ముందు సంతకే అరువు పడింది

mundu santake aruvu padindi

Translation

Already in debt from the previous market day.

Meaning

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone is already burdened with existing problems, debts, or commitments before even starting a new task or phase. It implies that one is starting from a disadvantage or is perpetually lagging behind.

Related Phrases

Borrowed jewelry is only a burden.

This proverb highlights that borrowing things (especially ornaments or jewelry) for the sake of showing off only brings anxiety and a sense of burden, as one is constantly worried about their safety and eventual return. It is used to advise people to live within their means and be content with what they own.

The one who lost their caste (status) is first in the dining row, the vegetable seller is first at the market.

This proverb describes people who are overly eager or arrive prematurely due to their specific needs or lack of social standing. Just as a vegetable seller arrives early at a market to secure a spot before others, a person who has been ostracized or lost status might rush to the front of a feast (pankti/row) to ensure they are served or acknowledged before being ignored.

A house where the wife is unhappy, and a farm where the ox is fallen, will not progress.

This proverb emphasizes that peace and health are foundational for success. If the woman of the house (the 'Aalu') is suffering or unhappy, the household cannot thrive. Similarly, if the ox used for plowing is weak or collapsed, the farming cannot move forward. It is used to highlight the importance of the well-being of those who anchor the home and profession.

When one took up asceticism to avoid family life, the burden of a donkey fell on them.

This proverb describes a situation where someone tries to escape their current responsibilities or problems only to end up with even more difficult or undesirable burdens. It is used when a person's attempt to seek a simpler, stress-free life results in unexpected and harder tasks.

The person who lost their caste (outcast) arrives first for the feast; the vegetable seller arrives first for the market.

This proverb highlights the eagerness or anxiety of certain individuals based on their situation. Just as a vegetable seller must arrive early to secure a good spot at the market to survive, someone who has been ostracized might arrive earliest to a public gathering or feast to ensure they are not ignored or to assert their presence before others arrive. It is used to describe people who show up excessively early or with a sense of urgency due to their specific needs or insecurities.

A yawn is the harvest of poverty.

This expression refers to extreme poverty where a person has nothing to eat and is constantly hungry, leading to frequent yawning (a physical sign of exhaustion or an empty stomach). It is used to describe a state of utter destitution where physical weakness and hunger are the only things one 'possesses'.

Credit in the shop, a burden on the head.

This proverb highlights the stress and mental burden that debt causes. Even if one buys something on credit (loan) from a shop, the thought of repayment weighs heavily on the mind like a physical load. It is used to caution people against taking loans or buying things they cannot immediately afford.

Shackles for the kite before Sankranti

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone who is usually free or mischievous is suddenly restricted or disciplined just before a major event or their peak time. It refers to the traditional practice of catching or grounding kites (birds of prey) before the kite-flying festival of Sankranti to prevent them from interfering.

Credit in the shop is a burden on the head

This proverb highlights the stress and psychological weight of debt. Even if one can buy things on credit easily at a market, the obligation to repay it remains a constant mental burden. It is used to advise people against taking unnecessary loans or living beyond their means.

Borrowing during a famine

This expression describes a situation where one is forced to seek a loan or credit during a time of extreme scarcity or crisis. It signifies an act of desperation or a burden upon an already struggling person, as borrowing during a famine is difficult to repay and even harder to obtain.