ఇసక తక్కెడ ఈరక్కా అంటే, పేడ తక్కెడ పేరక్క అందిట

isaka takkeda irakka ante, peda takkeda perakka andita

Translation

When Veerakka said 'a balance of sand', Peerakka replied 'a balance of dung'.

Meaning

This proverb is used to describe a situation where two people are equally stubborn, useless, or matched in their foolishness/tit-for-tat behavior. If one person starts something nonsensical or petty, the other responds with something equally petty or worse, suggesting that neither side is better than the other.

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.

When asked to cook, Perakka said she would fetch water while looking at the crowd.

This proverb describes a lazy person who uses any excuse or distraction to avoid their main responsibility. It refers to someone who procrastinates on a difficult task by offering to do a minor, easier task or by simply wandering off under the guise of helping.

When the dog asked 'why are you in such a rush?', the fox replied 'there is a wedding in the village'.

This proverb is used to mock someone who is unnecessarily excited or busy with something that has nothing to do with them or from which they will gain no benefit. Just as a fox has no role or invitation to a human wedding, the person is involving themselves in affairs where they are neither needed nor welcome.

A balance-scale full of gold for a tiny piece of nose.

This expression is used to describe a situation where the cost or effort of a repair or maintenance far exceeds the value of the original object itself. It refers to spending excessively on something small or trivial.

If wet, a scale; if dry, a measure.

This proverb refers to cotton and its weight changes based on moisture. It is used metaphorically to describe someone who changes their behavior, weight, or value based on the environment or circumstances. It can also refer to things that are inconsistent or volatile.

A balance scale of frogs

This expression refers to a situation involving highly disorganized, restless, or unmanageable people. Just as it is impossible to weigh live frogs on a scale because they keep jumping out, it describes a task of trying to manage a group where as soon as one person is settled, another causes trouble or leaves.

When one says 'Subbakka, there is no beginning/stock,' the other says 'I want a vessel full, Peddakka.'

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone makes a demand or a request without understanding that the basic requirements or resources are completely unavailable. It highlights a lack of common sense or the absurdity of asking for a specific quantity when there is nothing to start with in the first place.

At Eerakka's wedding, Peerakka's consummation ceremony.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone inappropriately tries to perform their own unrelated ceremony or gain personal attention during someone else's major event. It highlights poor timing or the act of overshadowing another person's important occasion with one's own affairs.

When told there is no principal/capital amount, Subdakka replied, 'At least pray to one god'.

This proverb is used to mock someone who gives irrelevant or impractical advice because they completely misunderstood the gravity of a situation. It describes a scenario where a business has no base capital to start with, but a foolish person suggests a religious ritual as a solution, ignoring the fundamental lack of resources.

Eating at the elder sister's house and then putting the weighing scales in the hearth (stove).

This proverb is used to describe an ungrateful or foolish person who enjoys someone's hospitality or help, but then proceeds to destroy the very means of their livelihood or cause them harm. It signifies extreme ingratitude or biting the hand that feeds you.