ఏమోయీ నారాయణా విధవగమనా అంటే, అది చిన్ననాటి సంగతి ఊరుకోమన్నాదట.

emoyi narayana vidhavagamana ante, adi chinnanati sangati urukomannadata.

Translation

When asked, 'Hey Narayana, why are you going after widows?', he replied, 'That's an old habit from childhood, let it be.'

Meaning

This proverb is used to describe a person who tries to dismiss a serious character flaw or a recurring bad habit as a trivial matter from the past. It highlights how some people shamelessly justify their persistent wrongdoings instead of feeling remorseful.

Related Phrases

When asked 'What is it, you foolish-faced one?', he replied, 'What is it, dear uncle?'

This proverb is used to describe someone who is so oblivious, thick-skinned, or foolish that they mistake a blatant insult for a term of endearment or a friendly greeting. It highlights a lack of self-respect or an inability to understand the tone and intent of others' words.

When told to keep quiet, he reportedly hanged himself.

This proverb is used to describe a person who overreacts excessively to a small suggestion or a minor reprimand. It highlights the absurdity of taking extreme, self-destructive measures when asked to do something simple or trivial.

"Hollow! grass-eating Kômati," said [ a Mussulman ], "Well! molasses-eating Śāhib," replied [ the shopkeeper ]: "How is it you speak in this way?" asked [ a bystander ], "He is accustomed to that and I to this," said [ the Kômati.] i. e. He meant to say that the Mussulman was accustomed to grass and he to molasses.

This proverb highlights that one's speech and behavior reflect their own character rather than the character of the person they are addressing. It suggests that even if someone insults you with low-class language, you should maintain your dignity and respond with courtesy, as your words define who you are.

When one cried out "I have got the thief" the other said "Take care! he'll bite." A cowardly fellow.

This proverb describes a situation where someone makes excuses to cover up their failure or inability to handle a task they committed to. It refers to a person who claims to have caught a thief but lets go because they got bit, highlighting a lack of determination or making weak excuses for losing an advantage.

As long as there is a need, he is Adinarayana (God); once the need is fulfilled, he is Guda Narayana (worthless).

This proverb is used to describe opportunistic or selfish people who show great respect and devotion to someone only as long as they need a favor. Once their objective is achieved, they treat the same person with contempt or indifference.

Counting the rafters of the house where you were fed.

This expression is used to describe an act of extreme ingratitude or treachery. It refers to someone who seeks to harm or find faults in the person or household that provided them with food and shelter. It is commonly used to criticize those who betray their benefactors.

The Jangama's rhythm and the Dasari's music

This expression refers to a situation where two different people or groups are working together in an uncoordinated, chaotic, or mismatched manner. It is used to describe a lack of synchronization or harmony in a joint effort.

Like saying 'Narayana' while following the tail

This expression describes a situation where someone blindly follows or agrees with someone else without thinking for themselves. It refers to a person who lacks an original opinion and simply mimics or supports whatever a more dominant person says or does, often in a submissive or sycophantic manner.

When asked 'Son-in-law, when did you arrive?', he replied 'Shall I tell you about the Vadas cooked last night?'

This proverb is used to describe someone who inadvertently reveals a secret or exposes their own guilt while trying to answer a simple question. It refers to a situation where a person's guilty conscience or preoccupation with a hidden act leads them to give an irrelevant, self-incriminating answer.

While planning for a son's marriage, one must also keep the maintenance of grandchildren in mind.

This expression highlights the importance of long-term thinking and foresight. It suggests that when making a major decision or commitment, one should not just look at the immediate event, but also prepare for the future responsibilities and consequences that will inevitably follow.