బెల్లపు పిళ్లారికి ముడ్డి గిల్లి నైవేద్యం
bellapu pillariki muddi gilli naivedyam
Offering the Molasses Gaṇēśa a bit nipped off his own person. Said of a stingy man.
This proverb describes a situation where someone tries to show generosity or perform a duty by using the resources that belong to the recipient themselves. It is used to mock people who act as if they are making a sacrifice when they are actually giving nothing of their own, similar to 'robbing Peter to pay Paul' or using someone's own money to buy them a gift.
Related Phrases
అంగట్లో బెల్లము గుళ్లో లింగానికి నైవేద్యము
angatlo bellamu gullo linganiki naivedyamu
Offering the molasses in the bazar to the idol in the temple.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone tries to gain credit or do a favor using someone else's resources without spending their own. It refers to making promises or performing acts of charity using things that do not belong to you.
Naivédyam is the ordinary oblation. Willing to be liberal at the expense of others.
నాకు లేక నేను ఏడుస్తుంటే, నీకు నైవేద్యమా?
naku leka nenu edustunte, niku naivedyama?
While I am crying because I have nothing, do you expect a ritual offering?
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone is asking for a favor or a gift from a person who is already in deep financial distress or lacking basic necessities themselves. It highlights the irony of demanding something from someone who has nothing to give.
పిల్లవాడిని గిల్లి ఉయ్యాల ఊపే రకం
pillavadini gilli uyyala upe rakam
Pinching the child while swinging the cradle. Done by a lazy fellow who wanted to make it appear that the child did not like him.
This expression describes a hypocritical person who secretly causes trouble or harm to someone and then publicly pretends to offer comfort, help, or sympathy. It refers to someone who creates a problem just to appear as a savior.
అంగట్లో బెల్లం గుళ్లో లింగానికి నైవేద్యం
angatlo bellam gullo linganiki naivedyam
Jaggery in the shop is offered to the Shiva Lingam in the temple.
This proverb is used to describe a person who tries to be generous or charitable using someone else's resources or property. It refers to a situation where someone takes credit for a donation or an act of kindness without actually spending their own money or making any personal sacrifice.
సేద్యం చెయ్యనివాడికి నైవేద్యానికి కూడా దొరకదు
sedyam cheyyanivadiki naivedyaniki kuda dorakadu
One who does not cultivate will not even find enough for an offering.
This proverb emphasizes the importance of hard work and agriculture. It implies that if a person is lazy or refuses to work the land, they will end up so poor that they won't even have the minimal amount of food required to offer to God in prayer. It is used to highlight that survival and prosperity depend on labor.
కాకి పిల్ల కాకికి ముద్దు
kaki pilla kakiki muddu
For the crow its young one is the loveliest.
The suggestion is that for the parents the ugly child is not ugly but very lovable. It is the unbounded love of parents for their offspring that is highlighted here.
గుళ్లో దేవునికి నైవేద్యమే లేకుంటే, పూజారి పులిహోర కోసం ఏడ్చాడట
gullo devuniki naivedyame lekunte, pujari pulihora kosam edchadata
While the idol in the temple was in want of Naivêdyam, the priest cried for Puḷihôra. Puḷihôra is a more expensive offering prepared with acid.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone makes selfish or excessive demands when the basic necessities are not being met. It highlights the irony of someone worrying about their personal luxuries or specific desires in a moment of extreme scarcity or crisis where even the essentials are unavailable.
గుళ్ళో దేవుడికి అంగట్లో బెల్లం నైవేద్యం
gullo devudiki angatlo bellam naivedyam
Offering jaggery from the shop as a sacrifice to the God in the temple.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone tries to gain credit or show devotion by using someone else's resources or by performing an act that costs them nothing personally. It refers to a person who makes hollow promises or offers things they do not truly own or have not worked for.
కొండంత దేవుడికి గోరంత బెల్లం నైవేద్యం
kondanta devudiki goranta bellam naivedyam
An offering of jaggery the size of a fingernail to a god as big as a mountain.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone offers a very small or insignificant token of gratitude or contribution in comparison to the massive favor or help received. It highlights the disparity between the greatness of the benefactor and the smallness of the gesture returned.
విగ్రహ పుష్టి, నైవేద్య నష్టి
vigraha pushti, naivedya nashti
Stoutness of body, consumption of food. The only advantage of obesity is expensive living.
This proverb is used to describe someone who looks physically strong, healthy, or imposing but is actually incompetent, lazy, or useless when it comes to performing work. It implies that despite their grand appearance (like a large idol), they are a 'waste of food' (the offering) because they don't contribute anything productive.