గాదె నిండా బియ్యముంటే, కరువు కాలాన నా భార్యను పిల్లలను నేనే రక్షిస్తాను అన్నాడట
gade ninda biyyamunte, karuvu kalana na bharyanu pillalanu nene rakshistanu annadata
When the granary is full of rice, he said he would protect his wife and children himself during the famine.
This proverb mocks people who make hollow boasts or display overconfidence only when they are in a comfortable and secure position. It highlights that it is easy to promise protection or bravery when resources are abundant, but true character and capability are only tested when those resources are gone.
Related Phrases
బుద్ధి భూములేలాలంటే, కర్మ గాడిదలను కాస్తానంటుంది
buddhi bhumulelalante, karma gadidalanu kastanantundi
While the intellect wants to rule lands, destiny insists on herding donkeys.
This proverb describes the conflict between a person's ambitions and their actual circumstances or fate. It is used when someone has high aspirations or great intelligence, but due to bad luck or unfavorable situations, they end up doing menial or low-level jobs.
గాదె నిండా బియ్యము ఉంటే, కరువు కాలాన నా భార్యనూ పిల్లలనూ నేనే రక్షిస్తానన్నాడట.
gade ninda biyyamu unte, karuvu kalana na bharyanu pillalanu nene rakshistanannadata.
He said that he himself would support his wife and family in dearth and in plenty, so long as the bin was full of corn.
This proverb mockingly refers to people who display false bravery or self-reliance only when they are already in a secure position. It highlights that anyone can boast about taking care of responsibilities when resources are abundant, but true character or capability is only tested in times of real scarcity.
శిష్యా శిష్యా నా కాళ్ళకు చెప్పులున్నాయా అంటే, నక్షత్రమండలం ఈ మధ్య కనబడలేదు అన్నాడట.
shishya shishya na kallaku cheppulunnaya ante, nakshatramandalam i madhya kanabadaledu annadata.
When [the Guru] said "O disciple! disciple! are there shoes on my feet? [the pupil] replied "I don't see them between this and the stars." The Guru and his pupil were both gluttons, but the disciple excelled his master. On one occasion when the Guru—who had eaten so much that he could not see his toes which were numb—asked his pupil to inform him whether his shoes were on, the latter—who was filled up to his neck and was obliged to keep his face towards the sky—replied as above. To have a belly up to one's mouth. (*Spanish*)
This expression is used to describe an irrelevant or nonsensical response to a straightforward question. It highlights a lack of focus, poor communication, or someone being 'lost in the clouds' instead of addressing the immediate reality.
కుక్క తోక వంకర, ఎంతటికీ గుణము మానను అన్నదట.
kukka toka vankara, entatiki gunamu mananu annadata.
A dog's tail is crooked; it said it won't change its nature.
This expression is used to describe a person who refuses to change their inherent bad habits or character, regardless of how much advice they receive or how much effort is made to reform them. It is similar to the English proverb 'A leopard cannot change its spots'.
నాయాలంటే, ఏకులోడికి పోసేస్తాను అన్నదట
nayalante, ekulodiki posestanu annadata
If I have to pay, I will give it away to a cotton-carder, she said.
This expression describes a spiteful or stubborn attitude where a person would rather waste a resource or give it to an irrelevant stranger than pay a legitimate debt or give it to someone who actually deserves it. It highlights the irrationality of acting out of pure spite.
మెట్టన మాత, పల్లాన భార్య
mettana mata, pallana bharya
The mother on the edge of the precipice and the wife on the brink of the pool. The two having quarrelled each threatens to destroy herself unless the man takes her part. A difficult dilemma.
This proverb reflects the traditional agricultural wisdom regarding land management. It suggests that upland (metta) should be treated with the care and reverence given to a mother (requiring less constant attention but deep respect), while lowland (palla) should be attended to with the intimacy and constant care given to a wife (requiring frequent monitoring and labor for a good yield).
ఆ ఇంట్లో తారాడే బాల వితంతువు మీ భార్యా లేక మీ అన్న భార్యా? అని అడిగినాడట.
a intlo tarade bala vitantuvu mi bharya leka mi anna bharya? ani adiginadata.
He reportedly asked, 'Is the young widow wandering in that house your wife or your brother's wife?'
This expression is used to describe a person who lacks common sense, social etiquette, or tact. It highlights a situation where someone asks an incredibly offensive, contradictory, or foolish question that insults everyone involved while being logically absurd (since a wife cannot be a widow while the husband is alive and being questioned).
పొల్లు దంచిన బియ్యము, తెల్లని కాకి లేవు
pollu danchina biyyamu, tellani kaki levu
There is no rice from pounding chaff, and there is no such thing as a white crow.
This proverb is used to describe things that are impossible or non-existent. Just as you cannot get rice by pounding empty husks (chaff) and you cannot find a naturally white crow, certain expectations or results are simply unattainable or contrary to nature.
ముసలమ్మ బుర్ర వణికిస్తావేమి అంటే, ఊరుకుండి నేనేమి చేస్తాను అన్నదట.
musalamma burra vanikistavemi ante, urukundi nenemi chestanu annadata.
When an aged lady was asked " Why do you shake your head ?" she replied " Because I have nothing better to do." A foolish question, and a smart answer.
This expression is used to describe a person who does something useless or involuntary and tries to justify it as a meaningful activity or a way to pass time. It highlights the tendency to make excuses for involuntary actions or habits that have no real purpose.
జాబు వ్రాసి పెట్టమంటే, కాళ్ళు నొప్పలంటే, వాటితో పనేమంటే, నేను రాసింది నేనే చదవాలన్నాడట..
jabu vrasi pettamante, kallu noppalante, vatito panemante, nenu rasindi nene chadavalannadata..
When asked to write a letter, he said his legs were aching; when asked what legs have to do with it, he said he would have to be the one to go and read what he wrote.
This is a humorous proverb used to describe a person who makes absurd or circular excuses to avoid doing work. It highlights a lazy individual who complicates a simple task with illogical reasoning just to escape responsibility.