గుడి కట్టే వాడొకడు, గూట్లో దీపం పెట్టే వాడొకడు
gudi katte vadokadu, gutlo dipam pette vadokadu
One person builds the temple, another person places the lamp in the niche.
This proverb describes a situation where one person puts in the hard work and resources to establish something significant, while another person takes over the easier, daily maintenance or claims the credit/benefits. It is used to highlight the disparity between the founder and the beneficiary.
Related Phrases
గడించే దొకడు, గుణించే దొకడు
gadinche dokadu, guninche dokadu
One earns, while another calculates.
This proverb describes a situation where one person works hard to earn wealth or resources, while someone else (often an idle person or an inheritor) spends, manages, or simply keeps track of that wealth. It is used to highlight the contrast between the person doing the labor and the person enjoying or controlling the benefits.
గడించే వాడొకడు, గుణించేవాడొకడు
gadinche vadokadu, guninchevadokadu
One person earns, while another person counts (calculates).
This expression is used to describe a situation where one person works hard to earn wealth or resources, while another person (often someone lazy or opportunistic) takes charge of managing, spending, or calculating that wealth without having contributed to the effort. It highlights the disparity between the laborer and the beneficiary.
తవుడు తినేవానికి మీసాలు ఎగబట్టేవాడొకడు
tavudu tinevaniki misalu egabattevadokadu
For the one who eats bran, there is another to lift his mustache.
This proverb describes a situation where an impoverished person who can barely afford to eat low-quality food (bran) hires or has an assistant to perform a trivial task (lifting his mustache) to maintain a false sense of status. It is used to mock people who show off or maintain unnecessary vanities they cannot afford, or to describe having useless assistants for simple tasks.
అంబలి తాగేవాడికి మీసాలెగబెట్టే వాడొకడా?
ambali tagevadiki misalegabette vadokada?
Does a person drinking porridge need someone else to lift his mustache?
This proverb is used to criticize unnecessary extravagance or dependency. It points out the absurdity of a person who is barely surviving on simple food (porridge) yet employs or expects an assistant for a trivial task like lifting their mustache. It highlights situations where someone has limited means but maintains high pretensions or employs unnecessary help for tasks they should do themselves.
అంబలి తాగేవాడికి మీసాలు ఎగబట్టేవాడొకడు
ambali tagevadiki misalu egabattevadokadu
One person to lift the mustache for the one drinking porridge.
This proverb is used to mock someone who requires assistance for even the simplest tasks, or to describe a situation where an unnecessary helper is appointed for an insignificant job. It highlights laziness or a display of false prestige where a person wants others to serve them even for basic survival needs.
గుడి మింగేవాడొకడయితే, గుడినీ లింగాన్ని మింగేవాడింకొకడు, గుడిని గోపురాన్ని మ్రింగేది మరియొకడు.
gudi mingevadokadayite, gudini linganni mingevadinkokadu, gudini gopuranni mringedi mariyokadu.
If one person swallows the temple, another swallows the temple and the Shiva Linga, and yet another swallows the temple along with the tower (Gopuram).
This proverb is used to describe levels of extreme greed or corruption. It suggests that for every person who is corrupt or greedy, there is someone even more audacious and thorough in their exploitation. It highlights a hierarchy of dishonesty where each successive person is more predatory than the last.
గంజి తాగేవానికి మీసాలు ఎగబెట్టేవాడొకడు
ganji tagevaniki misalu egabettevadokadu
For the one drinking gruel, there is another to lift his mustache.
This proverb describes a situation where someone who is already in a miserable or poor state (drinking simple gruel) has an unnecessary assistant or a hanger-on performing a trivial task. It is used to mock people who maintain high airs despite poverty, or to describe having useless assistants when the task at hand is very simple.
మూతులు నాకేవాడికి మీసాలెత్తే వాడొకడా?
mutulu nakevadiki misalette vadokada?
Does a person who licks mouths need someone to lift his mustache?
This proverb is used to criticize someone who performs a low, disgusting, or degrading task and yet expects others to serve them or maintain their dignity. It highlights the irony of a person who has already lost their self-respect or status by their actions, but still expects royal treatment or assistance in minor matters.
స్తంభం చాటువాడొకడు, అదే పోతగాడు ఒకడు, పోతే రానివాడు మరొకడు.
stambham chatuvadokadu, ade potagadu okadu, pote ranivadu marokadu.
One who hides behind a pillar, one who goes like that, and one who goes and never returns.
This is a traditional riddle (podupu katha) describing the process of a human birth and death. It refers to the father (pillar), the child (coming into the world), and the soul or life breath (which never returns once it leaves). It is used to describe the cycle of life and the transience of human existence.
కోటి తలపడేవాడు ఒకడు, కూర్పులు లెక్కపెట్టేవాడు ఒకడు
koti talapadevadu okadu, kurpulu lekkapettevadu okadu
One person dreams of millions, while another counts the stitches.
This expression describes a situation where there is a massive gap in perspective or scale between two people. While one person is thinking about grand, ambitious goals (millions), the other is obsessively focused on trivial, minute details (stitches). It is used to highlight a lack of coordination or a mismatch in priorities within a task or partnership.