton. It is used to emphasize that everything we need to survive ultimately comes from the soil and to express gratitude or respect for nature and agriculture.

This expression is used to describe eating a hearty, satisfying, and full meal. Just as a strong embankment protects a field on high ground from losing its resources, a feast should be so substantial that it leaves one feeling completely satiated and sturdy.