దొంగవాడి దృష్టి మూట మీదనే.

dongavadi drishti muta midane.

Translation

The thief's eye is upon the bundle.

Meaning

This proverb describes a person who is single-mindedly focused on their selfish interests or gain, regardless of the situation. Just as a thief focuses only on the loot, a person with ulterior motives will only pay attention to what they can benefit from.

Related Phrases

Like a thief stung by a scorpion

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone is suffering or in trouble but cannot cry out for help or complain because doing so would reveal their own wrongdoing or secret. Just as a thief cannot scream when stung by a scorpion while hiding, the person must endure their pain in silence.

A miser's property falls to the lot of the thief.

This proverb suggests that wealth hoarded by a greedy or miserly person, who refuses to spend it on themselves or for good causes, will eventually be taken away by others (like thieves) or wasted by circumstances. It emphasizes the futility of extreme hoarding.

One must ensure that neither infants nor milk pots are affected by the evil eye.

This is a traditional Telugu proverb emphasizing that precious, vulnerable, or essential things (like babies or food sources) need constant protection from jealousy or negative energy. It is used to advise caution and safeguarding of one's most valued assets.

One must ensure that the evil eye does not fall upon an infant or a pot of milk.

This is a traditional Telugu proverb emphasizing the need to protect things that are pure, vulnerable, or essential for sustenance. In a broader sense, it is used to advise someone to be extra cautious and protective about their most precious assets or new beginnings to prevent jealousy or negative influences (Drishti) from harming them.

Whether it's excessive rain or no rain at all, the pain of hunger is inevitable.

This proverb highlights that extremes of any situation lead to the same disastrous result. In agriculture, too much rain (floods) or too little rain (drought) both destroy crops, leading to famine. It is used to describe situations where different types of problems eventually lead to the same suffering or negative outcome.

A sick person needs a sinful (unhealthy) thing.

This proverb describes the tendency of a person in a bad or vulnerable state to desire things that are harmful to them. Just as a sick person might crave food that is forbidden or worsens their health, people in trouble often make choices that aggravate their situation.

Whether it is excessive rain or a total lack of rain, the pangs of hunger are inevitable.

This proverb is used to describe a lose-lose situation or a scenario where regardless of the extreme circumstances (too much or too little), the suffering of the common people remains the same. It highlights that both floods and droughts lead to the same result: crop failure and starvation.

Even a stone will shatter under the king's gaze.

This proverb is used to describe the immense power, authority, or 'evil eye' of a powerful person. It implies that a person of high status or great influence has a gaze so potent (drishti) that it can cause even solid, inanimate objects like stones to break. In a social context, it warns that the attention or envy of the powerful can be destructive.

Must the effects of an evil eye be removed from a dunhill ? A cringing speech. " Should such a worm as I be honored ?"

This expression is used to describe something that is already worthless, ugly, or insignificant. It implies that there is no need to protect or be concerned about something that no one would envy or want in the first place.

Like placing a cot at a thief's entrance.

This expression describes a futile or counterproductive action. It refers to a situation where one tries to guard or protect something by being in a place where the danger is already present or inevitable. It implies that the effort is useless because the 'thief' (problem) is already right there or the setup is ill-conceived.