గోడ ఉంటేనే కదా చిత్రం గీయగలము

goda untene kada chitram giyagalamu

Translation

Only if there is a wall, can a picture be drawn.

Meaning

This proverb emphasizes that health is the foundation for all achievements. Just as a painting requires a physical wall to exist, a person needs good health and a basic foundation to pursue any goals or ambitions in life. It is often used to remind someone to prioritize their well-being or the basics before attempting complex tasks.

Related Phrases

Will the chunam on the wall be fit for betel leaf? A little fine chunam ( lime ) is commonly eaten with betel. Said of a man who does not serve his friends.

This proverb is used to describe someone who is extremely stingy or miserly. It highlights the futility of trying to use something intended for one purpose (lime used for whitewashing walls) for another more refined purpose (edible lime used in 'paan' or betel leaf preparation) just to save money. It suggests that quality and suitability matter, and being cheap to an extreme is foolish.

Relationships are maintained by visiting; business is maintained by giving and taking.

This proverb highlights the essential elements for maintaining social and professional ties. Relationships (bandhavyamu) thrive on mutual visits and spending time together, whereas business or trade (vyavaharamu) relies on the fair exchange of goods or services. It suggests that if you stop visiting relatives, the bond weakens, and if you stop trading fairly, the business transaction ends.

If you preserve your life, you can at least live by selling salt. Used as an argument not to risk life for the sake of gain.

This proverb emphasizes that life is the most precious asset. As long as one is alive and healthy, they can find some way to make a living, even through the humblest of jobs like selling salt. It is used to encourage resilience and hope during times of great loss or financial ruin.

If there is a wall you can draw on it.

Health is the primary foundation for any achievement. Just as you need a physical wall to paint a mural, you need a healthy body and life to pursue goals and enjoy success. It is used to emphasize that one's health and existence are the prerequisites for everything else.

A ghost follows even a thief.

This proverb suggests that bad luck or haunting consequences follow those who commit wrongdoings. Even a person as cunning or elusive as a thief cannot escape the supernatural or psychological repercussions (guilt or bad karma) of their actions.

If one's own character is good, one can live even in a neighborhood of ill-repute.

This proverb emphasizes that personal integrity and character are internal traits that do not depend on one's surroundings. If a person is truly virtuous, they will remain untainted and honorable regardless of the environment or the company they are forced to keep. It is used to suggest that strong moral fiber protects an individual from external negative influences.

Is the fate of Sitâ to be common to all ? Sitâ the wife of Râma suffered much during the greater part of her life.

This expression is used to describe an unnecessary repetition of a task or providing a long-winded explanation for something that is already obvious. It highlights the absurdity of repeating the same action or information in different contexts where it is not required.

The devil follows close on the thief. To urge him on.

This expression means that one trouble often brings another, or that bad actions attract bad company and consequences. It is used to describe a situation where a person who is already doing something wrong (the thief) is pursued by even greater misfortune or fear (the ghost).

Like drawing a picture on thin air (or space)

This expression refers to a futile or impossible task. Just as a painting cannot stay or be visible when drawn on empty space/air, it describes efforts that are wasted, plans that have no foundation, or actions that yield no result.

Should what was written for Sita be written for the whole world?

This expression is used to describe an extremely slow or tedious writer. It implies that the person is taking so much time to write a simple letter or note that it feels as if they are documenting the history of an entire region (Seema). It is used to mock someone's inefficiency or unnecessary delay in completing a simple writing task.