గ్రహచారం చాలక రాచకొలువుకు పోతే, జన్మనక్షత్రం చూసి నెత్తి గొరిగారట.
grahacharam chalaka rachakoluvuku pote, janmanakshatram chusi netti gorigarata.
When someone went to the royal court due to bad luck, they looked at his birth star and shaved his head.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where a person seeking help or a better life ends up in an even worse position due to extreme misfortune. It highlights that when luck is not on one's side, even efforts to improve one's circumstances can lead to unexpected humiliation or loss.
Related Phrases
అన్నం ఎక్కువైతే ఆచారం ఎక్కువ, ఆచారం ఎక్కువైతే గ్రహచారం తక్కువ.
annam ekkuvaite acharam ekkuva, acharam ekkuvaite grahacharam takkuva.
If food is in excess, rituals increase; if rituals increase, fortune decreases.
This proverb suggests that when people have too much luxury or idle time, they tend to focus excessively on rigid traditions and unnecessary rituals. However, becoming overly obsessed with such formalities can lead to one's downfall or misfortune. It is a cautionary saying about maintaining balance and avoiding extreme pedantry.
తల గొరిగించుకొన్న తర్వాత తిథి, నక్షత్రం చూసినట్లు.
tala goriginchukonna tarvata tithi, nakshatram chusinatlu.
Checking the auspicious time and star after shaving the head.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone takes action first and then looks for the right time or rules to follow. It refers to an act of 'closing the stable door after the horse has bolted' or doing something in an illogical order. In traditional Indian culture, one usually checks for an auspicious day (Tithi/Nakshatram) before getting a haircut; doing so after the act is completed is futile and pointless.
జానెడు పొట్టకోసం జన్మంతా ఆరాటం
janedu pottakosam janmanta aratam
A lifelong struggle for a stomach just a span wide
This expression highlights the irony of human existence, where most of a person's life is spent working relentlessly just to fulfill basic survival needs like food, even though the human stomach is physically very small. It is used to describe the constant toil and struggle for basic sustenance or to comment on the exhausting nature of earning a living.
లక్ష నక్షత్రాలైనా ఒక చంద్రుడు కాడు.
laksha nakshatralaina oka chandrudu kadu.
Even a hundred thousand stars cannot equal one moon.
This proverb highlights that quality is superior to quantity. In a practical sense, it means that one highly capable or virtuous person is more valuable than a vast number of mediocre or ineffective people. It is often used to emphasize the importance of having one strong leader or a single brilliant idea over many insignificant ones.
మూడు జన్మాల సంగతి చెప్పగలను; పూర్వ జన్మమునందు ఇచ్చి పెట్టుకోలేదు గనుక ఈ జన్మమునందు దేవుడు నాకు ఇవ్వలేదు, ఈ జన్మాన ఒకరికి ఇవ్వలేను గనుక ముందు జన్మకు నాకు ఏమీ లేదు.
mudu janmala sangati cheppagalanu; purva janmamunandu ichchi pettukoledu ganuka i janmamunandu devudu naku ivvaledu, i janmana okariki ivvalenu ganuka mundu janmaku naku emi ledu.
I can tell my state in three births—in the last I laid up nothing by generosity, in this God has given me nothing, and as I can give to no one here there is nothing for me in the next birth.
This expression reflects the philosophical belief in Karma and the cycle of rebirth. It is used to describe a state of perpetual poverty or a lack of resources, emphasizing that one's current situation is a result of past actions, and current inability to be charitable will result in future hardship. It serves as a commentary on the importance of generosity and the cause-and-effect nature of life.
ఈ ఇంట ఆచారమా, మా గ్రహచారమా?
i inta acharama, ma grahacharama?
Is it a tradition in this house, or is it our misfortune?
This expression is used when someone encounters strange, illogical, or unfair practices in a specific place or household. It highlights a dilemma where one cannot distinguish whether a bad experience is due to the established rules of the house (tradition) or simply their own bad luck (misfortune).
లక్ష నక్షత్రాలైనా ఒక చంద్రుడు కాదు
laksha nakshatralaina oka chandrudu kadu
A lakh of stars won't make one moon. " Better one virtuous son than even a hundred fools; the one moon dispels darkness and not hosts of stars." ( Hitopadeśa Book I. 17. )
Quality is far superior to quantity. This expression is used to emphasize that one exceptionally capable or brilliant person is more valuable than a vast number of mediocre ones. It is often used to describe a great leader, a talented child, or a single effective solution compared to many ineffective alternatives.
గ్రహచారం చాలకపోతే, వసుదేవుడు గాడిద కాళ్లు పట్టుకొన్నాడట!
grahacharam chalakapote, vasudevudu gadida kallu pattukonnadata!
When luck/fate is unfavorable, even Vasudeva had to hold a donkey's feet!
This expression is used to describe a situation where, due to bad luck or extreme adversity, even a person of great status or power must humble themselves and seek help from someone insignificant or unworthy. It refers to the legend where Vasudeva, to save baby Krishna, had to humble himself before a donkey to prevent it from braying and alerting guards.
సూది బెజ్జం చూసి, జల్లెడ వెక్కిరించినట్లు.
sudi bejjam chusi, jalleda vekkirinchinatlu.
Like a sieve mocking the eye of a needle.
This proverb describes a hypocritical situation where someone with massive flaws (represented by the many holes in a sieve) criticizes another person for a single, tiny flaw (represented by the small eye of a needle). It is used when someone lacks the self-awareness to see their own great shortcomings before pointing out the minor mistakes of others.
ఆచారం ముందర, అనాచారం వెనక
acharam mundara, anacharam venaka
Purity first and impurity after. Impurity always attends purity.
This proverb refers to hypocrisy or double standards. It describes a situation where someone publicly follows all religious or social customs strictly (outward display), but privately indulges in unethical or prohibited activities. It is used to criticize people who act righteous only when being watched.