చెలమకు పిట్టలు చేరినట్లు.

chelamaku pittalu cherinatlu.

Translation

Like birds flocking to a small pool of water.

Meaning

This expression is used to describe a situation where people naturally gravitate towards a source of profit, help, or abundance. Just as birds gather at a 'chelama' (a small pit of water dug in a dried-up riverbed) during dry times, people flock to those who have wealth or resources.

Related Phrases

Work involving ten people is spoiled.

This proverb is equivalent to the English saying 'Too many cooks spoil the broth.' It suggests that when too many people are involved in a single task, conflicting opinions and lack of coordination lead to failure or poor results.

Like the cat settling the dispute between two birds. By eating them both up ( See Telugu Panchatantra, page 94. )

This proverb describes a situation where a third party takes advantage of a conflict between two people. Instead of resolving the issue fairly, the mediator benefits themselves at the expense of both disputing parties, much like a cat eating the birds it was supposed to mediate for.

The field is for two, but the birds are four.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where the resources or benefits are limited, but the claimants or consumers are many. It highlights an imbalance between supply and demand, often used when too many people are trying to share a small profit or space.

Like a bird whose wings have been plucked.

This expression describes a state of utter helplessness, powerlessness, or vulnerability. Just as a bird cannot fly or protect itself without its wings, it refers to a person who has lost their primary source of strength, support, or resources, leaving them unable to function or defend themselves.

Making a mountain out of a molehill (Literally: making a fingernail-sized thing as big as a mountain)

This expression is used to describe someone who exaggerates a very small issue or minor incident into something massive or significant. It is typically applied when someone overreacts or blows a situation out of proportion.

Two birds with one blow

This expression is used when a single action or effort achieves two different goals or solves two problems simultaneously. It is the Telugu equivalent of the English idiom 'Killing two birds with one stone'.

Like going to glean in a field of Sama (millet).

This expression is used to describe a situation where one's efforts are wasted because they are directed at something that yields very little or nothing at all. Sama is a tiny grain, and 'pariga' refers to gleaning (picking up leftover grains after harvest). Trying to glean such small grains is considered a futile and unrewarding task.

Like having the ocean under one's arm, yet stretching out a hand for a small puddle.

This proverb is used to describe a person who possesses vast resources or great wealth but still begs or seeks help for something insignificant. It highlights the irony of not realizing or utilizing one's own immense potential and instead looking for petty external assistance.

Like fighting with the boatman after reaching the shore.

This expression is used to describe a person who shows ingratitude or picks a fight with someone who helped them through a crisis, once the danger has passed and they no longer need that help. It highlights the behavior of being selfish and ungrateful.

Like a cat settling a fight between two birds.

This proverb is used when two parties in a dispute seek help from a third party who ends up exploiting the situation for their own benefit, causing both original parties to lose everything. It is a cautionary saying about trusting an untrustworthy mediator.