మంత్రాల బువ్వ కడుపులోనికి పోతే యంత్రాలు చేయిస్తుంది. యంత్రాల బువ్వ కడుపులోనికి పోతే తంత్రాలు చేయిస్తుంది.

mantrala buvva kadupuloniki pote yantralu cheyistundi. yantrala buvva kadupuloniki pote tantralu cheyistundi.

Translation

If the food of mantras enters the stomach, it makes one create machines; if the food of machines enters the stomach, it makes one plot schemes.

Meaning

This proverb reflects on how the nature of the sustenance or environment one grows up in influences their character and actions. Historically, it suggests that knowledge or 'sacred' food leads to creation and ingenuity (yantras), while an obsession with mechanical or materialistic food (power/greed) leads to cunning behavior and manipulation (tantras).

Related Phrases

While the child is still in the womb, the son is named Sômalingam.

This proverb describes a situation where someone makes plans or celebrates an outcome before it has actually happened or before the necessary conditions are met. It is similar to the English expression 'Counting your chickens before they hatch.' It is used to caution against over-anticipation or premature planning.

Boil not the pap before the child is born. * Tre lo sanno, tutti lo sanno. † Secret de deux, secret de Dieu; secret de trois, secret de tous.

If there is work in the hand, there will be food in the stomach

This expression emphasizes the importance of manual labor and employment. It conveys that as long as a person is hardworking and has a job, they will never have to go hungry. It is used to encourage self-reliance and the dignity of labor.

For the wedding of dogs and foxes, the rabbit recited the mantras.

This proverb is used to describe a chaotic or absurd situation where unqualified or irrelevant people are involved in a task that makes no sense to begin with. It highlights the ridiculousness of a situation where everything is disorganized and the participants are mismatched.

Will tamarind fruits fall by chanting mantras?

This proverb is used to express skepticism toward someone who thinks they can achieve practical results through mere words, empty talk, or supernatural claims without putting in the necessary physical effort or logical action. It implies that certain outcomes require hard work and cannot be obtained through shortcuts or magic.

The fire in the stomach is an invisible fire.

This expression refers to internal suffering, deep grief, or hidden jealousy that others cannot see. While physical fires are visible, the 'burning' one feels due to hunger, emotional pain, or envy is hidden from the world but deeply felt by the individual.

Fine rice with small fish, and new harvest rice with chicken curry.

This is a popular saying in Telugu culture that highlights the ultimate culinary delights and comfort foods of rural life. It suggests that the best food combinations one can enjoy are fine-grained rice paired with small fish fry/curry, or freshly harvested rice served with a rich chicken gravy. It is often used to describe a satisfying, hearty, and traditional meal.

Will mangoes fall for mantras?

This rhetorical question is used to express skepticism toward someone who thinks results can be achieved through mere words or empty talk rather than actual hard work or practical action. It highlights that miracles or success don't happen just by wishing or chanting; they require effort.

Like saying gems should fall, but only if you chant mantras.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone expects extraordinary results or high rewards without putting in the necessary hard work or realistic effort. It highlights the irony of demanding a miracle while performing a trivial or mismatched action.

I want grand-mother and I want food. Said by a child who did not wish to leave its grand-mother, but who had to do so to get its dinner. You cannot drink and whistle at the same time. (Danish.)

This proverb describes a situation where someone wants to have their cake and eat it too. It is used when a person tries to hold onto two mutually exclusive options or wants all the benefits of a situation without making any sacrifices or choices.

* Man kan ikke drikke og pibe paa eengang.

Can unripe mangoes be made to drop by magic?

This expression is used to remind someone that results require hard work and practical effort rather than just empty talk or miracles. It is a sarcastic rhetorical question aimed at those who expect success without doing the necessary work.

Said of excessive leniency or ineffective measures.