డబ్బుకూ ప్రాణానికీ లంకె.
dabbuku prananiki lanke.
There is a link between money and life.
This expression is used to describe a person who is extremely stingy or miserly. It suggests that for such individuals, parting with their money is as painful or difficult as losing their life. It highlights a deep, inseparable attachment to wealth.
Related Phrases
డబ్బుకు లోకం దాసోహం
dabbuku lokam dasoham
The world is a slave to money.
In the commercial world of ours, all become slaves/worshippers of money. The proverb cautions against the excessive power of money over human psychology and tries to advise people to consider other values in life as well.
దబ్బులేనివాడు డబ్బుకు కొరగాడు
dabbulenivadu dabbuku koragadu
A person without courage is of no use even with money.
This proverb highlights that courage and self-confidence are more valuable than material wealth. It is used to describe a situation where a person, despite having financial resources, cannot achieve anything or defend themselves because they lack the necessary boldness or character.
ఎద్దుకు ఎనుబోతుకు లంకె వేసినట్లు
edduku enubotuku lanke vesinatlu
Like tying an ox and a male buffalo together.
This proverb is used to describe a mismatch or an incompatible pairing. Just as an ox and a buffalo have different temperaments, strengths, and speeds, making it impossible for them to plow a field effectively together, it refers to situations where two very different people or things are forced to work together, leading to chaos or inefficiency.
డబ్బుకు ప్రాణానికి లంకె.
dabbuku prananiki lanke.
A link between money and life.
This expression highlights that money and life are deeply interconnected. It is used to describe situations where financial stability is essential for survival, or conversely, when one risks their life for financial gain. It implies that people value their wealth as much as their life, or that wealth is the 'lifeblood' of one's existence.
మాటకు ప్రాణము సత్యము, కోటకు ప్రాణము మానము, చీటికి ప్రాణము వ్రాలు
mataku pranamu satyamu, kotaku pranamu manamu, chitiki pranamu vralu
Truth is the life of a word, honor is the life of a woman, and a signature is the life of a document.
This proverb emphasizes the essential quality that gives value or 'life' to certain things. It teaches that a word is only meaningful if it is true, a person's character is defined by their dignity and honor, and a document or letter only gains legal or formal validity through a signature.
వినకు, అనకు, కనకు
vinaku, anaku, kanaku
Do not hear, do not say, do not see.
This is the Telugu equivalent of the 'Three Wise Monkeys' principle. It serves as a moral guideline to avoid evil: do not listen to evil, do not speak evil, and do not see evil. It is used to encourage people to maintain purity of mind and avoid participating in gossip or negativity.
ఆశకూ దరిద్రానికీ లంకె.
ashaku daridraniki lanke.
Greed and poverty are linked.
This proverb suggests that no matter how much wealth one possesses, if they have insatiable greed, they are effectively 'poor' because they are never satisfied. It is used to describe people who are never content with what they have and always crave more.
డబ్బుకు వచ్చిన చెయ్యే వరహాకు వస్తుంది.
dabbuku vachchina cheyye varahaku vastundi.
The hand that comes for a small coin (dabbu) will also come for a gold coin (varaha).
This proverb is used to warn that a person who starts with small dishonest acts or petty thefts will eventually gain the audacity to commit much larger crimes. It highlights how bad habits or greed escalate over time if not checked early.
డబ్బుకు వచ్చిన చెయ్యి వరహాకు వస్తుంది
dabbuku vachchina cheyyi varahaku vastundi
The hand which touches a Dabb, will touch a pagoda. A man who is dishonest in trifles will not be scrupulous in greater matters. He that will steal an egg will steal an ox.
This expression means that if someone develops a habit of stealing or greedily taking small amounts of money, they will eventually progress to committing much larger thefts. It is used as a warning that bad habits or petty crimes, if left unchecked, will inevitably lead to more serious consequences and greater greed.
డబ్బు లేని వాడు డుబ్బుకు కొరగాడు
dabbu leni vadu dubbuku koragadu
A man without money is not even worth a dubbu.
In this context, 'Dubbu' refers to a low-denomination copper coin used in the past. The proverb means that a person without financial means is often disregarded by society and treated as worthless or useless. It highlights the harsh reality of how social status is frequently tied to wealth.