భోగం వీధి కొల్లబోయిందంటే, సన్నాసులు గోచులు విప్పకొని బయలుదేరారట

bhogam vidhi kollaboyindante, sannasulu gochulu vippakoni bayaluderarata

Translation

When it was said that the brothel street was being looted, the monks started running while untying their loincloths.

Meaning

This proverb is used to mock hypocritical people who claim to be pious or detached from worldly desires, but are actually the first to rush toward temptation or greed when an opportunity arises. It highlights the gap between one's outward appearance of holiness and their internal desires.

Related Phrases

Before being educated he said 'pasulu' (cattle), and after being educated he said 'pachulu'.

This proverb is used to mock someone who tries to show off their education or status by artificially changing their pronunciation, but still gets it wrong. It refers to a person who, while illiterate, correctly called cattle 'pasulu', but after getting an education, tried to sound sophisticated by saying 'pachulu' (which is incorrect), proving that their learning is superficial and they have only acquired pretentiousness rather than true knowledge.

By the time the merchant finished dressing up, the town was looted.

This proverb describes a situation where excessive delay or focus on trivial preparations leads to a major disaster or missed opportunity. It is used to criticize people who are overly meticulous or slow when urgent action is required.

Like losing everything after wandering around the courts

This expression describes a situation where someone spends significant time, money, and effort pursuing justice or a resolution in a legal system, only to end up bankrupt or ruined in the process. It is used to caution against the exhausting nature of litigation where even if one 'wins', the cost of getting there leads to total loss.

By the time the merchant finished dressing up, the whole city was looted.

This proverb describes a situation where someone's extreme delay or procrastination due to unnecessary perfectionism leads to a major loss. It is used to mock people who waste time on trivialities or personal preparation while a crisis is unfolding or an opportunity is slipping away.

Like setting out on a journey with an owl tucked under one's arm.

In Telugu culture, owls are often associated with bad luck or ill omens. This expression is used to describe someone who knowingly or unknowingly carries something that brings bad luck, or starts a task with a negative element that ensures failure or trouble.

When told the teachers were coming, they were asked to untie their loincloths to make decorative buntings.

This proverb describes a situation where someone acts with excessive or foolish enthusiasm to please someone in authority, even at the cost of their own dignity or basic needs. It is used to mock people who provide overboard, illogical, or self-destructive hospitality/service just to show off their devotion.

Even a tiger will not start its journey on a Wednesday

This is a popular Telugu proverb used to highlight a specific cultural superstition. It suggests that Wednesday is such an auspicious or significant day for staying put or finishing tasks that even a powerful creature like a tiger wouldn't begin a new journey or venture out on this day. It is often used humorously or to justify avoiding travel on Wednesdays.

Like someone setting out to commit a theft during the day just because the days are good.

This proverb is used to mock someone who misinterprets a favorable situation or a 'good time' as an excuse to perform foolish, risky, or illegal acts without caution. It highlights the irony of using a positive circumstance to justify an inherently wrong or illogical action.

Jangalu of Konduru and Sannasulu of Tarunayi

This expression is used to describe two groups of people or individuals who are equally useless, lazy, or unreliable. It originates from a local context where the mendicants (Jangalu and Sannasulu) of two specific villages (Konduru and Tarunayi) were known for being particularly unproductive or for creating a ruckus without any purpose. It is used to mock a situation where no matter which side you choose, the outcome is equally bad or ineffective.

Even a tiger doesn't start its journey on a Wednesday.

This is a popular Telugu saying rooted in traditional beliefs and astrology. It suggests that Wednesday is considered an extremely auspicious or 'fixed' day, implying that if even a powerful animal like a tiger hesitates to begin a journey or task on this day, humans should be equally cautious or follow specific travel rules. It is often used to emphasize the cultural significance of timing and omens before starting something new.