ఈగకు ఇల్లి, పాముకు బల్లి పుట్టదు.

igaku illi, pamuku balli puttadu.

Translation

No food for a fly nor offering for a snake.

Meaning

This proverb is used to describe an extremely stingy or miserly person who is incapable of giving anything away. It suggests that just as nature doesn't provide a house for a fly or a prey like a lizard for a snake effortlessly, some people are so miserly that nothing beneficial ever comes from them to others.

Notes

Said of a miser's house. Ye'll brak your neck as soon as your fast i' his house. (Scots.)

Related Phrases

There is no yawn without a wonder. Pratáparudru king of Ōrugallu, (Wurrangal) had a very sagacious minister, by name Yugandharuḍu, who was summoned by the Sultan to be employed in his court. The king refusing to send him, was taken prisoner and confined in the capital. His faithful minister having declared that he would rescue him and bring him back openly, went disguised to the capital and there feigning madness, ran daily through the streets calling out " Ho! I am going to take away Ōruganti Pratáparudruḍu." The Sultan, suspecting that his madness was assumed, caused him to be watched. The spies dis- covered that he cooked under a tree at midnight, and a man was concealed in the tree to watch him when he thought himself alone. According to his custom the minister came at midnight to cook his food, and while doing so, yawned. He immediately thought to himself that there must be some cause for this, and glancing furtively up the tree perceived the spy. He then said in a loud voice 'There is no yawn without a wonder,' and commenced breaking his pots and acting the mad man. The minister was then reported as really mad and his ravings were unheeded. Shortly afterwards a ship laden with valuables, was sent by the minister's con- trivance to the port. The Sultan hearing this, was anxious to inspect the cargo, and being informed that the imprisoned king was a connoisseur in gems ordered him to be brought with him on board the vessel. The minister also managed to get on board and while the Sultan was engaged in examining the precious stones, caused the anchor to be weighed. The Sultan then learnt the trick that had been played upon him and commending the sagacity of the minister, pardoned both him and the king, who returned rejoicing to Ōrugallu.

This expression suggests that nothing happens without an underlying cause or motivation. It is often used to imply that if someone is acting unusually or if a rumor is spreading, there must be some truth or specific reason behind it.

* A somewhat different version of the story is given in the Madras Church Missionary Record for October 1865 by the Rev. F. W. N. Alxander : "I could get very little information from my informant about this ancient king, one thing only is certain that in his days the Mohammedans invaded this part of India and besieged Wurrangal, but the Fort was not taken in his days. The story told to me by several people is very contradictory and unlikely in itself. The most credible version seems to be, that Wurrangal was besieged by the Padasha of Delhi in person, and for 7 years the assailants were beaten by the threat of being thrown into the sea from the large space enclosed by the walls. Falling in this way, they at last took the king by stratagem. The Mohammedans feigned a desire for peace and decoyed Pra- táparudru outside the gates on pretence of making peace, and then seized him in a chariot and carried him off to Delhi and kept him there many days. Meanwhile things went on badly in Wurrangal. In the absence of their king the people refused to obey the minister, and anarchy reigned in the city. The minister resolved to deliver his lord from confinement, and restore him to his subjects. He went to Delhi and began to tell in the most public manner that he was come to release Pratáparudru, the imprisoned king. For this he was imprisoned and beaten again and again, till at last he was regarded as a mad man and no heed was taken of his sayings or doings. Roaming through the city, he at last found out where his lord was, and brought to him two legs of the carved ebony cot on which the king used to sleep in Wurrangal, and offered them for sale. They were recognized at once; and the pretended seller was asked where he got them and where the remaining pair was to be found. The king was told that the missing pair would be found on board a ship in the river, and he was asked to come and see them. To this the king assented, and somehow brought with him the Padasha of Delhi. They both went on board the ship indicated, and at the helm was seen the pre- tended mad man who was in truth the minister of the king. In an instant the ship was loose, and the sails spread, keeping in mid-stream they escaped down the river before they could be apprehended, and entering the Godaveri the king and the Padasha made their way to Wurrangal. The latter is said was subsequently released by ransom, and Pratáparudru died peaceably in his own city."

In his house neither Ili nor Bali is offered.

This expression is used to describe an extreme miser or a very stingy person. It suggests that the person is so greedy or poor-hearted that they wouldn't even offer a tiny bit of food to a housefly or provide a small portion for ritual charity. It is used to highlight someone's total lack of generosity.

Ili is applied to the grains of raw rice religiously offered to ants, &c. Bali is the food given in the same manner to crows before commencing a meal. He'll flay a flint. Dogs run away with whole shoulders.

Like showing a parasitic plant (Badanika) to a snake.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone is instantly terrified or completely subdued by a specific threat or person. In Telugu folklore, it is believed that snakes are extremely fearful of the 'Badanika' (a type of parasitic plant) and become paralyzed or helpless when shown it. It signifies a weakness or a 'kryptonite' that brings an immediate stop to someone's aggressive behavior.

Like showing Badanika to a snake.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone is deeply terrified or rendered powerless by a specific person or object. In Telugu folklore, it is believed that showing a 'Badanika' (a parasitic plant like Mistletoe) to a snake makes it immobile or frightened. It describes an effective deterrent or a person's ultimate weakness.

Badanika is the Loranthus Longiflorus ; the term is also applied gene- rally to all plants of the order. ( W. Elliot. ) It is said to be used as an antidote for snake bites.

For a king, poison is in his eyes; for a snake, poison is in its teeth.

This proverb highlights how power and danger manifest differently. A king's anger or a mere look of disapproval can destroy someone (symbolized by the eye), whereas a snake's threat is physical and direct through its bite (teeth). It is used to advise caution when dealing with powerful people or dangerous entities.

No house for a fly, no sacrifice for a snake.

This proverb refers to things or creatures that do not have a permanent home or those for whom no ritualistic offerings are made. It is often used to describe people who are homeless, wanderers, or those who lead a life without recognition and social standing.

A short person has a basketful of brains/wisdom.

This is a popular Telugu saying used to suggest that what a person lacks in physical stature, they make up for with extreme cleverness, wit, or cunning. It is often used playfully or as a cautionary remark about not underestimating someone based on their small height.

Anthills raised by ants become the dwelling of snakes. One enjoys what another has acquired. 5

This proverb describes a situation where one person works hard to create or accumulate something, only for someone else to step in and enjoy the benefits without any effort. It is often used to refer to wealth or property being usurped by those who didn't earn it.

No matter how many times it is purified in fire, brass remains brass and gold remains gold.

This expression is used to convey that the inherent nature or character of a person or object cannot be changed by external processes or superficial treatments. Just as intense heat cannot turn a base metal like brass into gold, artificial efforts cannot change a person's fundamental traits or true value.

If you say "let it go" the snake will be angry, if you say "hold it" the frog will be angry. A difficulty in pleasing both parties in the settlement of a dispute. It is hard to please a' parties. (Scotch.)

This proverb describes a difficult dilemma or a 'no-win' situation where any decision made will inevitably offend or hurt one of the parties involved. It is used when a person is caught between two conflicting interests and is unable to please everyone.