కూతురి పురుడు కుండల్లో, కోడలి పురుడు కొండల్లో

kuturi purudu kundallo, kodali purudu kondallo

Translation

Daughter's childbirth among the pots, daughter-in-law's childbirth in the mountains.

Meaning

This proverb highlights the partiality and double standards often shown by family elders. It suggests that when a daughter is in labor, the family takes it lightly and manages with simple resources at home (among pots), but when a daughter-in-law is in labor, they perceive it as a huge burden or a difficult task as high as a mountain.

Related Phrases

Impurity (Purudu) at birth.

This phrase refers to the traditional period of ritual impurity observed by a family after a child is born. In a broader philosophical context, it is often paired with 'Chachinappudu sutakam' (ritual impurity at death) to signify that life is bookended by ceremonies and certain constraints, or to imply that every beginning has its own set of initial challenges or obligations.

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.

If you have support, you can cross mountains.

This proverb emphasizes the power of having backing or support (financial, social, or emotional). It suggests that with the right assistance or a strong foundation, one can overcome even the most formidable obstacles that would be impossible to tackle alone.

Will the love for a daughter be the same as the love for a daughter-in-law?

This rhetorical question or proverb highlights the natural bias or difference in affection often found in families. It implies that a mother's innate love for her biological daughter is rarely matched by her feelings for her daughter-in-law. It is used to describe situations where there is perceived partiality or to acknowledge that certain bonds are naturally deeper than others.

A man is judged by his appearance, a son is obtained by one's merit.

This proverb suggests that while a man's worth is often superficially judged by his looks or conduct, having a virtuous son is considered a result of one's past good deeds or spiritual merit (Punya). It is used to emphasize that some blessings in life are rewards for one's character and actions.

Like the impatient person asking, 'Should I put it in the school? Or in the temple?'

This proverb is used to mock someone who is overly anxious or impatient to complete a task before it has even begun or before the right time. It refers to a person who is so excited about starting something that they lose focus on the actual process and start asking irrelevant or premature questions out of sheer haste.

A husband according to the worship [ of the wife ], a son according to the good works [ of the father ].

This proverb suggests that the quality of one's life partners and children is a result of one's past deeds, character, and spiritual merit. It is used to imply that the rewards or the caliber of people in one's life are proportionate to the effort and virtue one has cultivated.

They are sons only while being birthed and raised; are they still sons once the daughters-in-law arrive?

This proverb reflects a cynical or traditional social observation about how sons often change their priorities or distance themselves from their parents after getting married. It is used to express the disappointment of parents who feel neglected by their sons due to the influence of their wives (daughters-in-law).

The sting among the scorpions, the hood among the snakes. The worst among the bad.

This expression is used to describe a person who is exceptionally dangerous, cunning, or toxic even among a group of wicked people. It signifies being the most prominent or harmful element within a negative category.

A driver of horses among the pots. A man that sticks at home. A mollycoddle.

This expression is used to describe a person who talks big or boasts about impossible achievements but lacks actual capability or does nothing in reality. It refers to someone who is a daydreamer or a boaster whose 'heroics' are confined to a small, insignificant, or imaginary space.