ఇంట లింగాకారం, బయట చక్రాకారం, ఇక్కడికి వచ్చావా జడలుదాల్చి
inta lingakaram, bayata chakrakaram, ikkadiki vachchava jadaludalchi
Inside a Lingam shape, outside a wheel shape, have you come here with matted hair?
This is a traditional Telugu riddle (podupu katha) describing a tamarind fruit. The 'wheel shape' refers to the curved pod, the 'Lingam shape' refers to the seeds inside, and 'matted hair' refers to the fibrous veins surrounding the pulp.
Related Phrases
ఉపకారానికి పోతే అపకారం వెంటవచ్చినట్లు
upakaraniki pote apakaram ventavachchinatlu
Like harm following a gesture of help
This proverb is used when a person's attempt to do a good deed or help someone results in unexpected negative consequences or trouble for themselves. It describes situations where kindness is met with ingratitude or accidental misfortune.
మేత కరణం, కూత కరణం, వ్రాత కరణం
meta karanam, kuta karanam, vrata karanam
Grazing Karanum, shouting Karanum, writing Karanum
This expression describes someone who claims to be an expert in everything but lacks true focus or mastery in a specific trade. It refers to a person who tries to perform multiple roles (like a village head or accountant—Karanum) such as supervising livestock, managing communications, and bookkeeping, often used to mock someone who meddles in every task without doing any properly.
ఉపకారానికి పోతే అపకారం ఎదురైనట్లు
upakaraniki pote apakaram edurainatlu
Immediately after doing good, I received an ill return. Base ingratitude.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone's attempt to help or do a good deed backfires, resulting in trouble or an ungrateful response from the recipient. It is similar to the English saying 'No good deed goes unpunished.'
కాళ్ళ దగ్గరకు వచ్చిన బేరం, కాశీకి వెళ్ళినా దొరకదు
kalla daggaraku vachchina beram, kashiki vellina dorakadu
An opportunity that comes to your feet will not be found even if you go to Kashi.
This expression means that when a good opportunity or a profitable deal comes to you effortlessly, you should grab it immediately. If you neglect or reject it, you might not find such a great opportunity again, even if you travel far and wide or put in immense effort (symbolized by going to the holy city of Kashi).
ఉపకారానికి పోతే అపకారం వచ్చినట్లు
upakaraniki pote apakaram vachchinatlu
Like receiving harm when going to do a favor.
This expression is used when a person's good intentions or helpful actions result in an unexpected negative outcome or trouble for themselves. It describes a situation where someone tries to help others but ends up being blamed, criticized, or harmed in return.
చావ చావడు, మంచమూ వదలడు
chava chavadu, manchamu vadaladu
He would neither die nor give up his bed.
This expression is used to describe a situation or a person that is stuck in a state of limbo, causing prolonged distress or inconvenience to others. It refers to a problem that doesn't get resolved but continues to linger, or a person who occupies a position without being productive, preventing others from taking over.
ఇంట్లో లింగాకారం, దోవలో చక్రాకారం, ఇక్కడ జడలాకారం, ఎక్కడా అన్నాకారం లేదు అన్నాడట.
intlo lingakaram, dovalo chakrakaram, ikkada jadalakaram, ekkada annakaram ledu annadata.
At home the form of the Lingam, in the road the form of the Chakra, here the form of matted hair, but no where is there the form of rice. Said by a disappointed man. At home he was too poor to eat any thing but Sankati ( No. 2512 ) which being coarse food stands up in the dish like a Lingam. When travelling to visit a relative he could only get in the road common round cakes ( Dōse ) in shape like the Chakra (Vishnu's discus ) and when he arrived at his kinsman's house instead of being treated with good fare he was only given Zantikalu ( country Vermicelli ).
This proverb describes a state of utter poverty or the frustration of a person who encounters various shapes and symbols in rituals or nature, but fails to find actual food to eat. It is used to mock situations where there is plenty of symbolic or decorative display, but a lack of basic necessities or substance.
పట్టి చావలేం, బందె ముచ్చవలేం
patti chavalem, bande muchchavalem
We can neither die by catching it, nor can we die in the trap.
This expression describes a situation where one is stuck in a dilemma or an 'in-between' state where they cannot find a way out or a resolution. It is used when a person is frustrated because they can neither commit to a difficult task nor abandon it completely, often feeling trapped by circumstances.
చక్రవర్తి చేస్తే శృంగారం, అదే చాకలి చేస్తే వ్యభిచారం
chakravarti cheste shringaram, ade chakali cheste vyabhicharam
If an emperor does it, it is romance; if a washerman does it, it is adultery.
This proverb highlights the double standards and hypocrisy in society regarding social status. It suggests that the same action is judged differently based on the power, wealth, or status of the person performing it. Actions of the powerful are often glamorized or excused, while the same actions by common people are condemned as immoral or illegal.
లోన వికారం, బయట శృంగారం
lona vikaram, bayata shringaram
Ugliness inside, beauty outside
This expression is used to describe a person who is deceptive or hypocritical. It refers to someone who maintains a polished, attractive, or virtuous appearance to the world while harboring wicked intentions, bad character, or inner turmoil. It is similar to the English phrase 'All that glitters is not gold' or 'A fair face and a foul heart'.