పచ్చగా ఉంటే పారాడేది, వెచ్చగా ఉంటే వెళ్ళిపోయేది

pachchaga unte paradedi, vechchaga unte vellipoyedi

Translation

If it is green, it crawls; if it is hot, it leaves.

Meaning

This is a traditional Telugu riddle where the answer is 'Moisture' or 'The feeling of lushness'. In a metaphorical sense, it is often used to describe wealth or prosperity (represented by 'greenery'), noting that people will flock to you when you are prosperous but will abandon you when times become difficult or 'hot'.

Related Phrases

If it is warm, they pick and eat; if it turns cold, they scatter away.

This proverb describes fair-weather friends or opportunistic people. It suggests that as long as someone has wealth, power, or 'warmth' (resources), people will flock to them to benefit. However, once those resources are gone or the situation turns 'cold' (difficult), those same people will abandon them immediately.

If you have money (Lacha), you have ten million (Koti) good qualities.

This proverb highlights the societal tendency to overlook the flaws of a wealthy person and attribute great qualities to them solely because of their riches. It implies that wealth can mask many shortcomings and command respect regardless of a person's true character.

Does water stay on green grass?

This expression is used to describe two people who are extremely hostile toward each other. It implies that their relationship is so volatile or their hatred so intense that they cannot coexist peacefully even for a moment, much like water quickly sliding off blades of grass.

Like pouring water into one's own stove when the neighbor is flourishing.

This proverb describes the height of envy and spite. It refers to people who are so jealous of others' success (greenery/prosperity) that they self-destruct or stop their own progress out of sheer malice or depression caused by seeing others thrive.

When his Puṭṭi was found to be of short measure, he tested the Pandum and Para of his neighbour. Puṭṭi, Pandum and Para are measures of capacity. When a man was found cheating with a false measure, he tried to prove that his neighbour's measures were too large.

This proverb is used to describe a person who ignores their own glaring flaws or lack of resources while trying to compete with or involve themselves in others' business. It highlights the irony of someone attempting to manage a task when they don't even have the basic tools ready, often resulting in waste or failure.

When his neighbour prospered he poured water on his own hearth.

This proverb describes the toxic nature of extreme envy. It refers to people who are so jealous of others' success or prosperity (being 'green') that they self-destruct or extinguish their own progress and happiness (extinguishing their own cooking fire) out of spite or misery.

An envious act. To lose one eye that you may deprive another of two. (Spanish.)!

Those who are green (prosperous) do not know the warmth (fever/pain) of others.

This proverb is used to describe how people living in prosperity or good health often fail to empathize with or understand the struggles and hardships of others. It highlights a lack of sensitivity that comes from being in a comfortable position.

A man with liver disease has yellow eyes. For the sick eyes everything looks yellow.

When people have some problem with their health or in their conduct, they find the same problems in everybody around.

If you are soft, people will feel like hitting you on the head.

This proverb is used to warn that if a person is too submissive, overly kind, or weak, others will naturally try to take advantage of them or mistreat them. It suggests that one must maintain a certain level of firmness to command respect.

Graze where it is green, sleep where it is warm

This proverb describes a person who is opportunistic or seeking extreme comfort and convenience. It is used to refer to someone who enjoys resources where they are plentiful and seeks shelter where it is most comfortable, often without contributing or showing loyalty. It can also imply living a life of ease and smart survival.