హస్తిజాతి పెళ్ళాం మూషిక జాతి మొగుడు

hastijati pellam mushika jati mogudu

Translation

An elephant-class wife and a mouse-class husband.

Meaning

This proverb is used to describe a mismatch in a couple, particularly regarding physical stature, personality, or status. It depicts a situation where the wife is significantly larger, stronger, or more dominant than the husband, highlighting an comical or awkward imbalance between partners.

Related Phrases

If the crying woman's husband returns, my husband will return too.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone waits for others to act or succeed before taking initiative themselves, or a situation where one's fate is tied to the general outcome of a group. It is often used to mock someone who lacks independent drive and simply follows the crowd's luck or progress.

The coriander-seed caste. Said of Kômaṭi ( No. 712 ) because treating a Kômaṭi roughly is the only way of dealing with him, as rubbing the coriander-seed before it is sown is the only way of making it sprout.

This is a sarcastic expression used to describe people who are timid, cowardly, or lack any real substance. Just as a coriander seed is easily crushed or lacks strength, this phrase refers to someone who retreats easily or has no 'spine' or courage.

A husband following an ascetic's religion and a wife who is too heavy to lift.

This proverb describes a highly incompatible or mismatched pair. It refers to a situation where one person's lifestyle or beliefs (like a husband wanting to live like an ascetic/monk) are completely at odds with their responsibilities or the nature of their partner (a wife who requires physical support or attention), leading to constant struggle and lack of harmony.

Wife is a piece of jaggery, mother is a lump of clay.

This proverb describes a common human tendency where a person finds their spouse sweet and desirable (like jaggery) while viewing their mother as mundane or unimportant (like common soil/clay) after marriage. It is used to criticize those who neglect or undervalue their parents' lifelong sacrifices in favor of new relationships.

Born as an elephant class, but with the temperament of a conch class.

This expression is used to describe a person who appears physically large, strong, or imposing (like the 'Hastini' category of women in classical literature) but possesses a petty, narrow-minded, or troublesome character (associated with the 'Sankhini' category). It highlights the irony of a person's behavior not matching their outward stature or noble birth.

A husband to Nannamma, and a husband to Timmanna's mother.

This expression is used to describe someone who is extremely clever, cunning, or a 'know-it-all' who thinks they can outsmart anyone. It refers to a person who claims superiority over those who are already considered experts or authorities in a particular field, often used in a sarcastic tone to highlight someone's overconfidence or manipulative nature.

Once someone becomes a Jangama (monk/renunciant), their past caste should not be considered.

This proverb emphasizes that once a person chooses a spiritual path or a higher calling, their previous social background, origin, or lineage becomes irrelevant. It is used to suggest that one should be judged by their current state and virtues rather than their past status or identity.

A night-blind wife for a blind husband.

This proverb describes a situation where two people are equally incompetent or have complementary flaws, making them a perfectly matched but dysfunctional pair. It is used to mock a situation where no one involved has the ability to fix a problem or provide proper guidance.

A blind wife for a husband with night blindness.

This proverb describes a situation where two people who have similar weaknesses or limitations come together, making it impossible for them to help each other. It is used to mock a match or partnership where neither party can compensate for the other's flaws, leading to total inefficiency.

A husband of two wives

This expression refers to a person caught between two conflicting parties or demands, making it impossible to satisfy both. It is often used to describe someone in a dilemma, facing constant complaints or pressure from two different sides simultaneously.