చావుకంటే గండంలేదు, గోసికంటే దరిద్రం లేదు
chavukante gandamledu, gosikante daridram ledu
There is no danger greater than death, and no poverty greater than wearing a loincloth.
This expression signifies the ultimate extremes of life. It implies that once you face death, there is no bigger threat to fear, and once you are reduced to wearing just a loincloth (gosi), there is no lower state of poverty. It is often used to describe someone who has reached the rock bottom of their circumstances or to suggest that after facing the worst, one becomes fearless.
Related Phrases
దంపుళ్ళ పాటకు దరిద్రం లేదు
dampulla pataku daridram ledu
There is no dearth of songs during the pounding of grain.
This expression describes a situation where there is an endless supply of something, often referring to talkativeness or irrelevant commentary. Just as people used to sing continuous, rhythmic folk songs to pass the time while manually pounding grain, it is used to describe someone who keeps talking or producing content without much effort or thought.
గోచిపాతకు మించిన దరిద్రం లేదు
gochipataku minchina daridram ledu
There is no poverty greater than wearing a loincloth.
This expression is used to describe a state of extreme or absolute poverty where one possesses nothing but the barest minimum of clothing (a loincloth). It highlights the lowest point of financial or material destitution.
కాలంతో కరువులేదు, మగనితో దరిద్రం లేదు
kalanto karuvuledu, maganito daridram ledu
There is no famine with time, and no poverty with a husband.
This proverb highlights the cyclical nature of life and traditional social security. It means that just as seasons change and rain eventually brings relief to a drought, a hardworking husband provides stability and ensures that his family does not suffer from extreme poverty. It suggests that patience and a supportive partner are key to overcoming difficult times.
తాడూ లేదు, బొంగరం లేదు
tadu ledu, bongaram ledu
Neither a string nor a top.
This expression is used to describe someone who lacks any ties, responsibilities, or assets. It often refers to a person who is roaming aimlessly without any sense of direction or accountability, or to a situation that is completely disorganized and lacks a proper basis.
గోచికి మించిన దరిద్రం లేదు, ఈతకు మించిన లోతులేదు.
gochiki minchina daridram ledu, itaku minchina lotuledu.
There is no poverty beyond a loincloth, and no depth beyond swimming.
This proverb highlights a state of extreme resilience or finality. It suggests that once a person has hit rock bottom (owning only a loincloth), they no longer fear poverty. Similarly, for someone who knows how to swim, no water is too deep. It is used to describe a person who has seen the worst or gained ultimate mastery, making them fearless in the face of challenges.
అత్తకంటే ఆడపాపలేదు, అతగానికంటే జీతగాడు లేడు.
attakante adapapaledu, ataganikante jitagadu ledu.
There is no elder woman above the mother-in-law, and no servant above the husband.
This traditional proverb highlights the hierarchy and roles within an old-fashioned household. It suggests that just as the mother-in-law is the ultimate authority for a daughter-in-law, the husband acts as the primary provider or 'servant' of the family's needs. It is often used to describe domestic dynamics or to point out that everyone has a specific superior or role to fulfill.
ఆశకు అంతూ లేదు, గోచికి మించిన దరిద్రం లేదు
ashaku antu ledu, gochiki minchina daridram ledu
There is no end to greed, and there is no poverty greater than a loincloth.
This proverb highlights the irony of human nature. It means that human desires and greed are limitless and never-ending, yet at the same time, one's actual physical needs are minimal, or one can be reduced to the absolute lowest state of poverty where a loincloth is the only possession. It is used to advise someone to be content with what they have because greed has no boundaries.
బుడ్డగోచి కన్న మించిన దారిద్ర్యం లేదు, చావుకన్న మించిన కష్టం లేదు
buddagochi kanna minchina daridryam ledu, chavukanna minchina kashtam ledu
There is no poverty greater than a small loincloth, and no hardship greater than death.
This proverb is used to define the extremes of the human condition. It suggests that absolute poverty is symbolized by having nothing but the barest essential clothing (buddagochi), and that death is the ultimate suffering or end of all struggles. It is often cited to put one's problems into perspective or to describe a state of total destitution.
ఆశకు అంతులేదు, గోచికి దరిద్రములేదు
ashaku antuledu, gochiki daridramuledu
Greed has no end, and a loincloth has no poverty.
This proverb contrasts the boundlessness of human desires with the simplicity of minimalism. It implies that while human greed knows no bounds, one who is content with the bare minimum (symbolized by the 'gochi' or loincloth) can never truly be poor or suffer from the lack of luxuries.
ఆరుద్ర కురిస్తే దారిద్ర్యం లేదు.
arudra kuriste daridryam ledu.
If it rains during the Arudra season, there is no poverty.
This is a popular agricultural proverb among Telugu farmers. Arudra is an auspicious star (nakshatra) that signals the onset of the monsoon. The saying implies that if it rains well during this period, the crops will be bountiful, ensuring prosperity and the eradication of poverty for the year.