అరవై ఆరు కూరగాయలు, అంచుకు మిరియాల పొడి

aravai aru kuragayalu, anchuku miriyala podi

Translation

Sixty-six varieties of vegetables, with pepper powder on the side.

Meaning

This proverb is used to describe a situation where there is an overwhelming abundance or variety of things, often to the point of being unnecessary or overly elaborate. It can also imply that despite having everything one could possibly need, one still looks for small additions or refinements.

Related Phrases

The one who lost their caste (status) is first in the dining row, the vegetable seller is first at the market.

This proverb describes people who are overly eager or arrive prematurely due to their specific needs or lack of social standing. Just as a vegetable seller arrives early at a market to secure a spot before others, a person who has been ostracized or lost status might rush to the front of a feast (pankti/row) to ensure they are served or acknowledged before being ignored.

Like donating vegetables that cows won't eat to the priests.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone 'generously' gives away something that is useless or unwanted by themselves. It highlights hypocritical charity or disposing of junk under the guise of being helpful or religious.

For the mother who begs her food, there are sixty-six curries; for the mother who cooks her own, there is only one curry.

This proverb highlights how some people find it easier to depend on others' resources rather than their own hard work. It illustrates that a beggar receives variety by collecting bits from many houses, while someone who works hard and cooks for themselves might have a simpler but more dignified and certain meal. It is often used to comment on the irony of someone who doesn't work appearing to have more options or variety than a hard worker.

Tanguturu black peppers are long peppers.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone makes an obvious or redundant statement, or when a person boasts about something common as if it were special. It is often used to mock someone who tries to sound wise by stating the obvious or using wordplay that leads back to the same point.

Sixty-six pairs of shoes for the father's earnings.

This proverb describes a situation where the expenditure far exceeds the income. It is used to mock someone who spends extravagantly or has too many dependents/requirements compared to the meager amount they actually earn.

Like sixty-six tricks played against a mother-in-law who is making pancakes.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone tries to outsmart or deceive a person who is already very experienced, clever, or cunning in their own right. It signifies meeting an expert with even more complex maneuvers or excessive strategies.

No matter how much they are ground, black peppers will never equal the quantity of sorghum (jowar).

This proverb is used to explain that quality and quantity are different things. It signifies that expensive or high-quality items (like pepper) are usually available in small quantities, whereas common items (like sorghum) are found in bulk. It is also used to suggest that even a great amount of effort or concentration cannot change the inherent nature or scale of something.

Sixty-six types of delicacies are found right in the cow's udder.

This proverb highlights the supreme importance of milk and dairy products in traditional Indian cuisine. It suggests that milk is the fundamental source or 'mother' of all great food varieties, implying that if one has milk, they have the essence of all nutritious and delicious preparations.

Like grinding pepper on the husband's head. Said of a hen pecked husband. The wife wears the breeches. The grey mare is the better horse.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone is being dominated, harassed, or subjected to extreme pressure and suffering by someone close to them. It typically refers to a person (often a spouse) making life very difficult for the other by exerting control or creating constant trouble.

If a step is missed, sixty-six qualities emerge.

This expression is used to describe how people's character and behavior can drastically change when they face a downfall or make a mistake. It suggests that a single slip in conduct or status can reveal many hidden, often negative, traits or lead to numerous accusations and character flaws being attributed to a person.