చెడ్డ చేనికి ఇంటి వడ్లు పొంగలా.
chedda cheniki inti vadlu pongala.
What! Offering the house-rice to a spoilt field ?
This proverb describes a situation where one wastes valuable resources on a hopeless or unproductive cause. Just as sowing good seeds in a barren or bad field results in a loss of both the seeds and the effort, this expression is used when someone invests time, money, or energy into something that yields no results.
Pongali is a preparation of rice offered to the fields after the harvest. In this case the crop had failed and the offering had to be made from the old store. It was therefore a needless ceremony.
Related Phrases
చెడి స్నేహితుని యింటికి వెళ్లవచ్చునుగాని, చెల్లెలి యింటికి వెళ్ల కూడదు.
chedi snehituni yintiki vellavachchunugani, chelleli yintiki vella kudadu.
When you are ruined, you may go to your friend's house, but not to your sister's. Friends are better in adversity than relations who envied you in prosperity. Friends are the nearest relations. Relationship gives rise to envy. (Latin.)
This proverb reflects a traditional social sentiment regarding self-respect and family dynamics. It suggests that when a person loses their wealth or status (ruined), they might find refuge with a friend who views them as an equal, whereas going to a sister's (or relative's) house might lead to humiliation, a sense of burdening them, or being looked down upon by the in-laws.
చేనికి వాక, రేనికి మూక.
cheniki vaka, reniki muka.
A canal for the field, a crowd for the king.
This proverb highlights the essential requirements for success or strength in different contexts. Just as a field requires a constant supply of water through a canal (vaaka) to thrive and yield crops, a king or leader requires a loyal following or a strong army (mooka) to maintain power and authority. It is used to describe the fundamental necessities of a particular situation.
చెడ్డచేనుకు ఇంట్లో పొంగళ్ళా
cheddachenuku intlo pongalla
Sweet rice offerings at home for a ruined crop?
This expression is used to describe an inappropriate or ironic celebration during a time of loss or failure. It highlights the absurdity of celebrating at home when the primary source of livelihood (the field/crop) is destroyed.
తా చెడ్డ కోతి వనమెల్ల చెరచిందట
ta chedda koti vanamella cherachindata
A spoilt monkey spoiling the whole garden.
This refers to one already spoilt spoiling all the others around. Generally, when one is in bad shape – especially, morally – one would spread one’s vice to others also. Such people should be avoided by all means.
చెడిన చేనుకు ఇంటివడ్లు పొంగలా?
chedina chenuku intivadlu pongala?
Will the paddy from home suffice for a ruined crop?
This proverb is used to describe a situation where a small or temporary resource is insufficient to cover a massive loss or a large-scale disaster. It highlights the futility of trying to fix a major systemic failure with minor, personal reserves.
మాధుకరి వాని ఇంటికి ఉపాదానం వాడు పోయినట్టు
madhukari vani intiki upadanam vadu poyinattu
Like the raw rice beggar going to the house of the boiled rice beggar. Some beggars will only receive raw rice which they cook for themselves, others receive boiled rice.
This proverb describes a redundant or futile action where a person seeks help or resources from someone who is in the same poor condition as themselves. It is used to mock the irony of asking for a favor from someone who is equally needy or incapable of providing it.
తూమెడు వడ్లు తూర్పారపెట్టేటప్పటికి ఏదుము వడ్లు ఎలుకలు తిని పోయినవి.
tumedu vadlu turparapettetappatiki edumu vadlu elukalu tini poyinavi.
While he was winnowing one Tûm of rice, the rats devoured five Tûms.
This proverb describes a situation where the effort put into a small task results in a disproportionately large loss elsewhere due to negligence. It is used to mock people who focus on trivial matters while ignoring significant damage occurring right under their noses, or when the cost of an operation exceeds the benefit gained.
Tûm is the Indian bushel.
అమ్మ చెడ్డ చేటుకు ముసుగు ఒకటా?
amma chedda chetuku musugu okata?
Is this miserable wretched woman to wear a veil?
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone has already lost their reputation or is in a completely compromised position, and then tries to hide or be modest about minor things. It suggests that when the worst has already happened or been exposed, trivial attempts to maintain dignity or secrecy are hypocritical or pointless.
తూమెడు వడ్లు తూర్పారపెట్టేటప్పటికి ఏదుము వడ్లు ఎలుకలు తినిపోయినవి.
tumedu vadlu turparapettetappatiki edumu vadlu elukalu tinipoyinavi.
By the time one 'thumu' of grain was winnowed, rats ate up five 'thumus' of grain.
This proverb describes a situation where the effort spent on a small task results in a much larger loss due to negligence or lack of focus on the bigger picture. It is used when someone's trivial gains are outweighed by significant, preventable losses occurring simultaneously.
చెడ్డ చేనికి మూడు మంచెలా?
chedda cheniki mudu manchela?
Will a field of withered corn require three watcher's sheds? To drive off the birds.
This proverb is used to criticize excessive or unnecessary expenditure and effort on something that is already worthless or beyond repair. It highlights the irony of providing high security or maintenance to a failed venture.
* Wer da fallt, über ihm laufen alle Welt, ! Ao cas morido, todos o mordem, ‡ Cognatio movet invidiam.