మానవాధీశ్వర మనువు పాలితుడు అని శెట్టిగారు పురాణం చదివితే, అబ్బో అంత పెద్ద నాలిక ఎవరికుంది అని
manavadhishvara manuvu palitudu ani shettigaru puranam chadivite, abbo anta pedda nalika evarikundi ani
When the merchant read the Purana as 'Manavadheeshwara Manuvu Palithudu', someone asked 'Oh, who has such a long tongue?'
This humorous saying or 'Sameta' highlights how mispronunciation or lack of knowledge can lead to absurd misunderstandings. In the story, the merchant misreads the Sanskrit/Telugu compound words (Sandhi), turning 'Manuvu Palithudu' (ruled by Manu) into something that sounds like 'Nalikavadu' (man with a tongue), leading an ignorant listener to wonder about the size of the person's tongue instead of the meaning of the scripture.
Related Phrases
అక్క మనది అయితే, బావ మనవాడా?
akka manadi ayite, bava manavada?
The sister is ours, but is the sisters's husband ours also ?
This proverb highlights that personal relationships do not automatically extend to third parties or transfer ownership/loyalty. It is used to caution against over-relying on someone just because they are related to a close person of yours, emphasizing that their interests or loyalties might still remain separate.
నాలికా నాలికా వీపుకు దెబ్బలు తేకు
nalika nalika vipuku debbalu teku
O Tongue! Tongue! don't bring strokes on my back. The tongue talks at the head's cost. Let not the tongue utter what the head must pay for. (Spanish.)
This proverb is a warning to speak carefully. It implies that loose talk, insults, or thoughtless words can lead to physical confrontation or trouble for the person who spoke them. It emphasizes the importance of self-control in speech to avoid negative consequences.
గలిక మేసిన గాడిద చస్తుందిగాని గలిక చావదు
galika mesina gadida chastundigani galika chavadu
The donkey that eats the Galika weed might die, but the weed itself does not.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where an object or a habit outlasts the person using or consuming it. It highlights the persistence of certain negative influences or indestructible nature of some things despite their impact on others.
వశిష్ఠుల వారు మంత్రాలు చదివితే పెళ్ళి అయిపోయినట్టేనా?
vashishthula varu mantralu chadivite pelli ayipoyinattena?
Just because Vasishta chants the mantras, is the marriage considered done?
This expression is used to indicate that even if an expert or a great person initiates a task, it doesn't guarantee completion or success without the necessary efforts, cooperation, or the fulfillment of other essential conditions. It highlights that the process is as important as the person leading it.
ఉడుముకు రెండు నాలుకలు
udumuku rendu nalukalu
The monitor lizard has two tongues.
This expression is used to describe a person who is untrustworthy, inconsistent, or goes back on their word. It characterizes someone who says one thing now and another thing later, similar to the English term 'double-tongued' or 'forked tongue'.
ఉడుముకు రెండు నాలికలు
udumuku rendu nalikalu
The Guana has two tongues. Said of a man that breaks his word. " A sinner that hath a double tongue." Ecclesiasticus vi. 1.
This expression is used to describe a person who is inconsistent, hypocritical, or goes back on their word. Just as a monitor lizard has a forked tongue, it refers to someone who says one thing now and another thing later, or someone who is double-tongued and unreliable.
హనుమంతుడు సువేలాద్రిని కనుగొని దానిపైకి ఎక్కినాడు అని సాతాని పురాణం చదివితే, 'సాతాని దానిపై ఎందుకు ఎక్కకూడదు?' అన్నాడట సభలో ఉన్న ఒకడు.
hanumantudu suveladrini kanugoni danipaiki ekkinadu ani satani puranam chadivite, satani danipai enduku ekkakudadu? annadata sabhalo unna okadu.
When the Satani priest read the Purana stating 'Hanuman found Suveladri mountain and climbed it', a person in the audience asked, 'Why shouldn't the Satani climb it?'
This is a humorous proverb based on a linguistic misunderstanding. In Telugu, 'కని' (Kani) means 'having seen/found', but it also sounds like 'కాని' (but). Furthermore, the listener confused the word 'Hanuman' with the 'Satani' (the person reading the text). It is used to mock people who misinterpret words due to ignorance or who listen to a discourse without paying proper attention to the subject, focusing instead on irrelevant or phonetically similar words.
అంగిట విషం, మున్నాలిక తియ్యదనం
angita visham, munnalika tiyyadanam
Poison in the palate, sweetness on the tip of the tongue
This proverb is used to describe a hypocritical person who speaks very sweetly and kindly to one's face but harbors malicious intentions or hatred in their heart. It warns against being deceived by charming words from someone who is internally deceitful.
చదివినవాని కన్నా చాకలవాడు నయం
chadivinavani kanna chakalavadu nayam
A washerman is better than an educated person. The washerman, though illiterate, invariably distinguishes the clothes belonging to different people by putting certain marks on them, but many of the educated cannot discern between good and evil.
This proverb is used to criticize an educated person who lacks common sense or practical wisdom. It implies that practical knowledge and a sensible approach to life (often attributed to simple workers like a washerman) are more valuable than formal education without the ability to apply it properly or behave appropriately.
మంచి మాటకు మంది అంతా మనవాళ్లే.
manchi mataku mandi anta manavalle.
For a good word, everyone is ours.
This proverb emphasizes that kind speech and pleasant behavior can win over anyone. If you speak politely and kindly, the whole world becomes your kin, whereas harsh words alienate even close friends.