ఒక రాజుకు ముగ్గురు సేవకులు- ఒకడు పిలిస్తే పలుకనివాడు, ఇంకొకడు స్తంభం చాటుగాడు, మరొకడు అదే పోతగాడు.
oka rajuku mugguru sevakulu- okadu piliste palukanivadu, inkokadu stambham chatugadu, marokadu ade potagadu.
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.
Related Phrases
అంధేఖాను దర్భారులో అందే పోతగాళ్ళు, పిలిస్తే పలుకనివాళ్ళు
andhekhanu darbharulo ande potagallu, piliste palukanivallu
In the court of Andhekhan, everyone is a braggart and no one responds when called.
This proverb describes a state of total chaos, lawlessness, or lack of accountability in an organization or government. It is used to refer to a situation where there is no proper leadership, and those in charge are incompetent, arrogant, or completely unresponsive to the needs of the people.
ఒకడు అగ్గిరాముడు, ఇంకొకడు మైరావణుడు.
okadu aggiramudu, inkokadu mairavanudu.
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.
ఒకడు పినతల్లికి తప్పినవాడు, ఇంకొకడు తల్లికి తప్పినవాడు.
okadu pinatalliki tappinavadu, inkokadu talliki tappinavadu.
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.
ఒకడు ఇల్వలుడు, ఇంకొకడు వాతాపి
okadu ilvaludu, inkokadu vatapi
One is Ilvala and the other is Vatapi
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.
ఊరికే వస్తే, మావాడు ఇంకొకడు ఉన్నాడు అన్నట్లు.
urike vaste, mavadu inkokadu unnadu annatlu.
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.
కోడు ఒకడు తీస్తే కొమ్మ ఒకడు తీస్తాడు.
kodu okadu tiste komma okadu tistadu.
If one person pulls the trunk, another pulls the branch.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where multiple people are working at cross-purposes or interfering with each other's work. It highlights a lack of coordination where one person's actions are countered or complicated by another's unnecessary involvement, leading to inefficiency or failure.
ఒకడు అహిరావణుడు, ఇంకొకడు మహిరావణుడు.
okadu ahiravanudu, inkokadu mahiravanudu.
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.
స్తంభం చాటుగాడు ఒకడు, అదే పోతగాడు ఇంకొకడు, పోతే రానివాడు మరియొకడు.
stambham chatugadu okadu, ade potagadu inkokadu, pote ranivadu mariyokadu.
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.
స్తంభం చాటువాడొకడు, అదే పోతగాడు ఒకడు, పోతే రానివాడు మరొకడు.
stambham chatuvadokadu, ade potagadu okadu, pote ranivadu marokadu.
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.
ఒకడు తిమి, ఇంకొకడు తిమింగలము.
okadu timi, inkokadu timingalamu.
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.