ముడుపులు వెంకటేశ్వరుడికి, కేకలు గోవిందుడికి

mudupulu venkateshvarudiki, kekalu govindudiki

Translation

Offerings to Lord Venkateswara, but screams to Govinda.

Meaning

This proverb describes a situation where one person receives all the benefits or wealth (the offerings), while another person receives all the blame or has to do all the hard work (the screams). It is used to point out unfair distribution of rewards versus responsibilities or consequences.

Related Phrases

One flower for every house, one garland for the God.

This expression emphasizes the power of collective effort and unity. It suggests that while an individual's contribution might seem small or insignificant (like a single flower), when everyone contributes together, it results in something grand and magnificent (like a beautiful garland for God). It is used to encourage community participation or teamwork.

Shani (Lord of misfortune) sleeps too much, while the poor man is always hungry.

This expression highlights ironical or unfortunate traits that exacerbate a person's problems. It suggests that just as laziness (excessive sleep) is attributed to Shani, hunger is the constant companion of the poor. It is used to describe situations where people have excessive needs or habits that prevent them from overcoming their difficulties.

Lord Venkateswara

Venkateswara is a form of the Hindu deity Vishnu. The name translates to 'Lord of Venkata'. It is widely used as a proper name for males in Telugu-speaking regions, often as a mark of devotion to the deity of Tirumala.

The celebration belongs to Lord Venkateswara, but the noise belongs to the devotee Govindu.

This expression is used to describe a situation where the glory or credit belongs to one person (the center of attention), but the commotion, shouting, or unnecessary hype is created by someone else (the followers or subordinates). It highlights the contrast between the dignity of the core event and the rowdiness of the participants.

When one says 'In the house, Narayannamma', the other says 'Go, Govinda'

This expression is used to describe a situation where there is a total lack of coordination or communication between two people. When one person says something, the other gives a completely irrelevant or opposite response, leading to a situation where nothing gets accomplished due to the disconnect.

When said 'Stay, Narayanamma', she replied 'Go, Govinda'.

This proverb describes a situation where there is a complete lack of coordination or communication between two people. It is used when one person's words or actions are entirely irrelevant or contrary to what another person has said, often implying a stubborn or dismissive attitude.

The celebration belongs to Venkateswara, while the shouting belongs to Govinda.

This expression is used to describe a situation where one person gets all the honor or glory of an event (Venkateswara), while others do all the hard work or create the commotion (Govinda). It highlights the distinction between the central figure of an occasion and the noisy, effort-intensive participation of the crowd.

Govinda's jumps for beauty

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone performs awkward, unnecessary, or excessive actions in an attempt to look beautiful or impressive, but ends up looking ridiculous or failing to achieve the desired grace.

The shouting belongs to Govinda, the experience belongs to Venkateswara.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where one person makes all the noise, complaints, or public effort, while another person quietly enjoys the actual benefits or results. It highlights the disparity between those who express outward turmoil and those who reap the rewards.

Even Lord Venkateswara could not escape paying interest.

This expression is used to highlight the inescapable nature of debts or the power of financial obligations. In mythology, Lord Venkateswara took a loan from Kubera for his wedding and is said to still be paying the interest. It is often used to console someone in debt or to emphasize that no one, no matter how great, is exempt from certain life struggles or commitments.