ఆడదానికి పురిటి పురిటికీ గండం; మగవాడికి దినదినము గండం.

adadaniki puriti puritiki gandam; magavadiki dinadinamu gandam.

Translation

For a woman, danger occurs at every childbirth; for a man, danger occurs every single day.

Meaning

This proverb contrasts the life risks faced by genders in traditional society. While women face life-threatening risks during labor (delivery), men face constant risks daily as they venture out to work, provide, and protect the family in an unpredictable world. It is used to highlight that life is inherently full of challenges and risks for everyone, albeit in different forms.

Related Phrases

The child was demon-struck before it was ten days old. A Hindu infant is not taken out of the house during the mother's Purudu or ten days of ceremonial uncleanness after its birth. During this time the child is thought to be perfectly safe from the evil spirits, to attacks from which it is afterwards liable.

This expression is used to describe a situation where a project, plan, or event fails at the very beginning or before it even gets started. Just as a newborn being struck by an illness (sandi) is a tragic start to life, this phrase highlights an immediate setback to a new venture.

Evil may be predicted to the mother or to the child, but will any harm come to the midwife?

This proverb is used to describe a situation where a person in charge or a middleman remains safe and unaffected while the primary parties involved face all the risks and consequences. It highlights the immunity or lack of accountability of a facilitator when things go wrong for those they are serving.

Will the woman who cannot bear one [ trouble ] bear two ?

This proverb is used to describe a person who lacks the capacity or patience to handle a small responsibility but claims or aspires to handle a much larger one. It highlights the contradiction in their capabilities.

A lump of food [given in charity] will save you from trouble. He who lends to the poor, gets his interest from God. (German.)

This proverb highlights the importance of timely help or minimal sustenance. It implies that even a very small amount of food or a minor timely intervention can save a person from a life-threatening situation or a major calamity.

Even a 'Putti' (a large measure of grain) is not enough for a woman who has just given birth.

This expression is used to describe a situation where no amount of resources or supplies seem sufficient to meet an overwhelming or critical need. Historically, it refers to the high nutritional and care requirements of a postpartum mother, but metaphorically it applies to any scenario involving insatiable demand or extreme necessity.

A husband to a woman and a moneylender to a debtor are both masters.

This proverb highlights the traditional power dynamics where a husband holds authority over his wife, and similarly, a creditor holds significant control or authority over someone who owes them money. It is used to describe situations where one person is under the command or influence of another due to a specific social or financial relationship.

Like escaping a danger and the fetus coming out safely.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone has successfully survived a major crisis or a life-threatening ordeal. It originates from the relief felt after a difficult childbirth where both mother and child survive. It is commonly used when a high-stakes project is completed or a severe problem is resolved after much anxiety.

A daily danger, but a hundred-year lifespan.

This expression describes a situation where someone faces constant, life-threatening risks or severe challenges every single day, yet somehow manages to survive and continue living for a long time. It is used to characterize a life full of perpetual uncertainty or a job/situation that is dangerously unstable despite its longevity.

The one who knows how to fight is at a higher risk of death.

This proverb suggests that those with expertise or skills in a dangerous field are often the most vulnerable to its risks because they take chances or engage in it frequently. It is used to caution against overconfidence in one's skills, implying that mastery does not provide immunity from accidents or failure.

Arika crop faces danger from the Chitta star, a woman faces danger from childbirth.

This proverb highlights two critical and vulnerable stages: the harvesting time of the 'Arika' (Kodo millet) crop and the process of childbirth for a woman. It suggests that just as the Chitta rainfall can ruin a ready-to-harvest crop, labor is a life-threatening moment for a mother, emphasizing the risks involved in these natural processes.