మేకలు తప్పించుకొంటే తుమ్మలు, మాలలు తప్పించుకుంటే ఈదులు.

mekalu tappinchukonte tummalu, malalu tappinchukunte idulu.

Translation

If goats escape, they go to the acacia thorns; if outcasts escape, they go to the wild date palms.

Meaning

This proverb describes people returning to their habitual environments or choosing paths that align with their nature or circumstances. It is used to suggest that individuals will naturally gravitate toward familiar settings or specific struggles even when they try to break away.

Related Phrases

Even if all other seasons fail, the Hasta rain will not fail.

This is a traditional agricultural proverb related to the lunar mansions (Kartes). It implies that even if the rains fail during other periods, the rains during the 'Hasta Karthe' are reliable and inevitable. In a broader sense, it refers to a dependable final chance or a certainty that one can rely on when everything else fails.

Even if the Brahmins miss (the predictions), the neem trees won't; even if the neem trees miss, the Eruvaka Purnima won't.

This is a traditional agricultural proverb highlighting the certainty of seasonal cycles. It suggests that while human predictions (astrology/almanacs) might fail, nature's signs (like neem trees flowering) and fixed seasonal festivals (like Eruvaka Purnima, which marks the start of the sowing season) are reliable indicators for farmers to begin their work.

No one can escape what is written on their forehead (destiny).

This expression refers to the belief in fate or karma. In Telugu culture, it is believed that Brahma writes a person's destiny on their forehead at birth. It is used to express that certain events in life are inevitable and cannot be changed despite one's best efforts.

The writing on the head cannot be escaped.

This expression refers to destiny or fate (literally 'head-writing'). It is used to convey that what is destined to happen will happen regardless of one's efforts to avoid it, often used during times of unavoidable misfortune or significant life events.

Whether you deviate from the truth or deviate from a prescribed diet, troubles are inevitable.

This proverb highlights the importance of integrity and discipline. It suggests that just as ignoring medical dietary restrictions leads to physical suffering, abandoning truth and honesty leads to moral and social consequences. In both cases, the person must face the resulting hardships.

If sharpness is lost or if the season is missed, the tax is a waste.

This proverb emphasizes the importance of timing and preparedness in agriculture. If the tools aren't sharp or if the farmer misses the specific sowing window (season), the crop will fail, making the payment of land taxes a total loss. It is used more broadly to signify that performing a task without proper preparation or at the wrong time leads to wasted effort and resources.

Even if the word is missed, the rhyme must not be missed.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone prioritizes style, rhythm, or external appearance over the actual content or truth. In a literal sense, it refers to poetry where maintaining the rhyme (prasa) is seen as more important than the choice of words. In a general context, it refers to people who focus on sticking to a pattern or keeping up appearances even when the substance is lost.

Like trying to escape one thing and getting stuck with another.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone tries to avoid a problem or a minor inconvenience, but in doing so, accidentally lands themselves in a bigger trouble or a different mess. It is similar to the English idiom 'Out of the frying pan and into the fire.'

If the sharpness is lost or the right time is missed, the tax is a waste.

This proverb is primarily used in the context of agriculture but applies to any time-sensitive task. It means that if your tools aren't sharp (readiness) or if you miss the specific window of opportunity (timing), all the effort and money (taxes/investment) put into the endeavor will be a total loss. It emphasizes that both preparation and timing are crucial for success.

The one who moves about without hurting others and without getting hurt himself is the blessed one.

This famous poem from Sumati Satakam emphasizes the importance of diplomacy, non-violence, and self-preservation. It suggests that a wise and successful person is one who navigates life's conflicts by ensuring they don't cause pain to others while also protecting themselves from harm or unnecessary trouble.