కాకి కట్టుమన్న కడుపాయె వదినా, కత్తవబావికి పోతే కరిగిపోయె వదినా.

kaki kattumanna kadupaye vadina, kattavabaviki pote karigipoye vadina.

Translation

Sister-in-law, the pregnancy I got because a crow told me to, dissolved when I went to the Kattawa well.

Meaning

This is a sarcastic or mocking expression used to describe someone who makes up silly, unbelievable excuses for their failures or for things that never actually happened. It highlights a situation where one lie is piled upon another to cover up a previous deception or a lack of results.

Related Phrases

One who burns even the bundle of sticks and thorns.

This expression refers to an extremely stingy, ruthless, or destructive person who leaves nothing behind. It describes someone who exploits a resource or situation to the very last bit without any regard for future use or mercy, often used to characterize a person's extreme greed or harsh nature.

If you sit and eat, even mountains will melt away.

This expression highlights the importance of hard work and the danger of laziness. It suggests that no matter how much wealth or resources one has inherited or accumulated, they will eventually be exhausted if one simply consumes them without earning or being productive.

If you take away little by little, even a mountain will disappear.

This proverb emphasizes the impact of gradual depletion or persistent effort. It is used in two contexts: as a warning that constant small spending can exhaust even large wealth, or as an encouragement that consistent small steps can complete even the most daunting tasks.

A poor man's wife is a sister-in-law to the whole village.

This proverb highlights how people tend to take liberties with those who lack social or financial standing. Just as a 'Vadina' (sister-in-law) is someone one can joke with or command in a traditional family, a poor person's family is often treated with a lack of respect or boundaries by everyone in society because they lack the power to protest.

" The bullock has calved" [ said one ] " Then tie it up in the shed" [ replied the other ].

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone blindly believes or reacts to an impossible or illogical statement without using any common sense. Since oxen are male and cannot give birth, the response to 'tie the calf' highlights the height of foolishness or gullibility.

Applied to a foolish speech.

When told to tie her hair (or dress up) like a crow, she allegedly called her husband 'brother'.

This proverb is used to describe someone who lacks common sense or takes instructions so literally/wrongly that they end up doing something completely absurd or inappropriate. It mocks people who act without thinking, resulting in a misunderstanding that ruins the context of the situation.

Will the one who protected [you] in the womb not protect [you] in due time?

This is an expression of faith and reassurance. It suggests that since God (or nature) protected a person during their most vulnerable stage inside the mother's womb, they will surely be looked after during difficult times in life. It is used to instill hope and patience during periods of crisis or uncertainty.

If you sit and eat, even mountains will melt away

This proverb emphasizes the importance of work and warns against laziness. It means that if one keeps consuming wealth or resources without earning or replenishing them, even a massive fortune (like a mountain) will eventually be exhausted.

A mat that rolls up, a door that shuts, and a wife who stays offended.

This proverb lists things that are difficult to manage or recover once they have turned away. It implies that a mat that constantly rolls itself up is useless, a door that gets stuck closed is a hindrance, and a spouse who holds a long-term grudge makes domestic life unbearable. It is used to describe situations or behaviors that become stubbornly uncooperative or obstructive.

If you carry the sins you committed tied to your own hand, will going to Kashi provide salvation?

This proverb emphasizes that one cannot escape the consequences of their bad deeds simply by visiting holy places or performing rituals. It suggests that true redemption comes from character and actions, rather than superficial religious journeys. It is used to criticize hypocrisy in people who commit wrongs and expect divine forgiveness through travel or rituals.