ముసలి కాలానికి ముప్పతిప్పలు

musali kalaniki muppatippalu

Translation

Three times the troubles in old age.

Meaning

This expression refers to the immense hardships, health issues, and dependencies that often plague a person during their old age. It is used to describe a situation where one faces constant, overwhelming difficulties during the final stages of life.

Related Phrases

There is no danger for the Munnuru caste, and there is no sandal for a stumped leg.

This is a traditional Telugu proverb or 'Sameta'. Historically, it refers to the resilience and self-sufficiency of the Munnuru Kapu community, suggesting they are a strong, risk-free collective. The second part is a literal observation used for rhyming or emphasis, implying that just as a deformed or amputated leg cannot wear a standard sandal, certain things in life are fixed or beyond typical constraints.

The rent is three-quarters for a half-penny job

This proverb describes a situation where the overhead, transport, or incidental costs of a task far exceed the actual value of the work itself. It is used to point out inefficiency or when the effort/cost spent to achieve something is disproportionately high compared to the final result.

Menstrual disease at an old age

This expression is used to mock someone who exhibits youthful desires or immature behaviors that are inappropriate for their old age. It implies that certain actions or interests are out of place given a person's stage in life.

An old man is fond of a young widow

This proverb describes a situation where an elderly person becomes overly attached to or obsessed with someone or something unsuitable or inappropriate for their age. It is often used to criticize elderly men who pursue younger women, or more broadly, to point out the irony of developing new, intense cravings at a late stage in life when they should be focused on other matters.

Heaps for the one who sits, troubles for the one who roams.

This proverb contrasts physical labor with strategic or steady placement. It suggests that someone who stays focused or 'sits' (often referring to a landowner or a steady worker) accumulates heaps of grain or wealth, whereas someone who wanders aimlessly or works without a plan faces hardships and troubles. It is used to highlight the rewards of stability versus the difficulties of being unsettled.

Old age is the first sign of a second childhood (or first time puberty in old age)

This expression is used to mock or point out when an elderly person starts behaving like a youngster, or when someone does something completely inappropriate for their age. It literally suggests that an old person is acting as if they are hitting puberty or reaching maturity for the first time again.

Like suffering from a menstrual disorder in old age (specifically at the age of thirty).

This proverb is used to describe an untimely or inappropriate desire, behavior, or event that doesn't suit one's age or current stage of life. It highlights the awkwardness of things happening when the time for them has long passed.

There is no such thing as an old buffalo or an old Yenadi (tribesman).

This proverb is used to describe individuals who maintain their strength, productivity, or work capacity regardless of their age. It implies that certain beings remain robust and useful until the very end, suggesting that age is just a number for those with a strong constitution or work ethic.

Misery for the times and troubles for the country.

This expression is used to describe a period of collective misfortune or a series of calamities affecting a whole region or nation. It implies that when times are bad, hardships become widespread and inevitable, often used when discussing economic crises, natural disasters, or political instability.

Time is afflicted, and the country is wandering [in trouble ]. Said jokingly by a person when asked whether he was in trouble. Dîiams here means literally the country and not the inhabitants of it.

This expression is used to describe a period of extreme adversity, crisis, or misfortune affecting an entire society or region. It suggests that both the times (destiny) and the land are undergoing severe trials, often used in literary or dramatic contexts to lament widespread suffering, political instability, or natural calamities.