అయ్యలకూ మియ్యలకూ అప్ప పెట్టరాదు.
ayyalaku miyyalaku appa pettaradu.
Do not serve food to strangers and wayfarers.
This proverb is a warning against wasting resources or showing hospitality to unknown, transient, or unworthy people (strangers) while neglecting one's own family or those who are truly deserving. It emphasizes the importance of prioritizing your own responsibilities and family before trying to please random outsiders who have no lasting connection to you.
Related Phrases
కాంతా కనకం కశ్యపులే కయ్యాలకు మూలం
kanta kanakam kashyapule kayyalaku mulam
Women, wealth, and land are the root causes of all quarrels.
This proverb highlights the three primary worldly desires that lead to conflicts, disputes, and wars throughout history: lust/desire for a woman (Kanta), greed for gold/wealth (Kanaka), and disputes over land/territory (Kashyapu/Kasini). It is used to explain the underlying motive behind most human rivalries.
అయ్య దాసర్లకు పెడితే, అమ్మ జంగాలకు పెట్టిందట
ayya dasarlaku pedite, amma jangalaku pettindata
While the father gave to the Dasaris, the mother gave to the Jangams.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where a husband and wife (or two people in charge) are both overly generous or spendthrift in different ways, leading to the depletion of their resources. It highlights a lack of coordination or mutual recklessness in managing household wealth or assets.
పుచ్చిన వంకాయలు బాపనయ్యలకు
puchchina vankayalu bapanayyalaku
The rotten brinjals to the Brahmans.
This proverb is used to describe a stingy or hypocritical attitude where people donate or give away only useless, damaged, or spoiled items to others (traditionally referring to priests in this context) while keeping the good ones for themselves. It highlights the tendency to offer charity only when the item is of no value to the giver.
దాతలేని ఊరు దయ్యాల పేట
dataleni uru dayyala peta
A village without a donor is a colony of ghosts
This proverb highlights the importance of charity and philanthropy in a community. It suggests that a town or village lacking generous people (donors) who contribute to the welfare of others becomes desolate, lifeless, and unpleasant, much like a haunted place.
సరాలకు ముత్యాలు గీతాలకు సరాలు
saralaku mutyalu gitalaku saralu
Pearls for the strings and strings for the lines.
This poetic expression is used to describe exceptionally beautiful handwriting. It suggests that the letters are as perfect and precious as pearls on a string, and the lines themselves are as elegant as a necklace. It is typically used as a high compliment for neat and artistic penmanship.
అయ్య దాసరులకు పెడితే, అమ్మ జంగాలకు పెట్టినట్లు
ayya dasarulaku pedite, amma jangalaku pettinatlu
When the master fed the Dâsaris (devotees of Vishṇu), the mistress fed the Jangams (devotees of Śiva). Applied to a spirit of contradiction.
This proverb describes a situation where both partners in a couple or group are equally charitable, or more commonly, equally wasteful and extravagant in spending resources on outsiders. It is used to highlight a lack of financial coordination or a mutual tendency to give away assets, often leading to the depletion of the household's wealth.
పెద్దలకు పెట్టరా పేచీల తలపాగ
peddalaku pettara pechila talapaga
Don't serve the elders, but wear a fancy turban of disputes.
This proverb is used to criticize someone who neglects their basic duties or responsibilities—such as taking care of elders or family—but spends their time and energy on vanity, creating unnecessary arguments, or maintaining a false sense of prestige.
చేసిన పాపాలకు పెట్టిన దీపాలకు సరి
chesina papalaku pettina dipalaku sari
The sins committed and the lamps lit are equal.
This expression is used to describe a situation where the bad deeds or mistakes someone has committed are roughly offset or balanced out by their attempts at atonement or good deeds. It is often used sarcastically to imply that someone's superficial rituals or minor good acts are just barely covering up their significant wrongdoings, or that the accounts of good and bad have been settled.
దయ్యాలతో నెయ్యాలు చేసినట్లు.
dayyalato neyyalu chesinatlu.
Like making friendships with ghosts/demons.
This expression is used to describe a dangerous or ill-advised alliance with wicked, untrustworthy, or harmful people. Just as a ghost is unpredictable and potentially lethal, befriending such individuals will eventually lead to one's own downfall.
దాత లేని యూరు దయ్యాల పేటరా
data leni yuru dayyala petara
A village without a donor is a haunt for ghosts.
This expression emphasizes the importance of charity and philanthropy in a community. It suggests that a village or society lacking generous people (donors) who help others becomes lifeless, desolate, and undesirable, much like a place inhabited by ghosts.