అప్పు చేసి చెడును, చెట్టెక్కి చేయి విడిచి చెడును.

appu chesi chedunu, chettekki cheyi vidichi chedunu.

Translation

One ruins themselves by taking debts, just as one ruins themselves by letting go of their hand after climbing a tree.

Meaning

This proverb warns against the dangers of reckless financial behavior and overconfidence. It compares taking excessive loans to the fatal mistake of letting go of a branch while high up in a tree; both actions lead to certain downfall. It is used to advise people to live within their means and avoid risky situations created by their own negligence.

Related Phrases

There is no one who was ruined by dry-land farming, and no one who thrived by wetland farming.

This traditional agricultural proverb highlights the risks and rewards associated with different types of farming. It suggests that dry-land cultivation (Chenu) is generally reliable and rarely leads to total ruin, whereas wet-land cultivation (Madi), despite its high yield potential, involves high costs and risks that often make it difficult for a farmer to truly prosper or remain stable.

A woman is ruined by roaming out, while a man is ruined by staying in.

This traditional proverb suggests that a woman's reputation or household duties suffer if she is constantly wandering away from home, whereas a man's livelihood or success suffers if he remains idle at home and does not go out to work or explore opportunities.

Just because someone says 'perish perish', nobody will actually perish.

This expression means that people do not face ruin or downfall simply because others wish it upon them or speak ill of them. It is used to suggest that ill wishes, curses, or malicious talk from others lack the power to cause real harm to a person's life or destiny.

Like climbing a tree and then letting go with the hands.

This expression describes a situation where someone abandons a task or withdraws support at a critical stage after taking a significant risk or putting in initial effort. It refers to someone who leaves others in a vulnerable or dangerous position without warning, or sabotages their own success at the final moment.

A man is ruined by not roaming; a woman is ruined by roaming.

This traditional proverb suggests that a man gains knowledge, opportunities, and success by going out into the world and networking, whereas staying idle at home leads to his downfall. Conversely, in a traditional social context, it implies that a woman's reputation or domestic stability might be compromised if she wanders aimlessly or neglects her home. It is often used to emphasize the importance of being active for men and the value of discretion or domestic focus for women.

If an owl sits on the house, the family/household will be ruined.

This is a traditional Telugu proverb rooted in superstition. It implies that if an owl (traditionally considered an ill omen in some contexts) perches on a house, it brings bad luck or destruction to the family living there. In a broader sense, it is used to suggest that certain bad signs or the presence of negative influences can lead to the downfall of a home or organization.

By rivalry a house is ruined, by rheumatic pains the body is worn out.

This proverb highlights how internal conflicts and constant bickering between family members or partners lead to the downfall of a household. It compares this domestic discord to 'Vata' (rheumatic or joint pains) which slowly but surely deteriorates the physical body. It is used to advise people to maintain harmony at home to avoid total ruin.

A woman is ruined by wandering; a man is ruined by not wandering.

This traditional proverb suggests that a woman's reputation or character may suffer if she spends too much time outside her home (reflecting historical social norms), whereas a man's prospects and knowledge suffer if he stays confined at home and doesn't venture out to explore, network, or work.

A family man is ruined by wandering, while a monk is ruined by staying in one place.

This proverb highlights the contrasting responsibilities of different lifestyles. A householder (Samsari) loses focus on family and livelihood if they wander aimlessly. Conversely, an ascetic (Sanyasi) becomes stagnant, overly attached, or burdensome to a single community if they do not travel to spread knowledge and maintain detachment.

One does not perish by farming, and one does not prosper by doing evil.

This proverb emphasizes the dignity of labor and the importance of ethics. It suggests that hard work in agriculture (or honest work) never leads to ruin, whereas earning through wicked means will never lead to a sustainable or happy life.