చేతిలో ఉంటే అర్థం, చేరువలో ఉంటే పెళ్ళాం.

chetilo unte artham, cheruvalo unte pellam.

Translation

If in hand, it is wealth; if nearby, she is the wife.

Meaning

This proverb highlights the transient nature of value based on possession and proximity. It implies that money is only useful when you actually hold it (liquid/available), and a wife is a companion only when she is present with you. It is often used to emphasize the importance of having resources or loved ones physically accessible rather than just 'on paper' or far away.

Related Phrases

Mother is poison, wife is jaggery

This expression describes a situation where a person, influenced by their spouse, begins to view their own mother's advice or presence as toxic or bitter, while finding everything the spouse says to be sweet and desirable. It is used to criticize someone who neglects their parents after marriage.

If one's lifespan is strong, it is the same whether they are in a forest or in Ayodhya.

This expression means that if a person is destined to live, they will survive regardless of their surroundings or the dangers they face. It highlights the belief in destiny and longevity, suggesting that safety (Ayodhya) or danger (the forest) does not matter if it is not yet one's time to die. It is used to express that fate governs life and death.

If it is in hand, it is money; if she is nearby, she is a wife.

This expression highlights that things only serve their purpose or provide value when they are accessible or present. 'Artham' (money/wealth) is only useful if you have it in your possession, and a relationship (like a spouse) only provides companionship and support when the person is physically near or available.

Like an amla fruit in the palm of one's hand

This expression is used to describe something that is crystal clear, perfectly obvious, or very easy to understand and perceive. Just as an amla fruit placed in an open palm can be seen clearly from all sides without any obstruction, this phrase refers to facts or situations that are transparent and leave no room for doubt.

If in Himagiri (the Himalayas), it is Nandi; if in Gangaram (a common village), it is a Gangireddu (a street bull).

This proverb describes how the value and respect an individual receives depend heavily on their environment, position, and the company they keep. Even a divine bull like Nandi is seen as a common street bull when removed from its sacred context. It is used to emphasize that status is often a reflection of one's surroundings.

What does it matter if the useless husband is in the lap or behind the fence?

This proverb is used to describe a person who is completely useless or ineffective. If someone cannot provide help, support, or fulfill their responsibilities, their presence or absence makes no difference. It highlights the frustration of dealing with someone who is a burden rather than an asset.

The crop is in the manure, and the dairy is in the grass.

This proverb emphasizes the fundamental secrets of agriculture and animal husbandry. It means that a good harvest depends on the quality of fertilizer (manure), and good milk production depends on providing quality fodder (grass) to the livestock. It highlights that inputs determine the quality of outputs.

It is the same whether it is in the udder or in the pot.

This expression refers to a state of complacency or lack of urgency regarding a resource that is already secured or 'at hand'. It is used to describe a situation where one feels there is no difference between a resource being in its source (like milk in an udder) or collected (like milk in a pot), implying that since it belongs to them, they can access it whenever they want, often leading to laziness or delayed action.

Money in a woman's hand and a child in a man's hand will not stay.

This traditional proverb suggests that wealth held by a woman is quickly spent on household needs, while a man may lack the patience or nurturing skill to keep a child calm or safe for long. It is used to describe roles or situations where resources or responsibilities are perceived to be inherently unstable.

If it is not in front of you, it will not be in the heart.

This is the Telugu equivalent of the English proverb 'Out of sight, out of mind'. It suggests that people tend to forget things or people when they are no longer physically present or visible to them.