ఒకనాడు ధారణ, ఒకనాడు పారణ

okanadu dharana, okanadu parana

Translation

One day of fasting, one day of feasting.

Meaning

This proverb describes a lifestyle of extreme inconsistency or instability, often referring to a person's financial state or food availability. 'Dharana' refers to a ritual fast or restraint, while 'Parana' refers to breaking the fast with a meal. It is used to describe someone who is rich one day and poor the next, or a situation that fluctuates between scarcity and abundance.

Related Phrases

A 'barana' for the talkative one, and is it a 'barana' for me too?

This expression is used when someone who has worked hard feels insulted or undervalued when they receive the same reward or treatment as someone who did nothing but talk. It highlights the injustice of equal pay or credit for unequal effort.

One who does not give charity is not a blessed person

This expression emphasizes the virtue of generosity. It suggests that wealth alone does not bring fulfillment or spiritual merit; rather, it is the act of sharing or giving to others that makes a person truly honorable or 'blessed'. It is often used to encourage philanthropy or to critique stinginess.

One day a feast, one day medicine

This expression warns about the consequences of overindulgence. It implies that if you feast excessively today, you will have to take medicine for health issues tomorrow. It is used to advise moderation in eating and lifestyle habits.

One day holding (fasting); one day breaking fast.

This expression describes the unpredictable nature of life, especially regarding financial or food security. 'Dharana' refers to fasting or self-restraint (often due to lack), while 'Parana' refers to the meal that breaks a fast or a feast. It is used to describe someone whose circumstances fluctuate between periods of scarcity and abundance, or simply the ups and downs of life's fortunes.

A precarious subsistence. Change of fortune is the lot of life. To-day a king, to-morrow nothing. (French.)

If it rains during the Bharani kirtu (star), the earth will yield a great harvest.

This is a traditional agricultural proverb. It means that rainfall occurring during the Bharani period (a specific period in the lunar calendar) is highly beneficial for crops, leading to a bountiful harvest across the land.

If born in Bharani, one will rule the Earth.

This is a popular Telugu astrological saying. It implies that individuals born under the 'Bharani' nakshatra (star constellation) are destined for greatness, leadership, or immense wealth, effectively 'ruling the world' in their own sphere of influence.

A feast for the tiger is death for the cattle.

This proverb highlights a situation where one person's gain or pleasure results in another's suffering or loss. It is used to describe zero-sum games or exploitative situations where the benefit of the powerful inherently involves the destruction of the weak.

Death is a better refuge for a man than living on a dowry.

This proverb emphasizes the social stigma and loss of self-respect associated with a man living off his wife's wealth or dowry (Aranam). It suggests that for a man with dignity, death is preferable to the humiliation of being dependent on his in-laws' property or a dowry-based lifestyle.

One day fasting, one day feasting

This proverb describes the unpredictability of life's fortunes, particularly regarding financial stability or food availability. It is used to describe a situation where one experiences extreme lack or hardship one day, followed by abundance or satisfaction the next day. It highlights the cycle of ups and downs in life.

One day a feast, one day medicine.

This expression highlights the consequence of overindulgence. It suggests that if you indulge in a lavish feast or overeat today, you will likely end up taking medicine for health issues tomorrow. It serves as a warning for moderation in eating habits.

One day favor, one day disfavor. To-day in finery, to-morrow in filth. (German.)