ఇల్లు ఈడుమాను, పందిరి పట్టిమంచం

illu idumanu, pandiri pattimancham

Translation

The house is just a beam, the canopy is just a cot.

Meaning

This proverb is used to describe someone who lives in extreme poverty or has very minimal possessions. It highlights a situation where one's entire property or shelter is limited to the barest essentials, often used sarcastically to humble someone boasting about their status when they actually have nothing.

Related Phrases

While lying down on a canopy bed, he supposedly asked the canopy pillar to do his work.

This proverb is used to describe an extremely lazy person who wants others to do their work even while they are comfortably resting. It highlights a sense of entitlement and lack of effort, where one expects service or results without moving a muscle.

No house to stay in, no bed to lie on.

This expression describes a state of absolute poverty or homelessness. It is used to refer to someone who possesses no assets, shelter, or basic comforts, indicating a complete lack of resources.

A shed is not a house, and a traveler is not a husband.

This proverb highlights the importance of stability and permanence. Just as a temporary thatched shed (pandiri) cannot provide the security of a permanent home, a person who is just passing through (paradesi) cannot fulfill the long-term responsibilities or provide the stability expected of a spouse. It is used to caution against relying on temporary arrangements or people who lack commitment.

The one with protruding gums is a curse to the house, and a forked stick is a curse to the pandal.

This is a traditional proverb used to describe individuals or objects that are inherently unsuitable or bring bad luck/ruin to their surroundings. It suggests that just as a weak forked stick cannot properly support a shed (pandal) and leads to its collapse, a person with specific negative traits (metaphorically described here as protruding gums) is seen as a harbinger of misfortune for the family.

Like building a canopy in a snap of a finger.

This expression is used to describe something that is done incredibly fast, instantly, or with great ease. It is often used to refer to someone who accomplishes a task in a very short amount of time, sometimes implying a sense of magical or effortless speed.

Even if the year changes or age advances, nothing changes in this world.

This expression conveys a sense of cynicism or realism about the unchanging nature of the world. It suggests that despite the passage of time (new years) or personal growth and aging, the fundamental problems or behaviors of society remain the same. It is often used to express frustration with lack of progress.

A shed is not a house, and a traveler is not a husband.

This proverb describes temporary or unreliable situations. Just as a temporary thatched shed (pandiri) cannot provide the permanence and security of a real home, a stranger or traveler who is just passing through cannot fulfill the long-term responsibilities of a life partner. It is used to caution against relying on things or people that lack stability or commitment.

Will a canopy built over a scaffold stop the rain?

This proverb is used to describe efforts that are futile or insufficient for a larger problem. Just as a small thatch or canopy over a crop-watching platform cannot prevent the entire field from getting wet during a downpour, small-scale solutions cannot solve systemic or massive issues.

Touch-me-not plant

Literally referring to the Mimosa pudica plant, this expression is used to describe a person who is extremely sensitive, shy, or gets easily offended or hurt by even the slightest comment or touch.

A loan is not an almshouse, a canopy is not a house.

This proverb emphasizes that borrowed items or temporary arrangements are not permanent solutions. Just as a guest house (satram) offers free shelter while a loan must be repaid, and a temporary shed (pandiri) cannot provide the security of a permanent home, one should not rely on borrowed things as if they are their own property.