గుబ్బలమ్మ చళ్లు చూసి సన్యాసిగాడు సంబరపడ్డాడు

gubbalamma challu chusi sanyasigadu sambarapaddadu

Translation

Seeing the hanging breasts of the goddess, the ascetic rejoiced.

Meaning

This proverb is used to describe a person who gets unnecessarily excited or finds joy in things that are actually a sign of decay, old age, or poor condition. In the context of the saying, sagging breasts (due to age or lack of care) are mistaken for something desirable by a foolish person who lacks discernment.

Related Phrases

Malayalam for friendship, Sambar for a relationship.

This expression is used to highlight situations where there is no logical connection between the components mentioned, or where someone makes a completely irrelevant or mismatched choice. It often mocks a lack of compatibility or a nonsensical pairing in social or business dealings.

The father celebrates the marriage, while the mother suffers the hardship of a co-wife.

This proverb describes a situation where one person's joy or celebration causes direct misery or hardship to another. It is used to highlight conflicting interests or cases where an action is selfishly celebrated without considering the pain it inflicts on those closest.

On seeing the swelling, she took it as a sign of growing strength

Swelling is not healthy growth. We should be wise in our judgment and should not rush to conclusions, by merely noting the external appearances.

Anger upon seeing an enemy, peace upon seeing a saint

This expression describes the natural human tendency to react differently based on the person encountered. It implies that our internal state—whether aggressive or calm—is often a reflection of the company we keep or the character of the person standing before us. It is used to suggest that one should strive for emotional balance or to describe how someone's demeanor shifts instantly depending on their surroundings.

Fear is for the money, not for the wisdom.

This expression is used to describe a situation where people respect or fear someone only because of their wealth and social status, rather than their character, intelligence, or integrity. It highlights the materialistic nature of society.

Is it enough to just look at your armpits and feel happy? Look at the road ahead, he said.

This expression is used to caution someone who is overly confident or celebrating a small success without considering the future challenges or the difficult journey ahead. It highlights the foolishness of being self-satisfied while ignoring upcoming obstacles.

A crow's death, Kanakamma's death

This expression is used to describe a death or an event that goes unnoticed and unmourned by anyone. It highlights the insignificance of an individual's passing, suggesting that just as no one cries for a common crow, no one cares about the departure of a person who had no social standing or meaningful connections.

Like an open doorway facing the celebratory cold wind.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone is overly eager or excessively prepared for something that might actually be uncomfortable or harmful, similar to opening a door wide to a freezing wind. It highlights a lack of foresight or a naive enthusiasm for a situation that requires caution.

A door opposite to the deliciously cool wind. Said ironically of a bitterly cold wind.

This proverb describes a situation where an already difficult or uncomfortable condition is worsened by one's own actions or poor planning. Just as a cold wind is biting, having a door directly facing it makes the cold unbearable. It is used to describe an invitation to unnecessary trouble.

Hiding upon seeing the mother-in-law, throwing away upon seeing the child.

This expression refers to a person who is hypocritical or selective in their behavior based on self-interest. It describes someone who acts disciplined or stingy in front of authority figures (like a mother-in-law) to make a good impression, but becomes careless or overly generous when dealing with those who have no power over them (like a child).