భక్తి కలుగు కూడు పట్టెడైనను చాలు

bhakti kalugu kudu pattedainanu chalu

Translation

Even a handful of food served with devotion is enough.

Meaning

This expression emphasizes that the quality of intention and love behind an action is more important than the quantity of the offering. In a social context, it means that a simple meal offered with genuine affection is far superior to a feast offered without heart or with arrogance.

Related Phrases

All struggles are just for a handful of food

This expression is used to signify that all the hard work, toil, and various struggles a person undergoes in life are ultimately for basic sustenance and survival. It is often used to express a sense of humility or philosophical resignation regarding the grind of daily life.

Even a 'Putti' (a large measure of grain) is not enough for a woman who has just given birth.

This expression is used to describe a situation where no amount of resources or supplies seem sufficient to meet an overwhelming or critical need. Historically, it refers to the high nutritional and care requirements of a postpartum mother, but metaphorically it applies to any scenario involving insatiable demand or extreme necessity.

A spoonful of milk from a sacred cow is enough; what is the use of a potful of donkey's milk?

Quality is better than quantity. A small amount of something virtuous or valuable is far superior to a large amount of something useless or inferior. This proverb, from Yogi Vemana's poems, is used to emphasize that one good person or one great idea is more impactful than a crowd of mediocre ones.

Worship without devotion is a waste of leaves,

For a true worship of gods, it is not the external paraphernalia that is as important as devotion.

A spoonful of a sacred cow's milk is enough; what is the use of a potful of donkey's milk?

This expression emphasizes quality over quantity. It suggests that a small amount of something virtuous, noble, or useful is far superior to a large quantity of something worthless or inferior. It is often used to describe people's character or the value of work.

A squirrel's devotion

This expression refers to contributing one's small or humble part towards a much larger cause. It originates from the Ramayana, where a squirrel helped Lord Rama build the bridge to Lanka by carrying tiny grains of sand. It is used to describe a modest contribution made with sincere dedication.

A prayer without devotion is a waste of leaves.

This proverb suggests that performing rituals or tasks without genuine intent or sincerity is a waste of resources and effort. Just as offering leaves (patri) during worship is useless if one lacks devotion (bhakti), any action done mechanically without heart is unproductive.

Squirrel's devotion

This expression is used to describe a small but sincere contribution to a much larger cause. It originates from the Ramayana, where a small squirrel helped Lord Rama build the bridge to Lanka by carrying tiny grains of sand. It is used when someone wants to humbly acknowledge that while their help might be minimal in the grand scheme of things, it is offered with great sincerity.

They cannot control their devotion, nor can they control their enmity.

This expression is used to describe people who are extreme and impulsive in their emotions. Whether they love someone (devotion) or hate someone (enmity), they go to such extremes that it becomes overwhelming or unmanageable for others around them. It highlights a lack of moderation in temperament.

A spoonful of a sacred cow's milk is enough; what is the use of a potful of donkey's milk?

Quality is far more important than quantity. A small amount of something virtuous or valuable is much better than a vast amount of something useless or inferior. This proverb is often used to emphasize that one good person or one wise word is better than a crowd of fools or a long, meaningless speech.