మడికి మంద, చేనుకు ఎరుపు.

madiki manda, chenuku erupu.

Translation

A herd for the wetland, red soil/manure for the field.

Meaning

This proverb highlights traditional agricultural wisdom. It means that to get a good yield, a paddy field (wetland) needs the natural fertilization provided by a herd of cattle staying on it, while dry crop fields require proper soil enrichment or manuring. It is used to emphasize that different tasks or situations require specific, appropriate treatments to succeed.

Related Phrases

Sweet rice offerings at home for a ruined crop?

This expression is used to describe an inappropriate or ironic celebration during a time of loss or failure. It highlights the absurdity of celebrating at home when the primary source of livelihood (the field/crop) is destroyed.

A field must have a bund, and a village must have discipline.

Just as a field requires a boundary (bund) to retain water and prevent soil erosion, a community or village needs a set of rules, unity, and discipline to function effectively and protect its members. It emphasizes the importance of boundaries and regulations for order and prosperity.

Does a bad crop need so many watchtowers?

This proverb is used to criticize excessive or unnecessary security, decoration, or attention given to something that is fundamentally worthless or poor in quality. It implies that when the core object is of no value, the elaborate efforts to protect or showcase it are a waste.

Will the paddy from home suffice for a ruined crop?

This proverb is used to describe a situation where a small or temporary resource is insufficient to cover a massive loss or a large-scale disaster. It highlights the futility of trying to fix a major systemic failure with minor, personal reserves.

When a stream formed for the mounds, it became a brazier on the head.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where a solution intended to solve a problem or provide relief actually creates a much larger, more painful burden. It signifies a remedy that is worse than the original disease.

Is the river first, the start of plowing first, the Ekadashi festival first, or the full moon first?

This is a traditional Telugu riddle or rhetorical question used to highlight the confusion or overlapping priorities of agricultural and spiritual life. It refers to 'Eruvaka Punnam', a festival marking the start of the monsoon and the first plowing. It is often used to describe a state of confusion when multiple important events happen simultaneously, or to test one's knowledge of seasonal cycles and traditions.

Manure for the field, a flock for the plot.

This proverb emphasizes the importance of fertilization in agriculture. It suggests that just as manure enriches the crop field, allowing a flock of sheep or cattle to stay in a small plot (penning) naturally fertilizes the soil with their waste, ensuring a healthy yield. It is used to highlight that timely and appropriate inputs lead to better results.

Laughter is harmful in four ways

This proverb is used to caution against excessive or inappropriate laughter. It suggests that while laughing is generally good, laughing too much, at the wrong time, or at others can lead to loss of dignity, misunderstanding, or unnecessary trouble.

Moonlight is the beauty of the night, while ears of grain are the beauty of the field

This expression highlights that everything has a specific element that gives it completeness and beauty. Just as the night is incomplete without the moon, a crop field is only truly beautiful and purposeful when it bears grain. It is often used to describe how certain attributes or outcomes define the true value of an entity.

For a field near the village, everyone is a thief.

This proverb refers to a situation where a resource or property is easily accessible to everyone, leading to its exploitation or misuse. When something is conveniently located for the public, people tend to take small liberties or steal from it, thinking their minor action won't be noticed, but collectively it leads to significant loss for the owner.