మలపసన్యాసికి మాచకమ్మకు జత.

malapasanyasiki machakammaku jata.

Translation

A wandering monk and Machakamma make a pair.

Meaning

This proverb is used to describe a situation where two people who are equally mismatched, eccentric, or poorly suited for society come together. It is often applied to a partnership between two people who share similar flaws or undesirable traits, suggesting that 'like attracts like' or that they are a perfect match in their oddity.

Related Phrases

When two monks rub against each other, only ash falls off.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where two people who have nothing to offer or no resources interact with each other. It signifies that the outcome of a collaboration between two needy or empty-handed individuals will result in nothing of value. It is often used to mock a partnership that lacks substance or potential for profit.

Why does a woman like Machakamma need a pearl necklace?

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone is given something they do not deserve, cannot appreciate, or which does not suit their character or status. It highlights the incongruity of giving something precious or refined to someone who lacks the refinement to handle it.

The jade who had nothing to do milked the cat.

This proverb is used to describe a person who has no productive work to do and ends up engaging in useless, absurd, or impossible tasks just to stay busy. It highlights the foolishness of idle minds.

When two ascetics rub against each other, only ash falls.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where two people who have nothing or no resources interact, resulting in no gain for either party. It implies that a conflict or collaboration between two poor or unproductive individuals is a waste of time as neither has anything of value to offer the other.

A pair consisting of a deceptive monk and Machakamma.

This proverb is used to describe two people who are perfectly matched in their negative traits or craftiness. It is often applied to a duo (like a couple or business partners) where both individuals are equally cunning, lazy, or unreliable, suggesting that they deserve each other.

The ethics of a prostitute, the caste of a monk.

This proverb is used to describe things that are non-existent or irrelevant. It suggests that just as one does not look for moral character (ethics) in a prostitute's profession or a specific lineage (caste) in a monk who has renounced worldly ties, it is futile to search for certain qualities in people or situations where they naturally cannot exist.

Why should an ascetic/monk fear thieves?

This proverb is used to describe a situation where a person who has nothing to lose has no reason to be afraid. Since an ascetic (Sanyasi) possesses no material wealth, thieves have nothing to steal from them. It is applied to people who are in a position where they are immune to threats or losses because they lack the assets or status that others might target.

Why does a simple woman like Machakamma need a pearl necklace?

This proverb is used to suggest that a person does not deserve or cannot appreciate a luxury or high-value item because it does not suit their status, nature, or lifestyle. It is often used to criticize someone who possesses something far beyond their needs or capabilities.

Why does a naked ascetic need a washerman?

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone has no need for a specific service or resource because they do not possess the things required for that service. Just as a monk who wears no clothes has no use for a laundryman, a person with no assets or attachments has no need for the systems or people that manage them.

The helpless Sannyâsî and the jade are a match.

This expression is used to describe two people who are equally mismatched, eccentric, or poorly behaved, making them a perfect pair in their own odd way. It highlights that like attracts like, or that two individuals are well-suited for each other due to their shared flaws or peculiar traits.