ఆకలివానికి అన్నమే బ్రహ్మం
akalivaniki anname brahmam
Food is God to a hungry person
This expression highlights that for someone suffering from hunger, satisfying that basic need is the highest priority and equivalent to a divine experience. It is used to emphasize that practical necessities are more important than philosophy or spirituality when a person is in dire need.
Related Phrases
పేదకు తగిలె బ్రహ్మహత్య అన్నట్లు
pedaku tagile brahmahatya annatlu
As if a poor person is accused of killing a Brahmin.
This proverb describes a situation where an unfortunate person is unfairly burdened with an enormous problem or a heavy accusation that they have no capacity to handle or resolve. In traditional contexts, 'Brahmahatya' (killing a Brahmin) was considered the ultimate sin with the heaviest consequences; a poor person facing such a charge would be completely helpless.
బ్రహ్మాస్త్రానికి తిరుగు లేదు
brahmastraniki tirugu ledu
There is no turning to a Brahmâstra. Brahmâstra is the fabulous weapon of Brahmâ. Said of anything which is irresistible.
This expression is used to describe a final, ultimate, or most powerful solution/weapon that cannot be defeated or resisted. It refers to an action or argument that ensures certain success and leaves the opponent with no options.
పిల్లి బ్రహ్మహంత.
pilli brahmahanta.
Kill a cat, kill a Brahman. Doing harm to a cat is considered as sinful as injuring a Brahman.
This is a traditional Telugu saying used to emphasize the gravity of hurting or killing a cat, suggesting it is equivalent to the sin of killing a Brahmin (Brahmahatya Patakam). It is often used to discourage animal cruelty or to mock superstitious beliefs regarding the consequences of accidentally harming a cat.
అన్నీ పండించిన రైతుకు అన్నమే కరువు.
anni pandinchina raituku anname karuvu.
For the farmer who grew everything, food itself is a scarcity.
This proverb highlights the irony or tragic situation where a person who works hard to produce resources for others ends up deprived of those very resources. It is used to describe circumstances where creators or providers lack the basic necessities they provide to the world, often due to economic exploitation or systemic issues.
తిమ్మిని బమ్మిని, బమ్మిని తిమ్మిని చేయడం
timmini bammini, bammini timmini cheyadam
Turning Thimmi into Bammi and Bammi into Thimmi.
This expression is used to describe someone who is extremely manipulative or clever enough to distort the truth completely. It refers to the act of misrepresenting facts so convincingly that one thing is mistaken for another, often used in the context of deceptive arguments or 'turning the tables' through verbal trickery.
ఘోటక బ్రహ్మచారి
ghotaka brahmachari
A horse bachelor
This expression refers to a lifelong bachelor or someone who remains unmarried for a very long period, often implying a sense of stubbornness or a confirmed state of singlehood. In a more casual or humorous context, it can also refer to someone who behaves like an energetic or uncontrollable stallion despite being single.
పిల్లి బ్రాహ్మణుడు, పీట ముత్తైదువ
pilli brahmanudu, pita muttaiduva
The cat is a Brahmin, and the low wooden stool is a married woman.
This expression is used to mock someone who puts on a false show of extreme piety, innocence, or virtue. It describes a hypocrite who pretends to be saintly while harboring deceitful intentions or having a questionable character.
ఆనందమే బ్రహ్మానందం
anandame brahmanandam
Happiness itself is the supreme bliss.
This expression is used to describe a state of pure, divine, or overwhelming joy. It suggests that true happiness is equivalent to 'Brahmananda' (the highest spiritual bliss). In common parlance, it is used when someone is exceptionally happy or satisfied with a situation.
చచ్చేవాడికి తమ్ముడు, పుట్టేవాడికి అన్న
chachchevadiki tammudu, puttevadiki anna
Younger brother to the one dying, elder brother to the one being born
This expression describes a person who is in a middle-aged or transitional stage of life. It is often used to refer to someone who is neither too young nor too old, bridging the gap between generations, or someone who is an experienced adult who has seen both the end of one era and the start of another.
బ్రహ్మాస్త్రం
brahmastram
The weapon of Brahma
Refers to a final, most powerful, and infallible solution to a problem. It is used to describe an ultimate tactic or argument that is guaranteed to succeed when all other options have failed.