కర్తవ్యం లేని భారతం

kartavyam leni bharatam

Translation

Mahabharata without a leader (Karta).

Meaning

This expression refers to a situation or a large group of people lacking leadership, direction, or a sense of responsibility. It is used to describe chaos or a project that is going nowhere because nobody is taking charge, similar to the epic Mahabharata if it had no central figure or duty-bound purpose.

Related Phrases

A Mahabharata without Karna is like an herbal decoction without dry ginger.

This expression is used to describe something that is incomplete or lacks its most essential element. Just as dry ginger is the core medicinal ingredient in an Ayurvedic decoction, and Karna is a pivotal, indispensable character in the Mahabharata, a project or situation lacks its true essence or effectiveness without a key component or person.

A life without a partner is like a spinning top without a string.

This proverb highlights the importance of companionship. Just as a top cannot spin or find direction without a string to guide it, a person's life without a life partner is seen as aimless, unstable, or lacking support and control.

Food without a feast is medicine. To dine alone is disagreeable.

This expression suggests that eating food without enjoyment, company, or variety feels like a chore or a necessity for survival, similar to taking medicine, rather than being a pleasurable experience. It emphasizes the importance of hospitality and the social aspect of dining.

A husband's boasting is only over his wife

This expression is used to describe someone who acts arrogant or powerful only towards those who are dependent on them or cannot retaliate, while being timid or insignificant in front of others. It highlights selective bravery or false pride shown within the safety of one's home.

Is it Ramayana without Rama?

This expression is used to describe a situation, event, or discussion where the most essential person or core element is missing. Just as the epic Ramayana cannot exist without its protagonist Rama, this rhetorical question highlights the absurdity of an endeavor that lacks its central figure or primary purpose.

There are a thousand reasons for Karna's death.

This expression is used to describe a situation where a failure or a complex event cannot be blamed on a single factor, but is rather the result of many contributing causes. In the Mahabharata, Karna's downfall was caused by multiple curses, promises, and circumstances happening at once.

A Mahabharata without Karna is like a medicinal decoction without dry ginger.

This expression is used to describe something that is incomplete or lacks its most essential and defining element. Just as Karna is a pivotal, soul-stirring character in the epic Mahabharata, and dry ginger (shonthi) is the indispensable core ingredient of a traditional herbal tonic (kashayam), a project or a gathering feels hollow without its key participant or component.

A Mahabharata as large as a winnowing basket.

This expression is used to describe a story, explanation, or document that is unnecessarily long, tedious, or excessively detailed. It compares a small or simple matter to the epic Mahabharata, implying that someone is stretching a simple point into a never-ending saga.

A blow without a rod, a bond without a rope.

This proverb describes a situation where someone is deeply affected, controlled, or punished by words, social pressure, or psychological influence rather than physical force. It is often used to refer to a verbal reprimand or a situation where a person is bound by their own sense of duty or obligation without any physical constraints.

A sudden and unaccountable calamity.

A spinning wheel without cotton rolls is like a struggle without a husband.

This proverb highlights the futility or lack of purpose in certain situations. Just as a spinning wheel (raatamu) is useless without cotton slivers (eekulu) to spin, a domestic conflict or struggle (poratamu) in a household lacks traditional resolution or foundation in the absence of the husband (the head of the household in the historical context of the saying). It is used to describe a situation that is incomplete, ineffective, or leading nowhere.