ఆత్మకు ద్రోహం చేస్తే, అప్పుడే అడుగుతుంది

atmaku droham cheste, appude adugutundi

Translation

If you cheat your life, it will then and there ask [ for food ].

Meaning

This expression highlights the power of conscience. It implies that when a person does something morally wrong or goes against their inner values, their conscience (the soul) will immediately trouble them with guilt. It is used to emphasize that one cannot escape the internal accountability of their own heart.

Related Phrases

If you cross the step, you cross the debt

This expression emphasizes that taking the first step or initiating action is the most important part of overcoming a problem or a burden like debt. It suggests that once you begin making an effort and move forward, the difficulties start to resolve.

If the leaf is strong, the bottom yields fruit.

This proverb emphasizes that success or a good harvest depends on the strength and health of the roots or the foundation. In a broader sense, it means that if the basic preparation or the source is robust, the results will naturally be fruitful. It is used to suggest that one should focus on strengthening the core or the basics to achieve success.

What is betraying a friend to a person who has no gratitude?

This expression is used to describe a person who lacks gratitude and integrity. It suggests that someone who does not appreciate the help they have received in the past will not hesitate to betray even their closest friends, as they have no moral compass or sense of loyalty.

She has everything except for her husband's life; when a girl is born, her livelihood is born with her.

This entry consists of two distinct expressions. The first part, 'ఆమెకు అన్నీ ఉన్నాయి కానీ ఐదోతనమే లేదు', refers to a woman who has all material wealth but is a widow (lacking 'Aidothanam' or the status of a married woman). The second part, 'ఆడపిల్ల పుట్టినప్పుడే ఆదరువు పుడుతుంది', is a traditional saying suggesting that when a girl is born, her means of survival or luck (often referring to her future marriage and sustenance) are pre-destined or born with her.

Excessive action ruins one's fate.

This proverb warns that overdoing anything or acting with excessive pride or greed will eventually lead to one's downfall. It is similar to the English saying 'Too much of anything is good for nothing' and is used to advise moderation in behavior and lifestyle.

If China Pêri's marriage-cord be broken, Peda Pêri's will be broken at the same time. The Tâdu is the cord tied round a bride's neck. To it is attached the gold Tâliboṭṭu, answering to the wedding ring. When a woman becomes a widow the cord is broken. Said by one fellow wife to the other. Both in the same boat.

This expression is used to describe a chain reaction of unfortunate events or how small failures can lead to larger, systemic collapses. In a traditional context, it refers to the sequence of life events or rituals where the disruption of one step inevitably affects the next.

Had there been room for a mustard seed, would I not have eaten sixty more cakes? A glutton suffering from indigestion after a feast was recommended to eat some mustard, when he replied as above.

This proverb is used to describe a gluttonous person who claims they cannot eat any more because they are completely full, yet they imply that if there were even the slightest bit of space left in their stomach, they would have devoured much more. It highlights greed or an insatiable appetite.

One who has committed a mistake and one who has taken a loan cannot show their faces.

This proverb highlights the guilt and shame associated with wrongdoing or being in debt. Just as a person who has committed a crime or mistake avoids eye contact out of guilt, a person who owes money feels a similar sense of inferiority or hesitation to face their creditor. It is used to describe the loss of confidence and social standing that comes with debt or moral failure.

Though you cheat your priest you should not cheat your own life. Take good care of yourself, even though you treat your priest badly. Said by a selfish, greedy man.

This is a humorous or satirical Telugu saying. While teachers are traditionally held in the highest regard in Indian culture, this expression jokingly emphasizes that the domestic consequences of upsetting one's mother-in-law are much more immediate and severe than the spiritual or intellectual consequences of betraying a teacher. It is used to highlight the importance of maintaining harmony with powerful figures in one's personal life.

For a man without a wife, Atmakuru is the place.

This proverb is a play on words using the name of the town 'Atmakuru' (which literally translates to 'Soul-settling' or 'Settling for oneself'). It implies that a bachelor or a widower has no domestic ties or responsibilities, allowing him to live wherever he pleases or focus solely on himself. It is often used to describe the freedom, or sometimes the loneliness and lack of direction, of a man with no family life.