ముందు పెళ్ళాం బిడ్డలు ముంత ఎత్తుకుని తిరుగుతుంటే, లంజకు బిడ్డలు లేరని రామేశ్వరం పోయినట్టు

mundu pellam biddalu munta ettukuni tirugutunte, lanjaku biddalu lerani rameshvaram poyinattu

Translation

While his wife and children were wandering with begging bowls, he went to Rameshwaram praying for a concubine to have children.

Meaning

This proverb describes a person who ignores their immediate and primary responsibilities (like taking care of their own family) to focus on unnecessary, inappropriate, or secondary matters. It is used to mock someone's misplaced priorities and hypocrisy.

Related Phrases

When he went to Râmeśvaram, Śaneśvaram followed him.

This proverb describes a situation where a person's bad luck follows them no matter where they go or what remedies they seek. It is used to express that changing locations or seeking divine intervention sometimes does not solve problems if one's misfortune is persistent.

His bad luck followed him.—Śaneśvaram is an incorrect name given to the planet Saturn ; it appears to be a corruption of Sanaischar.

For the son's child and the daughter's child, the grandfather is the same.

This proverb is used to emphasize impartiality and equality in family relationships. It points out that a grandfather shares the same biological bond with all his grandchildren, regardless of whether they are born to his son or his daughter, suggesting that one should not show favoritism based on lineage.

A child who doesn't know how to survive grows to be a fathom long.

This proverb describes a person who lacks practical life skills or common sense despite being physically grown or having significant resources. It is used to mock someone who is old enough or 'big' enough to be capable, yet remains helpless, lazy, or foolish in managing their own affairs.

Will children survive in front of demons?

This expression is used to describe a situation where innocent or vulnerable people cannot thrive or survive under the control of cruel, greedy, or evil individuals. It implies that being in a predatory environment inevitably leads to destruction.

There isn't a grain of rice to swallow, but the harlot wants red lacquer (lac) for her feet.

This proverb describes a person who lacks basic necessities but indulges in unnecessary luxuries or shows off beyond their means. It is used to mock someone who maintains a false sense of status or vanity while suffering from extreme poverty or lacking essential resources.

After roaming the whole village, he came home, thought of his wife and children, and his legs suddenly gave out (collapsed).

This proverb describes a person who works hard or stays strong when away from home, but chooses to show exhaustion, weakness, or helplessness only when they reach their family to gain sympathy or attention. It is used to mock someone who pretends to be more tired or incapable than they actually are just to be pampered.

Do children survive in front of demons?

This expression is used to describe an environment where vulnerable people or valuable things cannot thrive or survive because they are surrounded by cruel, corrupt, or destructive forces. It implies that a positive outcome is impossible in a predatory or toxic atmosphere.

Even if you perform a pilgrimage to Râmêśvaram, the pre- destinated evil will not fail to overtake you.

This proverb is used to convey that one's destiny or the consequences of their fate cannot be escaped simply by changing locations or seeking divine intervention. It highlights the inevitability of certain hardships and is often used when someone tries to run away from their problems only to find them following them anyway.

Children when held in the arms (infancy) are children, but are they still (obedient) children when they grow beards?

This proverb highlights the changing nature of children as they grow up. It suggests that while children are easy to manage and dependent when they are infants (held in a cloth cradle or 'addalu'), they become independent, headstrong, or even ungrateful once they reach adulthood (represented by 'gaddalu' or beards). It is used to express a parent's frustration when adult children no longer listen or follow their guidance.

who brings misfortune to people

When one is dogged by misfortune, one will not escape misfortune, even if one goes to a holy place to ward off the evil influence.