ఈనాడు ఇంటిలో రేపు మట్టిలో

inadu intilo repu mattilo

Translation

Today in the house, tomorrow in the soil.

Meaning

This expression highlights the fleeting and unpredictable nature of human life. It serves as a reminder that life is temporary—one might be living comfortably at home today, but could pass away and return to the earth tomorrow. It is often used to counsel humility and to discourage vanity or over-attachment to worldly possessions.

Related Phrases

Eerakka inside the house and Perakka in the backyard

This proverb refers to a person who plays different roles or behaves differently in different situations, or more commonly, it describes two people who are constantly competing or causing trouble in their respective domains. It is often used to describe sisters-in-law or women in a household who are equally difficult to deal with or who divide their 'territories' of influence.

Tomorrow, evening, the Muslim's evening.

This proverb is used to describe someone who repeatedly procrastinates or gives excuses to delay a task indefinitely. It characterizes a person who keeps pushing a deadline from morning to evening, and from one day to the next, never actually completing the work.

Every house has an earthen fire-place.

This proverb means that certain problems, weaknesses, or secrets are universal and exist in every household or for every person, regardless of how they appear on the outside. It is used to convey that one is not alone in their struggles and that human nature or domestic issues are the same everywhere.

Every man has his faults.

Today fire, tomorrow water

This expression is used to describe a person with an extremely volatile temperament or a situation that changes drastically. It refers to someone who is furious one moment (fire) and completely calm or cool the next (water). It can also signify the fleeting nature of intense emotions or circumstances.

Became a porcupine quill in the house

This expression is used to describe a person who enters a group or a household and causes constant friction, disputes, or divisions among the members. Just as a porcupine quill is said to cause irritation or bad luck in a home according to folklore, this refers to someone whose presence is destructive to harmony.

The word 'tomorrow' has no form.

This proverb is used to emphasize that the future is uncertain and unpredictable. It serves as a reminder to not procrastinate or rely on tomorrow, as 'tomorrow' never truly arrives and its shape remains unknown.

Like putting on a blindfold today and riding tomorrow.

This proverb is used to describe someone who expects immediate results or mastery over something without putting in the necessary time, patience, or effort. It highlights the absurdity of rushing a process that naturally takes time, just like one cannot expect to master riding a horse or animal immediately after just covering its eyes.

A measure in the mud, a heap in the house.

This is a traditional agricultural saying referring to the high yield of crops. It means that even a small amount of seed sown in the soil (mud) can result in a massive harvest stored at home. It is used to describe investments or efforts that yield exponentially great results.

A cubit-long knife in a span-wide house

This expression is used to describe a situation where a minor or small entity contains or possesses something disproportionately large, powerful, or troublesome. It often refers to a small person with a big temper, or a small house filled with oversized items that cause inconvenience.

Laugh today, cry tomorrow

This proverb is used to warn that temporary happiness or excessive indulgence today might lead to sorrow or negative consequences in the future. It serves as a reminder that life is a cycle of ups and downs, and one should be prepared for changes in fortune.