దేవళం మింగేవాడికి ధ్వజస్తంభం లొటలొట

devalam mingevadiki dhvajastambham lotalota

Translation

To the one who can swallow the whole temple, the flagstaff is just a small snack.

Meaning

This proverb is used to describe a person who commits large-scale scams or massive thefts. For such an audacious criminal, stealing something small or minor is effortless and insignificant. It highlights how someone capable of huge corruption will not hesitate or struggle with smaller illicit acts.

Related Phrases

A Tambaḷi prates, but does not listen to what others say.

This expression is used to describe a person who is quick to criticize others for their flaws or annoying habits while being completely oblivious to the fact that they possess the exact same faults. It highlights self-centeredness and a lack of self-awareness.

The priest knows only his own chatter, but not the chatter of others.

This proverb is used to describe a person who is so engrossed in their own problems, talk, or selfishness that they fail to recognize or empathize with the struggles and perspectives of others. It highlights self-centered behavior where one expects others to listen or understand but offers no reciprocity.

Cakes are trifles to a man that swallows doors.

This proverb describes a person who has committed major crimes or handled massive tasks, for whom a minor misdeed or a small job is insignificant. It is used to point out that someone capable of great harm or huge undertakings won't hesitate or struggle with something much smaller.

If there is one who can swallow a temple, there is another who can swallow the temple, the tower, and the flagpole too.

This proverb is used to describe how there is always someone more corrupt, powerful, or skilled than the person currently being considered. It emphasizes that no matter how 'big' a thief or a person of influence one thinks they are, there is always a 'bigger fish' who can outdo them in those same actions. It is often used in the context of corruption or greed.

A wood apple is very small in an elephant's throat. A very easy matter.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where a resource or quantity is completely inadequate for someone's huge appetite or vast requirements. Just as a small wood apple is insignificantly small for a giant elephant, it refers to something being 'like a drop in the ocean' or vanishing instantly without satisfying the need.

Shiny on the outside, hollow on the inside

This expression is used to describe something or someone that looks very attractive, impressive, or high-quality on the outside but is empty, flawed, or useless on the inside. It is often used to criticize superficiality or deceptive appearances.

For one who can swallow mountains, are towers an obstacle? For one who can swallow a temple, is the Shiva Lingam an obstacle?

This proverb is used to describe a person who has committed massive crimes or major scams, suggesting that smaller moral or physical barriers won't stop them. It implies that if someone is capable of doing something enormous or outrageous, they won't hesitate to do smaller, related tasks or commit smaller offenses. It is often used to mock the audacity of corrupt individuals or those with insatiable greed.

Wood apples are mere hollow rattles for an elephant.

This expression is used to describe a situation where something provided is completely insufficient or insignificant compared to the recipient's massive capacity or hunger. Just as a wood apple is a tiny snack that makes a hollow sound in an elephant's large mouth without satisfying it, a small contribution to a massive project or a tiny portion of food to a very hungry person is described using this phrase.

Hollow on the inside, shining on the outside

Used to describe a situation or a person who appears grand, wealthy, or impressive on the outside but is actually empty, poor, or lacking substance internally. It is often applied to people who maintain a fake status despite having no resources.

For one who swallows a cannonball, doors are like papads (wafers).

This proverb is used to describe someone who has already committed a massive crime or handled a huge task, making smaller obstacles or rules seem trivial to them. It implies that if a person can handle something extreme, they won't hesitate or struggle with something much smaller.