అగడ్తలో పడ్డ పిల్లికి అదే వైకుంఠం

agadtalo padda pilliki ade vaikuntham

Translation

The moat is heaven to the cat that falls into it. It cannot possibly escape, and dies. An inextricable difficulty.

Meaning

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone gets stuck in a difficult or limited circumstance and eventually accepts it as their whole world, either out of helplessness or a lack of better perspective. It refers to people who settle for a miserable state because they cannot see or reach beyond it.

Related Phrases

The one who falls into a whirlpool and the one who falls into a moat are both the same.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where two different paths or choices lead to the same unfortunate result. It suggests that whether a problem is caused by nature (whirlpool) or man-made (moat), the consequence of being trapped or ruined remains identical.

He offers heaven in the palm of his hand. Deceiving by false hopes.

This expression is used to describe someone who makes grand, unrealistic promises or uses deceptive talk to create illusions of great success or prosperity. It refers to the act of fooling someone by making them believe something impossible is easily achievable.

For a cat that has fallen into a moat, that itself is heaven.

This proverb describes a situation where someone is forced to accept a bad or mediocre situation because they have no other choice, eventually convincing themselves it is the best place to be. It is used to mock people who settle for poor conditions out of helplessness or lack of ambition.

A pill from Ananthayya's hand leads to a journey to Vaikuntha.

This is a sarcastic expression used to describe a person who is incompetent or dangerous in their profession, particularly a bad doctor. 'Vaikuntha' is the abode of Lord Vishnu, implying that the patient dies immediately after taking the medicine prescribed by such a person.

The stomach is Kailasam, and the home is Vaikuntam.

This expression refers to someone who prioritizes physical comfort, good food, and staying at home above all else, including spiritual or social duties. Kailasam and Vaikuntam are the divine abodes of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu; here, they symbolize the ultimate happiness found in eating well and resting at home.

The doctor said, 'A pill from my hand is a journey to Vaikuntha (heaven)'.

This is a sarcastic proverb used to describe an incompetent professional whose actions lead to disastrous results rather than a cure. It specifically mocks a doctor whose treatment is so poor that it kills the patient instead of healing them, sending them straight to the afterlife.

Showing Vaikuntam in the palm of one's hand.

This expression is used to describe someone who makes grand, impossible promises or creates beautiful illusions to deceive others. It refers to the act of painting a false, rosy picture to manipulate someone into believing a lie or a dream that will never come true.

The pleasure of scratching one's testicles cannot be found even in Vaikuntha (Heaven).

A crude but humorous folk saying used to describe a simple, base, or immediate physical relief that feels superior to any imaginary spiritual bliss. It is often used to remark on how people prioritize small, personal comforts over abstract or lofty goals.

Like a sheep that went to the forest but fell into a moat.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone, in an attempt to escape a problem or find a better place, ends up in an even worse or more dangerous situation. It is similar to the English idiom 'out of the frying pan and into the fire.'

The pill in my hand, [will take you on] a pilgrimage to Vaikuṇṭha (Vishṇu's heaven ).

This is a sarcastic or humorous proverb used to describe an incompetent doctor or healer. It implies that if someone takes a pill prescribed by such a person, they will not be cured but will instead die and go to 'Vaikuntha' (heaven/the abode of Vishnu). It is used to mock people who pretend to be experts but provide dangerous results.

Said jokingly to a quack. Bleed him, and purge him; if he dies, bury him. (Spanish.)*