ఒకడు ఇల్వలుడు, ఇంకొకడు వాతాపి

okadu ilvaludu, inkokadu vatapi

Translation

One is Ilvala and the other is Vatapi

Meaning

This expression is used to describe a pair of people who are equally wicked, cunning, or dangerous and work together to deceive or harm others. It originates from the story of two demon brothers in Hindu mythology who collaborated to kill travelers.

Related Phrases

One is Aggiramudu (Fire-Rama), and the other is Mairavanudu.

This expression is used to describe two people who are equally troublesome, dangerous, or difficult to deal with. It implies that both individuals are formidable in their own way, usually in a negative or mischievous sense, making them a destructive pair.

One missed being born to the maternal aunt, the other missed being born to the mother.

This expression is used to describe two people who are equally wicked, cunning, or troublesome. It implies that there is no difference in their bad character; if one is bad, the other is slightly worse or just as bad. It is similar to saying 'two of a kind' or 'chips off the same block' in a negative context.

One who earns is one person, the one who enjoys it is another.

This expression refers to situations where the fruits of one person's hard work, labor, or wealth are enjoyed by someone else who did not put in the effort. It is often used to describe inheritance, unfair distribution of benefits, or when someone works tirelessly for the sake of others who take it for granted.

If it comes for free, he said he has another person of his own.

This proverb is used to describe human greed. It refers to a person who, upon finding something available for free, immediately tries to claim more for their family or associates, rather than being satisfied with what is given. It is used to mock people who exploit generosity or freebies.

A king has three servants - one who doesn't answer when called, one who hides behind pillars, and another who simply goes away.

This is a humorous proverb or riddle describing useless or lazy subordinates. It is used to mock a situation where a leader is surrounded by incompetent people: one who ignores instructions, one who avoids work by hiding, and one who simply disappears when needed.

While one person does the work, another one grazes (enjoys the fruits).

This proverb describes a situation where one person puts in all the hard labor or effort, but the rewards or benefits are unfairly reaped by someone else who did nothing. It is commonly used to express frustration over exploitation or unequal distribution of results.

One is Ahiravana, the other is Mahiravana.

This expression is used to describe two people who are equally wicked, cunning, or dangerous. In the Ramayana, Ahiravana and Mahiravana were powerful twin demons who were brothers of Ravana. The phrase highlights that there is no difference between the two individuals in terms of their negative traits; they are both equally troublesome.

One who hides behind a pillar, one who goes away, and one who never returns once gone.

This is a riddle describing the three main functions of a human being: The pillar-hider is the body (which stays in one place), the one who goes is the breath (inhaling and exhaling), and the one who never returns once gone is the life force or soul (Atma). It is used in philosophical or spiritual contexts to reflect on the transient nature of life.

One who hides behind a pillar, one who goes like that, and one who goes and never returns.

This is a traditional riddle (podupu katha) describing the process of a human birth and death. It refers to the father (pillar), the child (coming into the world), and the soul or life breath (which never returns once it leaves). It is used to describe the cycle of life and the transience of human existence.

One is a whale, and the other is a leviathan.

This expression is used to compare two individuals who are both formidable or cunning, suggesting that if one is powerful, the other is even more so. It implies a competition between two equally strong or deceptive personalities.