అచ్చం తిరుమణిధారి అయితే పుల్ల పట్టడంలోనే తెలుసును.

achcham tirumanidhari ayite pulla pattadamlone telusunu.

Translation

You can tell whether he is really a Vaishṇava or not by the way in which he holds the pencil.

Meaning

This proverb suggests that a person's true expertise, character, or background is revealed through their subtle actions or the way they perform a specific task. Even if someone claims to be an expert or a devotee, their proficiency or authenticity is proven by the finesse they display in the practical execution of their duties.

Notes

Tirumāni is the clay used for the Sectarian mark worn on the forehead by Vaishṇavas, and Pulla is a bit of grass with which the mark is made. Halt not before a cripple.

Related Phrases

Truth will be known in time.

This proverb suggests that while lies or rumors might spread quickly or cause initial confusion, the truth eventually reveals itself over time. It is used to encourage patience during a misunderstanding or to remind someone that dishonesty cannot remain hidden forever.

Truth is the daughter of time.

If one is a true wearer of the sacred mark, it is evident right from how they take the soil.

This proverb is used to say that a person's true skill, expertise, or character can be judged at the very beginning of a task. Just as the way a devotee handles the sacred white clay (Thirumani) reveals their level of devotion and practice, a professional's competence is visible in their initial steps or preparation.

The harvest to be reaped is known in the seedling itself.

This proverb is the Telugu equivalent of 'Coming events cast their shadows before' or 'The child is the father of the man.' It means that the future success or quality of a project or a person can be predicted by observing their early stages or initial signs.

The treasure is known to the man who buried it.

This expression refers to the fact that only the person who performed a specific action or hid something knows the truth or the exact location. It is used to emphasize that the source or the creator has the most accurate knowledge about a situation or an object.

As soon as a flower is full blown, it's fragrance is perceived. A man's worth is known when he is grown up.

This proverb is used to describe a person whose talent, potential, or great qualities are evident right from their childhood or the very beginning of their career. It is similar to the English expression 'Morning shows the day'.

My chastity is known to my first husband. Said by a widow who had passed herself off as a maid, and married again.

This is a sarcastic or ironic expression used to mock someone who is boasting about their integrity or loyalty when their past actions clearly prove otherwise. It highlights a contradiction where someone claims to be virtuous despite having a history of failure or betrayal. It is often used to expose hypocrisy.

Does the pot know the taste of the milk it carries?

This expression is used to describe someone who is constantly in the presence of greatness, knowledge, or luxury but remains ignorant of its true value or essence. Just as a vessel holds milk but cannot taste it, a person might handle or be near something valuable without ever understanding or appreciating it.

The humpback alone knows how he can lie comfortably.

This proverb conveys that only the person suffering from a specific problem or hardship truly understands its depth and the unique ways they have to cope with it. It is used to emphasize that outsiders cannot fully grasp someone else's personal struggles or the adjustments they must make to survive.

Every man kens best where his own shoe pinches. ( Scotch.)

The weight of a load is known to him who carries it. No one knows the weight of another's burden.

This expression means that only the person performing a task or enduring a struggle truly understands the difficulty or burden involved. It is used to suggest that outsiders should not judge or underestimate someone's hardship without experiencing it themselves.

Learning to apply the sacred mark is like completing all the holy pilgrimages.

This proverb suggests that mastering a fundamental skill or the core discipline of a task is equivalent to achieving the end result. In a satirical sense, it can also refer to people who focus heavily on outward appearances or rituals, implying that once the 'show' is mastered, they feel they have achieved everything.