గోధుమలు వేస్తే బాదములు పండునా?

godhumalu veste badamulu panduna?

Translation

If you sow wheat, will almonds grow?

Meaning

This expression means that the results of an action are directly determined by the effort or seed put in. It is used to point out that one cannot expect a high-quality or different outcome when they have invested in something of lesser value or performed a different action altogether. Similar to the English proverb 'As you sow, so shall you reap'.

Related Phrases

If ants climb the trees, the lands will yield crops.

This is a traditional Telugu proverb based on rural observations of nature. It signifies that when ants start climbing trees or high ground, it is a sign of impending heavy rains. Since good rains lead to a prosperous harvest, the saying equates this behavior of ants to a bountiful agricultural season.

If put on the finger it's a twist, if put on the leg it's a shackle.

This proverb describes someone who is extremely cunning, manipulative, or versatile in making excuses. It refers to a person who can adapt their behavior or arguments to any situation just to get their way—if you try to catch them one way, they twist out of it; if you try another, they bind you instead.

Rains during the Arudra season yield crops for miles.

This is a traditional agricultural proverb. It means that if it rains during the 'Arudra Karti' (a specific solar mansion period in June), it is so auspicious for farming that the harvest will be plentiful across vast distances (amadas). It highlights the critical importance of timely monsoon rains for a successful agricultural cycle.

If neem trees bear fruit, the lands will yield crops.

This is a traditional agricultural observation suggesting that a heavy yield of neem fruits (vemu) is a biological indicator of a good monsoon season ahead, leading to a prosperous harvest for the farmers.

If put on the finger it goes to the toe, and if put on the toe it goes to the finger.

This expression is used to describe a person who is extremely manipulative, inconsistent, or shifty in their speech. It refers to someone who changes their story or logic constantly to suit their convenience, making it impossible to pin them down to a single fact or commitment.

Lands where peacocks have lived/grazed will yield a good harvest.

This proverb suggests that certain natural indicators or environmental conditions signify fertile land. Historically, it implies that land frequented by wildlife like peacocks is inherently rich and productive for agriculture.

Will a canopy built over a scaffold stop the rain?

This proverb is used to describe efforts that are futile or insufficient for a larger problem. Just as a small thatch or canopy over a crop-watching platform cannot prevent the entire field from getting wet during a downpour, small-scale solutions cannot solve systemic or massive issues.

If Java plums ripen, the lands will flourish.

This is a traditional agricultural observation. It implies that a bountiful harvest of Jamun (Java plum) fruits indicates favorable weather conditions and a good monsoon, which in turn leads to a successful agricultural season and fertile yields across the lands.

If you just crave sweets in your mind, who will give you the wheat?

This proverb highlights that mere wishing or daydreaming does not yield results without hard work and resources. It is used to mock someone who has grand plans but lacks the means or the will to execute them, emphasizing that desire alone cannot substitute for practical effort.

If neem trees yield fruit, the lands will yield crops.

This is a traditional agricultural observation or proverb. It suggests that a heavy flowering or fruiting of neem trees (Azadirachta indica) is a natural indicator of a good monsoon or favorable weather conditions, which will eventually lead to a bumper harvest for farmers.