కరువుకు చింతలు, కాలానికి మామిళ్ళు

karuvuku chintalu, kalaniki mamillu

Translation

Tamarind for famine, mangoes for the season

Meaning

This proverb highlights nature's balance and agricultural wisdom. Tamarind trees are drought-resistant and provide food during famines (scarcity), whereas mangoes flourish during their specific season (abundance). It suggests that different things serve different purposes depending on the circumstances, and that one should be prepared for both good and bad times.

Related Phrases

Borrowed jewelry is only a burden.

This proverb highlights that borrowing things (especially ornaments or jewelry) for the sake of showing off only brings anxiety and a sense of burden, as one is constantly worried about their safety and eventual return. It is used to advise people to live within their means and be content with what they own.

Balusu (shrub) for the rising times, Mango for the falling times.

This proverb highlights the cyclical nature of life and fortune. It suggests that during prosperous times (rising), one might settle for humble or simple things like the Balusu plant, but when times are difficult or declining (falling), one seeks the sweetness or luxury of a Mango to cope. Alternatively, it is used to describe how people's preferences or the availability of resources change according to their current life situation or seasons.

A tree knows no drought, and a merchant knows no burden.

This proverb highlights the inherent resilience or nature of certain entities. A tree provides shade and fruit regardless of external conditions, and a savvy merchant (traditionally referred to as Komati) always finds a way to manage their trade or load without feeling the 'weight' or loss. It is used to describe situations where people are naturally equipped to handle specific hardships or roles.

Mangoes bloom during good times, tamarinds bloom during bad times.

This proverb suggests that positive and sweet experiences (symbolized by mangoes) arrive during prosperous or favorable periods, whereas sour struggles and worries (symbolized by tamarinds/worries, as 'chinta' means both tamarind and worry in Telugu) are prevalent during difficult times. It is used to describe the cyclic nature of fortune and misfortune.

Death for mangoes, wealth for tamarind.

This is a traditional agricultural observation or weather-based proverb. It suggests that a year with excessive heat or specific weather conditions might lead to a poor mango harvest (symbolized as death/failure), while simultaneously being perfect for a bountiful tamarind harvest (symbolized as wealth/success). It is used to describe how certain conditions can be unfavorable for one thing but highly beneficial for another.

Mangoes for famine, Jamun fruit for seasonal rains.

This proverb refers to agricultural patterns and nature's balance. It suggests that in years of drought or poor rainfall, mango trees tend to yield a bumper crop (providing food during scarcity), whereas in years of good, timely rainfall, Jamun (Black Plum) trees thrive and produce abundantly.

Like cutting down mango trees to plant flame-of-the-forest trees.

This expression is used to describe a foolish or counterproductive action where someone destroys something valuable or productive to replace it with something useless or inferior. It highlights a lack of foresight or poor judgment in decision-making.

Money for dignity and for drought (scarcity)

This expression highlights that money is essential for two main reasons: maintaining one's social standing (dignity) and surviving during times of extreme hardship or scarcity (drought). It is used to emphasize the importance of financial security for both social and survival needs.

If tamarind trees bloom, it leads to riches; if mango trees bloom, it leads to deaths.

This is a traditional agricultural proverb related to seasonal weather patterns. It suggests that a heavy tamarind bloom indicates a good harvest year (prosperity), whereas an excessive mango bloom often correlates with heatwaves or droughts, which historically led to famines or health issues.

Mangoes bloom in good times, tamarinds bloom in bad times.

This proverb highlights how nature and life reflect one's fortune. It suggests that during prosperous times (good seasons), one enjoys sweet results like mangoes, whereas during difficult periods (famine or bad seasons), only sour or hardy results like tamarind are found. It is used to describe the cyclic nature of prosperity and hardship.