ఏకాదశి బ్రాహ్మణుడా అంటే ఆపదలు కాపురాలు చేస్తాయా అన్నాడట
ekadashi brahmanuda ante apadalu kapuralu chestaya annadata
When someone said 'Oh Ekaadasi Brahmin', he replied 'Will calamities come and live with me?'
This proverb is used to describe a person who is recklessly indifferent to warnings or signs of impending trouble. It mocks someone who, when cautioned about a small problem or a specific ritualistic requirement (like fasting on Ekaadasi), responds with extreme exaggeration or sarcasm instead of addressing the issue.
Related Phrases
దిక్కులేని యింట్లో దయ్యాలు కాపురము చేస్తవి.
dikkuleni yintlo dayyalu kapuramu chestavi.
In a neglected house, devils take up their abode.
This proverb suggests that when a place or a situation is neglected or left without proper leadership and supervision, evil or undesirable elements will inevitably move in and take control. It is often used to emphasize the importance of oversight and maintenance in both physical properties and social or political institutions.
ఆపదలు కాపురాలుండవు
apadalu kapuralundavu
Calamities do not stay forever (do not make a permanent home).
This expression is used to offer comfort and hope during difficult times. It implies that troubles and misfortunes are temporary phases of life and will eventually pass, just as a guest leaves after a stay rather than becoming a permanent resident.
బడాయి ఏమిర అన్నయ్యా అంటే పైసా లేదుర తమ్మయ్యా అన్నాడట
badayi emira annayya ante paisa ledura tammayya annadata
When asked 'What is with this showing off, brother?', he replied 'I don't have a single paisa, younger brother.'
This proverb is used to mock people who boast or show off their status and lifestyle while actually being broke or having no resources. It highlights the irony of people maintaining a grand facade despite having an empty pocket.
పన్నెండు ఆమడల మధ్య బ్రాహ్మణుడు లేకపోతే యజ్ఞం చేయిస్తాను అన్నాడట
pannendu amadala madhya brahmanudu lekapote yajnyam cheyistanu annadata
If there is no Brahman within a hundred miles, I'll conduct the sacrifice. An ignorant professor gets on well in the absence of the learned.
This expression is used to describe someone who makes grand, empty promises or boasts about doing something difficult only when they are certain that the necessary conditions or resources (in this case, a priest) are unavailable. It highlights hypocrisy or a lack of genuine intent to follow through.
పత్తిగింజలు తింటావా బసవన్నా అంటే ఆహా అన్నాడట, గంత కట్టనా బసవన్నా అంటే వూహూ అన్నాడట.
pattiginjalu tintava basavanna ante aha annadata, ganta kattana basavanna ante vuhu annadata.
When Basavanna was asked if he would eat cotton seed, he said "Âhâ"; when Basavanna was asked whether he would have on the pack saddle he said "Uhû."
This proverb describes a person who is eager to accept benefits or rewards but refuses to do the associated work or take on responsibilities. It is used to mock people who want the perks without the effort.
Basavanna is the name of a bull sacred to Siva. Bullocks are often familiarly called by this name. Âhâ is an exclamation signifying consent. Uhâ signifies refusal.
ఆ అంటే అపశబ్దము, నారాయణా అంటే బూతుమాట.
a ante apashabdamu, narayana ante butumata.
If I say "Â" (yes), it's wrong; if I say "Nārāyaṇa," it's obscene.
This proverb is used to describe a person who is extremely hypersensitive, hypercritical, or impossible to please. It depicts a situation where even the most innocent or sacred words (like 'Narayana') are deliberately misinterpreted as offensive or negative by someone looking for an excuse to find fault.
Faults are thick where love is thin. (Welsh.)
మాదాకవళమమ్మా అంటే, మా యింటాయన నీకు కనిపించలేదా అన్నదట.
madakavalamamma ante, ma yintayana niku kanipinchaleda annadata.
When asked for a handful of food (alms), she replied, 'Didn't you see my husband?'
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone gives an irrelevant or evasive answer to a simple request to avoid helping. It mocks the behavior of someone making excuses by pointing to another person (usually a spouse or authority figure) as the reason for their inability or refusal to act.
ఏకాదశి బ్రాహ్మణుడా అంటే, కాలే కొరివి యెగసన తోస్తావా అన్నాడట—ద్వాదశి బ్రాహ్మణుడా అంటే, ఆపదలు కాపురం చేస్తావా అన్నాడట.
ekadashi brahmanuda ante, kale korivi yegasana tostava annadata—dvadashi brahmanuda ante, apadalu kapuram chestava annadata.
"Is it the fast O Brahman?" [asked one] "Will you stir up the fire?" [replied the Brahman already irritated by fasting]. "Is it the festival?" [said the first]. "Do troubles last for ever?" [answered the Brahman, de- lighted at the prospect of being fed.] Welcome and unwelcome intelligence.
This proverb describes people who are overly superstitious or pedantic about words, interpreting even neutral addresses as bad omens. 'Ekadasi' is associated with fasting (hunger/burning), and 'Dwadasi' is associated with breaking the fast (often linked to various rituals). It is used to mock those who find negative hidden meanings in harmless greetings or titles, or those who are perpetually cranky and reactionary regardless of how they are addressed.
పన్నెండు ఆమడల మధ్య బ్రాహ్మణుడు లేకపోతే యజ్ఞం చేయిస్తానన్నాడట.
pannendu amadala madhya brahmanudu lekapote yajnyam cheyistanannadata.
He said he would perform the ritual if no priest was found within twelve miles.
This proverb is used to describe a person who makes grand promises or offers help only under impossible or highly unlikely conditions. It highlights insincerity and the tendency to set unreachable criteria just to escape responsibility while appearing generous.
చెడిన కాపురానికి ముప్పేమిటి, చంద్రకాంతలు వండే పెండ్లమా అంటే అయిన అప్పకి అంతేమిటి. అవే వండుతాను మగడా అన్నదట.
chedina kapuraniki muppemiti, chandrakantalu vande pendlama ante ayina appaki antemiti. ave vandutanu magada annadata.
What is the threat to a ruined household? When the husband asks for the sweet 'Chandrakantalu', the wife replies, 'What is the limit for an expert like me? I will cook only those, my husband.'
This proverb is used to describe a situation where people continue to be reckless or extravagant even when they are already facing ruin or bankruptcy. It mocks the attitude of individuals who do not change their wasteful ways despite having no resources left, essentially saying there is nothing left to lose by being foolish.