కోతి పుండు బ్రహ్మరాక్షసి

koti pundu brahmarakshasi

Translation

A sore is a she-demon to a monkey. Making a great fuss about nothing.

Meaning

This expression refers to a small problem that becomes much larger and uncontrollable due to constant meddling or aggravation. Just as a monkey cannot stop scratching its wound until it becomes a severe, unhealable sore, some people make their troubles worse by obsessing over them or interfering unnecessarily.

Related Phrases

Like a monkey's wound becoming gigantic.

This proverb describes how a small problem or a minor issue can become huge and uncontrollable if one keeps dwelling on it or meddling with it unnecessarily. Just as a monkey constantly picks at a small scratch until it becomes a large, infected wound, humans often worsen situations by overthinking or interfering excessively.

A forced priestly meal

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone is coerced or pressured into doing something against their will or interest. It originates from the idea of forcing a priest to perform a ritual or partake in a ceremonial meal when they are unwilling or unprepared, implying that the act lacks genuine intent or joy.

The word of a child is the word of Brahma

This expression suggests that children are innocent and pure, so their words are as truthful and prophetic as the words of Lord Brahma (the creator). It is used to imply that children often speak the absolute truth without filter or malice.

Kill a cat, kill a Brahman. Doing harm to a cat is considered as sinful as injuring a Brahman.

This is a traditional Telugu saying used to emphasize the gravity of hurting or killing a cat, suggesting it is equivalent to the sin of killing a Brahmin (Brahmahatya Patakam). It is often used to discourage animal cruelty or to mock superstitious beliefs regarding the consequences of accidentally harming a cat.

The protection of the great Râma.

This expression is used to signify divine protection or a strong safeguard. It is commonly used as a blessing for someone's safety, or to describe something that is perfectly secure and beyond harm. It can also be used as a closing statement to wish for ultimate well-being.

Said in cases of absolute want, &c.

If the patient lives, the doctor survives; if the patient dies, the priest survives.

This proverb is a satirical take on professions that profit regardless of the outcome. It suggests that if a sick person recovers, the doctor earns money and fame, but if the person dies, the priest earns fees for performing the funeral rites. It is used to describe situations where certain parties benefit from both success and failure.

A demon can be born to a human, but a human will not be born to a demon.

This expression suggests that good people can sometimes have children with bad traits or wicked behavior (metaphorically 'demons'), but it is highly unlikely or impossible for truly evil or inherently cruel individuals to produce someone with saintly or humanistic qualities. It is often used to comment on lineage, upbringing, and the unpredictable nature of character inheritance.

Human flesh is dear to a demoness, an open wound is dear to an old monkey

This proverb describes how different beings have their own peculiar, and sometimes grotesque, obsessions or preferences. It is used to highlight that what seems repulsive to others might be highly valued or obsessively nurtured by someone else due to their inherent nature or habit. It often refers to people who find pleasure in negative things or those who keep picking at their own problems/flaws.

A monkey's wound is a Brahma-Rakshasa; a silent person's wound is a saw-toothed demon.

This proverb describes how different characters handle trouble. A monkey makes its wound worse by constantly picking at it (Brahma-Rakshasa refers to something uncontrollable). Similarly, the hidden malice or suppressed anger of a deceptive, silent person (nalimuchu) is even more dangerous and agonizing, like a jagged saw. It is used to warn that small problems or quiet people can become extremely destructive if mishandled.

The weapon of Brahma

Refers to a final, most powerful, and infallible solution to a problem. It is used to describe an ultimate tactic or argument that is guaranteed to succeed when all other options have failed.