చింత లేదు, చింత లేకపోతే పులుసు లేదు.

chinta ledu, chinta lekapote pulusu ledu.

Translation

"No matter" said one, "Then if there's no tamarind, there's no acid" said the other. There is here a pun upon the word Chinta which means both "thought, sorrow" and also "tamarinds."

Meaning

This is a pun on the Telugu word 'Chinta' which means both 'worry' and 'tamarind'. It is used humorously to describe a situation where someone says they have no worries, but in reality, they are missing a basic necessity or the very thing that gives life flavor. It highlights that being completely free of 'concerns' might sometimes mean lacking something essential.

Related Phrases

If a husband is not there, then the elder sister's husband; if a curry is not there, then dal.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone settles for a substitute or an alternative when the original or preferred choice is unavailable. It highlights the human tendency to find a replacement, sometimes even an inappropriate or simplified one, just to fill a void.

Where there is no love, there is no delight.

This proverb explains that without passion, attachment, or desire (Mohamu) for something, one cannot experience true happiness or delight (Modamu) in achieving or having it. It highlights that interest is the prerequisite for enjoyment.

If you have no common food, [give me] the best; if you have no common cloth, [give me] a silk one.

This is a sarcastic expression used to describe someone who, when they lack basic necessities, demands or expects high-end luxuries instead of seeking practical alternatives. It highlights the irony of having extravagant tastes or unrealistic expectations while being in a state of poverty or deprivation.

Said by an impertinent beggar when refused assistance by a stingy person.

If the husband and wife are in harmony, there is no worry about a wedding in the marketplace.

This proverb emphasizes that if there is unity and understanding between a husband and wife, they can overcome any challenge or manage any task—even a complex one like organizing a wedding in a busy marketplace—without stress. It highlights that marital harmony is the foundation for a peaceful and successful family life.

If ten are added, it is raw tamarind soup; otherwise, it is spoiled soup.

This expression is used to highlight that a task or project can only be successful if the necessary resources, efforts, or people are involved. Without the essential ingredients or support, the result is worthless or a failure. It emphasizes the importance of adequacy and contribution.

Education is not in my house, and the evening prayer (tradition of learning) is not in my lineage.

This expression is used to humorously or self-deprecatingly describe a person or family with absolutely no history of education or intellectual background. It implies that for generations, no one in the family has been literate or scholarly. It is often used when someone fails to understand basic concepts or shows complete ignorance towards learning.

The tamarind may be dried, but it loses not its acidity. Retaining vigour of mind though weakened in body.

This proverb is used to describe a person who has lost their wealth, status, or power but still retains their old ego, arrogance, or habits. Just as the acidic quality remains in tamarind even after it dries up, some people refuse to change their stubborn nature despite a change in their circumstances.

Neither on that day did I put it on, nor on this day have I torn it.

This proverb is used to describe someone who is consistently lazy, indifferent, or irresponsible. It refers to a person who didn't take the effort to wear/tie a garment properly in the past and doesn't bother about it being torn or ruined in the present. It characterizes a state of having no cares, no progress, and no sense of responsibility regardless of the time or situation.

Said by a poor fellow who had never had the pleasure of putting on a good cloth or the annoyance of tearing it.

A yawn does not come without a wonder.

This expression suggests that every action or occurrence, no matter how small or natural it seems, has an underlying cause or reason. It is often used to imply that something unusual must have happened to trigger a specific reaction or to suggest that there is more to a situation than meets the eye.

There is no learning in my house, nor performance of Sandhya in my family. Said by an uneducated and irreligious Brahman.

This proverb is used to describe a person or a family with a complete lack of education and cultured habits. It highlights total ignorance or illiteracy, suggesting that neither formal learning nor spiritual/traditional knowledge has been part of their background for generations.