నూటికి పొడిచి శెభాష్ అనేవాడు

nutiki podichi shebhash anevadu

Translation

He kills a hundred and cries " Selaga !"

Meaning

This expression refers to a person who is extremely clever, mischievous, or deceitful—someone who can commit a hundred wrongs and still present themselves as a hero or get away with it by praising their own cunning. It is often used to describe a smooth talker or a trickster who creates trouble but remains unscathed.

Notes

Selaga is a term used in counting or measuring, signifying the comple- tion of a lot of one hundred. Said of a great hero.

Related Phrases

Did the sun rise on your forehead only? Are you the greatest in the world ?

This expression is used to sarcastically question someone who acts as if they are uniquely important or as if a common situation applies only to them. It is often said to someone who wakes up very late or expects special treatment as if the day hasn't started for everyone else.

Death does not come even if the writing (fate) is pierced.

This expression is used to describe someone who is incredibly lucky or has survived a life-threatening situation against all odds. It implies that unless it is one's destined time to die, no amount of danger or misfortune can end their life.

Like digging a well and calling it a small hole (or spring).

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone performs a massive, difficult task but downplays its significance or describes it as something trivial. It can also refer to cases where an immense effort results in something that is unfairly minimized or misunderstood in scale.

Killing a sacred cow that gores you is not sin.

This proverb justifies self-defense. It implies that when someone attacks or harms you, you have the right to defend yourself or retaliate, regardless of how noble, virtuous, or superior that person is usually considered to be. Even a sacred cow (symbol of non-violence and divinity) loses its immunity if it turns aggressive.

One who feeds a hundred and shaves ( i. e. plunders ) a crore.

This expression describes a cunning or deceitful person who spends a small amount of money or effort as a bait to swindle someone out of a massive fortune. It is used to warn others about manipulative individuals who use minor favors to gain trust before committing a major fraud.

The man with the spear who stabbed a corpse.

This expression is used to describe a person who claims false bravery or credit for performing an act that required no effort or courage. It mocks someone who 'defeats' something that is already dead or powerless, highlighting the pointlessness and cowardice of their action.

You are strutting as if the sun rose exclusively on your face.

This expression is used to mock someone who is acting overly proud, arrogant, or self-important without any actual justification. It suggests the person thinks they are the center of the universe or have achieved something extraordinary when they haven't.

One who can compose a Kandam (poem) is a poet, one who can spear a boar is a warrior.

This proverb highlights that true mastery is defined by the most difficult tasks in a field. In Telugu literature, 'Kandam' is considered a very difficult meter to compose; similarly, hunting a wild boar requires immense courage. It signifies that excellence is proven through successfully handling the toughest challenges of one's profession.

Fighting chickens will not leave even if they are pecked (hurt).

This proverb is used to describe people who are deeply committed to a rivalry or a conflict. Even when they suffer losses or injuries during the struggle, their stubbornness or animosity keeps them from backing down. It is often used to characterize persistent quarreling or long-standing feuds between individuals who refuse to reconcile despite the negative consequences.

The one who stabs the pig is the real soldier.

This expression means that true merit or bravery is determined by one's actions and results in the field, rather than by empty boasts or titles. In the past, wild boar hunting was a dangerous task; therefore, only the person who actually completed the kill was considered a true warrior. It is used to suggest that success belongs to the person who performs the difficult task at hand.