కుండలో కూడుంటే, ముండకు నిద్రరాదు.
kundalo kudunte, mundaku nidraradu.
If there is food in the pot, the widow cannot sleep.
This proverb describes a greedy or gluttonous person who cannot rest as long as there is something left to consume. It is used to highlight an obsessive nature over resources or an inability to save for later because of an immediate desire to indulge.
Related Phrases
కుండలో కూడు కదలకుండా ఉండాలి, బిడ్డలు మాత్రం పెరగాలి.
kundalo kudu kadalakunda undali, biddalu matram peragali.
The food in the pot should remain untouched, but the children must grow.
This proverb describes a situation where someone wants to achieve a result without any expenditure or effort. It is used to criticize unrealistic expectations or stinginess, highlighting that you cannot expect growth or progress if you are unwilling to use the necessary resources.
మొగమాటానికి పోతే, ముండకు కడుపైనట్లు.
mogamataniki pote, mundaku kadupainatlu.
If one goes by hesitation or politeness, a widow might end up pregnant.
This proverb is used to warn against the dangers of being overly hesitant, polite, or unable to say 'no' (Mogamatam). It suggests that excessive politeness in situations where one should be firm can lead to disastrous, irreversible, and shameful consequences. It is used to advise someone to be assertive when necessary to protect their own interests.
యోగికి, భోగికి, రోగికి నిద్రరాదు.
yogiki, bhogiki, rogiki nidraradu.
The Yogi, the pleasure-seeker, and the sick person cannot sleep.
This proverb highlights that three types of people find it hard to sleep, albeit for different reasons: the 'Yogi' (ascetic) is awake in meditation or spiritual pursuit, the 'Bhogi' (pleasure-seeker) is awake indulging in luxuries or out of fear of losing them, and the 'Rogi' (sick person) is awake due to physical pain or discomfort.
కుక్కకు కూడువేస్తే కూటికుండకు ముప్పు
kukkaku kuduveste kutikundaku muppu
If you feed the dog, the food-pot is at risk.
This proverb refers to people who are ungrateful or those who, when helped, try to take advantage of or harm their benefactor. It describes a situation where showing kindness to an unworthy or untrustworthy person results in them endangering your own resources or well-being.
కుండలో కూడు కూడుగానే ఉండవలె, పిల్లలు మొద్దుల్లాగా ఉండవలె
kundalo kudu kudugane undavale, pillalu moddullaga undavale
The food must remain undiminished in the pot, and the children must be fat and strong.
This is a sarcastic or satirical expression used to describe someone who has unrealistic, contradictory, or impossible expectations. It depicts a person who wants to keep their resources (food) untouched while expecting those they are responsible for (children) to stay quiet and still without needing any sustenance. It is used to mock stinginess or illogical management.
To wish for two things opposed to each other. You can't eat your cake and have it too. 15 ( 113 )
కుండలో కూడు మాత్రం కుండలో ఉండాలి, బిడ్డ గుండ్రాయి మాదిరి కావాలి.
kundalo kudu matram kundalo undali, bidda gundrayi madiri kavali.
The food in the pot should remain in the pot, but the child should become as strong as a boulder.
This expression describes a situation where someone expects results or growth without any investment or sacrifice. It is used to mock people who want to keep their resources intact while expecting a great outcome, highlighting the impossibility of achieving something for nothing.
చల్లకుండకు చంటి బిడ్డకు చాటుండాలి
challakundaku chanti biddaku chatundali
The buttermilk pot and the infant child both need a covering.
This proverb emphasizes the need for protection and privacy for certain delicate or valuable things. Just as buttermilk can spoil if left exposed and a baby is vulnerable to the elements or 'evil eye,' some matters or assets should be kept discreetly to ensure their well-being.
రోగికి నిద్రరాదు, భోగికి కునుకురాదు
rogiki nidraradu, bhogiki kunukuradu
The sick person cannot sleep, and the pleasure-seeker cannot nap.
This proverb describes how both extreme suffering and extreme pleasure can lead to sleeplessness. A sick person (rogi) is kept awake by physical pain or discomfort, while a person indulging in luxuries and worldly pleasures (bhogi) is often too excited, distracted, or busy with enjoyment to find rest.
ఎదుట లేకుంటే, ఎదలో ఉండదు.
eduta lekunte, edalo undadu.
If it is not in front of you, it will not be in the heart.
This is the Telugu equivalent of the English proverb 'Out of sight, out of mind'. It suggests that people tend to forget things or people when they are no longer physically present or visible to them.
ఏరు నిద్ర పోయినట్టు
eru nidra poyinattu
As the river sleeps. Smooth waters run deep. There is no worse water than that which sleeps. ( French. )
This expression is used to describe a person who appears very calm, innocent, or silent on the surface but possesses great depth, hidden strength, or potential danger. Just as a river looks still while having a powerful current underneath, it refers to someone whose true intentions or capabilities are not immediately visible.