నా మొగుడికి నిలకడలేదంటే, మాయమ్మ పకులరాట్నం అమ్మవద్దని చెప్పి పంపింది అన్నది.

na mogudiki nilakadaledante, mayamma pakularatnam ammavaddani cheppi pampindi annadi.

Translation

When she said her husband had no stability, her mother told her not to sell the weaving wheel.

Meaning

This proverb is used to describe a person who gives totally irrelevant advice or a non-sequitur response to a problem. It depicts a situation where a woman complains about her husband's lack of character or stability (nilakada), and her mother, misunderstanding the word or being oblivious, gives advice about a spinning wheel (ratnam). It mocks those who offer useless solutions that don't address the core issue.

Related Phrases

When asked who Agastya's brother was, he replied 'Hanumayamma's husband'.

This proverb is used to describe someone who gives a completely irrelevant, absurd, or ignorant answer to a question. It highlights the vast disconnect between a person's lack of knowledge and the topic being discussed, as Agastya is a mythological sage and Hanumayamma is a common local name.

Even after marrying Damayanti, the spinning wheel couldn't be avoided.

This proverb describes a situation where despite a significant positive change or a high-status association (like marrying a queen or a legendary figure), one's hard labor or fundamental struggles remain unchanged. It is used when a person's fate or drudgery persists regardless of improved circumstances.

When asked 'Thimma, go get a begging bowl', he replied 'Oh mother, please don't say it like that'.

This proverb is used to describe a person who is extremely lazy or over-sensitive to the point of being impractical. Even when faced with the dire necessity of begging for survival, the person cares more about the bluntness of the wording than the reality of their situation. It mocks people who are overly fastidious or choosy when they are actually in a desperate state.

He said the spinning wheel has arrived, move the cart out of the way.

This proverb is used to mock someone who exaggerates the importance of a small or insignificant object or event. It describes a situation where a person demands a lot of space or attention for something tiny (like a spinning wheel), treating it as if it were a massive vehicle (like a cart).

If you do not trust my word, ask my mother not to sell the spinning wheel.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone makes a grand or false promise based on a future event they have no intention of fulfilling. It highlights a person's lack of sincerity or credibility by creating a circular, illogical excuse.

Even if you possess the nine precious gems, you must have a 'human gem'.

This proverb emphasizes that material wealth (represented by the Navaratnas) is secondary to the presence of a virtuous, capable, and loyal human being. It suggests that a person's character and the presence of good people in one's life are more valuable than any amount of riches.

A husband to Nannamma, and a husband to Timmanna's mother.

This expression is used to describe someone who is extremely clever, cunning, or a 'know-it-all' who thinks they can outsmart anyone. It refers to a person who claims superiority over those who are already considered experts or authorities in a particular field, often used in a sarcastic tone to highlight someone's overconfidence or manipulative nature.

Mâchamma made away with what Kûchamma gathered.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where one person works hard to save money or resources, while another person recklessly spends or wastes it all. It highlights the contrast between a thrifty person and a spendthrift, or how easily hard-earned savings can be squandered by others.

When a useless woman was sent to guard the field, she sent all the harvested corn ears to her mother's house.

This proverb describes a situation where someone who is considered incompetent or unreliable surprisingly manages to misappropriate or divert resources for their own personal interest or for their relatives. It is used to mock people who act as if they are incapable of work but are very clever when it comes to self-benefit or showing favoritism.

An unstable word is like a bundle of water.

This proverb is used to describe a person who does not stick to their word or lacks consistency in their promises. Just as it is impossible to pack or carry water in a bundle, the promises of an inconsistent person have no substance and cannot be relied upon.