అడక్కుంటే జోలె అడుక్కుపోతుంది.

adakkunte jole adukkupotundi.

Translation

If you don't ask, even the begging bag will sink to the bottom.

Meaning

This proverb emphasizes the importance of asking for what one needs or deserves. It suggests that if you are too shy or hesitant to speak up or make a request, you will miss out on opportunities or lose what you already have. It is used to encourage people to be proactive and vocal rather than passive.

Related Phrases

Goldsmith Ramakka, who tells the tale without being asked.

This expression is used to describe someone who offers unsolicited advice or unasked-for information. It refers to a person who habitually interferes in others' business or talks too much about things that weren't even brought up, much like a talkative character who narrates their story without any prompt.

If there is plowing, there is a way.

This proverb emphasizes the importance of agriculture and hard work. It suggests that if one prepares the land well (plowing), they will always have a means of survival and a secure future. It is used to highlight that labor is the foundation of sustenance.

Unless the head is burnt, the begging bowl will not be filled.

This proverb emphasizes that hard work, struggle, or intense effort (symbolized by the heat of the sun burning one's head) is necessary to earn a livelihood or achieve results. It implies that without facing difficulties or putting in significant labor, one cannot expect to fulfill their needs or find success.

Even if one lives by begging, the bowl should be held with dignity.

This proverb emphasizes that no matter how low one's financial or social status is, one should maintain their self-respect and dignity. It is used to suggest that even in poverty, one must carry themselves with a certain level of pride and orderliness.

Saying 'Aa' makes her tired, saying 'Oo' makes her lose her breath.

This expression is used to sarcastically describe someone who is extremely lazy, fragile, or prone to making excuses to avoid even the smallest amount of physical or mental effort. It highlights a person's tendency to exaggerate their exhaustion over trivial tasks.

If the grain of rice is lost, life is lost

This expression highlights the vital importance of food security and agriculture. It signifies that even a single grain of rice represents sustenance, and without food (the means of survival), one's very existence is at risk. It is often used to emphasize the value of hard work, the importance of not wasting food, or the critical nature of one's livelihood.

When told 'Jangamayya, your house is on fire', he replied 'My begging bag and bowl are with me anyway'.

This proverb describes a person with a detached or nomadic mindset who has very few worldly attachments. It is used to describe someone who remains unbothered by a major loss (like a house) because their most essential possessions or their source of livelihood are safe. It can also imply a sense of indifference or lack of responsibility towards larger properties or societal structures.

A child who vomits will survive (thrive)

This is a traditional Telugu saying used by elders to reassure worried parents when an infant spits up milk. It suggests that vomiting is a sign of a healthy appetite or overfeeding, and implies that the child is growing well and will remain healthy.

If a shoulder bag is on the shoulder, one can travel the whole world.

This proverb highlights the freedom and independence that comes with a minimalist or mendicant lifestyle. It suggests that if someone has no attachments, possessions, or ego (symbolized by the monk's begging bowl or 'jole'), they are free to roam anywhere in the world without fear, burden, or social constraints. It is often used to describe someone who leads a carefree life with minimal needs.

If you show fire, butter melts without being asked.

This expression means that certain results are inevitable when the right conditions are met. Just as butter cannot resist heat, people or situations will react naturally and immediately to strong influence, pressure, or temptation without needing to be told.