గుడిలో లింగం పోతే నంబి శంఠం పోయినట్లు
gudilo lingam pote nambi shantham poyinatlu
If the Shiva Lingam is gone from the temple, it is like the priest's livelihood is lost.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where the loss of a core entity or person results in the loss of relevance or livelihood for those dependent on it. It highlights that certain roles only have value as long as the central object of their service exists.
Related Phrases
గుడిలో గంట పోతే, నంబికేమి లోటు?
gudilo ganta pote, nambikemi lotu?
If the temple bell be lost what does it matter to the priest- ling ? A hireling cares not for the property of his master.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where a person in charge or an intermediary is indifferent to a loss because they do not personally own the property or suffer the consequences. It highlights a lack of accountability or personal stakes in someone else's misfortune or public property.
శఠగోపం లేకుంటే నా శంఠంపోయెగాని, ఇంటికిపోయి గంటె బోర్లించుకుంటాను.
shathagopam lekunte na shanthampoyegani, intikipoyi gante borlinchukuntanu.
If there is no 'Shatagopam', so be it; I will go home and turn my ladle upside down.
This proverb is used to describe a person who is easily discouraged or lacks perseverance. It depicts a devotee who goes to a temple, and upon finding that the 'Shatagopam' (a sacred crown placed on the head) is unavailable, decides to give up on everything, go home, and stop cooking altogether. It highlights a tendency to overreact to small hurdles by quitting everything.
గుడి మింగే వానికి గుళ్లో లింగం ఒక లెక్కా?
gudi minge vaniki gullo lingam oka lekka?
To him who swallows the temple, the lingam in it is a sugar-plum.
This proverb is used to describe a person who commits massive frauds or crimes. It suggests that if someone is capable of stealing or destroying something huge, they won't hesitate to take or ruin smaller things associated with it. It refers to someone who has no moral limits or bounds.
యతి కోసం పోతే మతి పోయినట్లు
yati kosam pote mati poyinatlu
Like losing one's senses while going for an ascetic.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where a person, in the pursuit of something minor or spiritual, ends up losing their common sense or something far more valuable. It highlights a loss of perspective or poor judgment during a specific endeavor.
శతకోటి లింగాలలో నా బోడి లింగం చూడమన్నాడట
shatakoti lingalalo na bodi lingam chudamannadata
Out of a billion Shiva Lingas, he asked to look for his bald one.
This expression is used when someone makes a ridiculous or impossible request for personal attention or recognition in a massive crowd or a very large collection. It highlights the absurdity of expecting something insignificant or ordinary to be singled out among millions of similar, or superior, entities.
గుడిలో లింగం పోతే, నడుమ నంబికేం నష్టం?
gudilo lingam pote, naduma nambikem nashtam?
If the Lingam in the temple is gone, what loss is it to the priest?
This proverb is used to describe a person who is an intermediary or a mere employee and does not have a personal stake or emotional investment in the core asset or mission. It implies that if the main object of value is lost, the person who only manages it loses nothing of their own, highlighting a lack of accountability or personal concern.
గుడిని, గుడిలో లింగాన్ని మింగేవాడు.
gudini, gudilo linganni mingevadu.
A cheat, literally one who swallows the temple as well as the deity inside.
When greed grows excessively, a person wishes to acquire all – without caring for the means to attain his immoral goal.
ఒకలింగడు పోయినా పోయినట్లు, బాగా నమిలి మ్రింగమన్నాడట.
okalingadu poyina poyinatlu, baga namili mringamannadata.
One Lingadu may be gone, but chew well and swallow, he said.
This proverb describes a situation where someone experiences a significant loss or misfortune, yet they continue to focus on trivial or unrelated matters, or offer unsolicited, minor advice in the face of a larger disaster. It is used to mock people who remain stubbornly focused on small details when everything is already ruined.
గుడిని మింగేవాడికి గుడిలో లింగం ఒక లెక్కా?
gudini mingevadiki gudilo lingam oka lekka?
For one who can swallow the entire temple, is the Shiva Lingam inside it even a consideration?
This proverb is used to describe a person who is involved in massive corruption or a huge crime; for such a person, stealing a small thing or committing a minor offense is trivial. It highlights that someone who has already committed a grave misdeed will not hesitate to commit smaller ones to further their goal.
దుక్కిటెద్దు దేశాంతరం పోయినట్లు
dukkiteddu deshantaram poyinatlu
Like a ploughing ox migrating to a different country.
This proverb describes a situation where someone tries to escape hard work or a difficult situation only to find themselves in the same or worse conditions elsewhere. Just as a ploughing ox will be used for the same hard labor regardless of the country it moves to, a person's nature or their burden of work often follows them wherever they go.