మదురు గోడ మడియైనా కావలె, మాటకారి మగడైనా కావలె.

maduru goda madiyaina kavale, matakari magadaina kavale.

Translation

Either a backyard garden wall is needed, or a husband who is a smooth talker is needed.

Meaning

This proverb highlights the necessity of protection or advocacy. Just as a wall protects a crop (madi) from intruders or animals, a clever or articulate husband protects his family from being taken advantage of by society. It is used to suggest that one needs either physical security or a clever person to handle external worldly affairs effectively.

Related Phrases

The father is like a spindle, the mother is like a base-ring.

This expression describes a household where the father is restless, thin, or constantly moving like a spindle (kaduru), while the mother is steady, stout, or sedentary like a pot-rest/base-ring (kuduru). It is used to remark on the contrasting physical appearances or temperaments of a husband and wife.

To the mother-in-law's house, one should go either as a son-in-law or as a bull.

This proverb is used sarcastically to describe someone who expects to be pampered and fed without doing any work. In traditional Telugu culture, a son-in-law is treated with extreme hospitality and never asked to work, while a 'Basavanna' (sacred bull) is fed and revered without labor. It is used to mock lazy individuals who overstay their welcome and expect royal treatment.

One should either be a courageous person or a humble person.

This expression suggests that in life, to survive or succeed, one must possess either the strength and courage (Dheerudu) to face challenges head-on or the humility and submissiveness (Deenudu) to seek help and stay protected. It implies that being stuck in the middle with an ego but no strength is a recipe for failure. It is often used to advise someone on the attitude they should adopt depending on their circumstances.

Either a medicine is needed, or a push is needed

This expression refers to a situation where a result can only be achieved through two specific means: either by treating the root cause (medicine) or by applying external pressure/motivation (a push). It is often used when someone is being stubborn or a task is stalled, suggesting that either a logical solution or a forceful nudge is required to get things moving.

The ornament must be one Chinnam or less in weight, of pure gold, and must go round the neck. A Chinnam is a weight equal to the ninth part of a pagoda ( No. 614 ). Wishing to get a good thing and to pay little for it.

This proverb describes a person who is extremely greedy and wants everything for themselves. It refers to someone who wants the big profits (pure gold), the small gains (loose change), and also wants to show off their wealth (turning the neck to display heavy jewelry). It is used to mock people who are never satisfied and try to grab every possible benefit in a situation.

Either a widow's son or a king's son is needed.

This proverb highlights the importance of having influence or survival skills to navigate the world. A king's son has power and resources through his status, while a widow's son is often perceived as someone who has grown up tough, resourceful, and street-smart out of necessity. It implies that to succeed or get things done, one needs either authority or grit.

You must get a hero or a beggar [ for a husband ].

This proverb suggests that in certain situations, success or survival is achieved either through immense courage and strength or through complete humility and submission. It implies that being in an indecisive middle ground is ineffective; one must choose to either fight boldly or appeal for mercy.

One must be a master of alms or a master of lakhs. i. e. either a beggar or a very rich man.

This proverb emphasizes that one should aim for extremes rather than being stuck in the middle. It suggests that a person should either be completely detached from worldly possessions (like a master ascetic/beggar) or be immensely wealthy (a millionaire), as both positions command a certain type of freedom or influence, whereas being in the middle often brings struggle and dissatisfaction.

One must either be the son of a king or the brother of a courtesan.

This proverb refers to the privilege of living a life of leisure and luxury without manual labor. It suggests that such a comfortable lifestyle is typically reserved for those born into royalty (power/wealth) or those who live off the earnings and influence of someone highly sought after (historically referring to the status of a 'Sani' or courtesan's family members who were often pampered). It is used to describe someone who enjoys benefits without working for them.

[Placing] a guard over a forest. Attempting impossibilities.

This phrase refers to a person who is assigned to watch over a specific corner or a border area. In a broader metaphorical sense, it is often used to describe someone who is protective of their territory or a person who holds a position of oversight in a specific niche or remote area.