మొర్రో మొర్రో వద్దనగా లింగము కట్టేరుగాని, మొక్క చేతులు తేగలరా?
morro morro vaddanaga lingamu katterugani, mokka chetulu tegalara?
They may tie a Lingam round a man's neck however much he resist it, but can they make him worship it? A man may lead a horse to the water, but he cannot make him drink unless he will. Ane may lead a horse to the water, but four an' twenty canna gar him drink. (Scots.)
This proverb is used to describe situations where someone is forced to adopt a belief or perform an external ritual against their will. It highlights that while physical actions can be coerced, true devotion, sincerity, or willingness (symbolized by folded hands) cannot be forced by others.
Related Phrases
మొత్తుకో వద్దనగా లింగం కట్టారు గానీ మొక్క చేతులు తేగలరా?
mottuko vaddanaga lingam kattaru gani mokka chetulu tegalara?
They tied the Lingam despite the person screaming and protesting, but can they bring back the amputated hands?
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone forces a decision or a lifestyle on another person without considering the practical consequences or the damage already done. It highlights that while one can enforce a rule or a symbol (like the Lingam), they cannot restore the fundamental ability or loss (the hands) suffered by the individual. It is used when an action is taken too late or when a symbolic gesture cannot fix a functional tragedy.
చేయమనేదానికి చేతులు రావుగాని, వద్దనేదాన్ని వదలమంటారు.
cheyamanedaniki chetulu ravugani, vaddanedanni vadalamantaru.
Hands do not move for the work that is asked to be done, but they demand to leave the work that is asked not to be done.
This proverb describes a person who is lazy and uncooperative. It is used to mock someone who shows no interest or effort in performing their actual duties (the hands don't come forward) but is quick to abandon or complain about things they were told to avoid in the first place. Essentially, it highlights a character that is useless in action but active in excuses or contrary behavior.
చేతులు పొడుగు అని మూతులు పొడుస్తారా?
chetulu podugu ani mutulu podustara?
Just because your hands are long, will you poke someone's face?
This proverb is used to criticize people who misuse their power, influence, or status to harass or insult others. It implies that having the capability or strength to do something does not give one the right to act unfairly or cross boundaries.
శతకోటి లింగాలలో నా బోడి లింగం చూడమన్నాడట
shatakoti lingalalo na bodi lingam chudamannadata
Out of a billion Shiva Lingas, he asked to look for his bald one.
This expression is used when someone makes a ridiculous or impossible request for personal attention or recognition in a massive crowd or a very large collection. It highlights the absurdity of expecting something insignificant or ordinary to be singled out among millions of similar, or superior, entities.
తన వారిని యెరగని మొర్రి, తెడ్డు వున్నదా.
tana varini yeragani morri, teddu vunnada.
Is there a broken ladle which knows not its own people ?
This proverb describes a situation where someone fails to recognize or support their own family or close associates, often while helping outsiders. It is used to criticize those who show partiality to strangers while neglecting their own people, implying that such behavior is unnatural or fundamentally flawed.
A man serves his friends well.
బావా నీ భార్య ముండమోసిందోయ్ అంటే, మొర్రో అని ఏడ్చాడట
bava ni bharya mundamosindoy ante, morro ani edchadata
When his brother-in-law said to him "O brother-in-law! your wife has become a widow," he cried bitterly. Said of a blockhead.
This proverb is used to describe a person who lacks the basic common sense to realize that if his wife is a widow, it implies that he himself is dead. It is used to mock someone who reacts blindly or emotionally to a statement without thinking about the logic or the impossibility of the situation.
పోరా మావ
pora mava
Go away, uncle
A common slang or colloquial expression used among friends or peers. While 'mava' literally means uncle (maternal uncle or father-in-law), in this context it is used like 'dude' or 'bro'. It is typically used to express lighthearted dismissal, disbelief, or to tell someone to 'get out of here' in a friendly, informal way.
తెగించిన వానికి తెడ్డే లింగము.
teginchina vaniki tedde lingamu.
The man who is determined [to worship] uses his ladle as a lingam. Where there's a will, there's a way. The will is everything. (Italian.)* The will is the soul of the work. (German.)
This proverb refers to a person who has become desperate, reckless, or completely shameless. Once a person loses their fear or sense of social propriety, they stop caring about the sacredness or rules of society, treating even a common kitchen tool like a ladle with the same (or lack of) regard as a holy deity. It is used to describe someone who has nothing left to lose and acts without inhibition.
విత్తనము కొద్దీ మొక్క
vittanamu koddi mokka
As the seed, so the plant
This proverb means that the quality or nature of the outcome is directly determined by its origin or source. It is used to describe how children often inherit the traits of their parents, or how the quality of a product depends on the quality of the raw materials used.
నోరు ముయ్యగలరు గాని, లోకమును ముయ్యగలరా?
noru muyyagalaru gani, lokamunu muyyagalara?
You may cover the mouth of a pot but can you cover up the world? You may shut one man's mouth, but you cannot shut the mouth of the world.
This expression means that while you can silence an individual or hide a secret from one person, you cannot stop the entire world from talking or gossip from spreading. It is used to suggest that public opinion is beyond anyone's control.
* Homme chiche janala riche.