పాకాల చెరువును చూసి, ఆ నీళ్ళన్నీ తానే తాగాలని దున్నపోతు గుండె పగిలి చచ్చిందట.
pakala cheruvunu chusi, a nillanni tane tagalani dunnapotu gunde pagili chachchindata.
Looking at the Pakala lake and wanting to drink all that water by itself, the male buffalo's heart burst and it died.
This proverb describes a situation where someone's excessive greed or over-ambition leads to their own downfall. It is used to mock people who attempt tasks far beyond their capacity or who harbor unrealistic desires that eventually lead to their ruin.
Related Phrases
తాత కట్టిన చెరువని దూకుతారా?
tata kattina cheruvani dukutara?
Will you jump into a lake just because your grandfather built it?
This proverb is used to warn against blind following or making dangerous decisions based solely on tradition or heritage. It implies that even if an ancestor or elder did something, one must still evaluate the current risks and exercise common sense before acting. It is often used to discourage foolish risks taken in the name of family pride.
మిండగాని జూచి గుండములో పడతాను అన్నదట
mindagani juchi gundamulo padatanu annadata
Seeing her paramour, she said she would jump into the fire pit.
This expression describes a situation where someone performs a dramatic, hypocritical act of devotion or sacrifice only when an audience (specifically someone they want to impress) is watching. It is used to mock fake sincerity or theatrical displays of loyalty that lack true substance.
అన్నాలన్నీ సున్నాలు, అప్పాలన్నీ కప్పాలు
annalanni sunnalu, appalanni kappalu
Let all your rice be chunam and all your cakes frogs ! A certain sage was, on account of his eccentricities, treated as a crazy fellow and not received into society. On one occasion, irritated by being refused admittance to an entertainment, he uttered the above imprecation which to the consternation of the assembled company took effect. They begged his pardon, whereupon he restored in the same miraculous manner the chunam into rice and the frogs into cakes ! The power acquired by austerities.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone is extremely ungrateful or dismissive of the food and hospitality provided to them. It suggests that despite being fed well, the person treats the main meals as nothing (zeros) and views the snacks or treats as a burden or tax (tributes) rather than a kind gesture.
చెరువు చూచి, దున్నపోతు ఆ నీళ్ళన్నీ తానే తాగాలనుకొని గుండె పగిలి చచ్చిందట.
cheruvu chuchi, dunnapotu a nillanni tane tagalanukoni gunde pagili chachchindata.
Seeing the lake, the buffalo wanted to drink all the water itself and died of a broken heart (or burst chest).
This proverb is used to describe greed and over-ambition. It warns that trying to consume or possess more than one's capacity or trying to take everything for oneself leads to self-destruction. It is often applied to people who are overly greedy and fail to recognize their own limits.
పగలు ఎండ, రేయి చీకటి, ఎప్పుడు దున్నుతావే దున్నపోతా?
pagalu enda, reyi chikati, eppudu dunnutave dunnapota?
Sun in the day, darkness at night, when will you plough, oh male buffalo?
This proverb is used to mock lazy people who find excuses for every situation. Just as the buffalo avoids work by complaining about the heat during the day and the darkness at night, it refers to individuals who always have a reason to procrastinate or avoid their responsibilities regardless of the circumstances.
కొల్లేట్లో పండే పంటేగాని, చచ్చే దున్నపోతులకు లెక్క లేదు.
kolletlo pande pantegani, chachche dunnapotulaku lekka ledu.
[They look at] the crops which grow in Kollêru, but there is no account of the buffaloes which die there. Counting profit, but not loss.
This proverb describes a situation where an outcome or profit is visible, but the immense cost, hidden sacrifices, or the loss of resources required to achieve it are ignored. It is used to highlight that success often comes at a high, unacknowledged price.
బావి కింద దున్ని బ్రతికినవాడు, చెరువు కింద దున్ని చెడిపోయినవాడు లేడు
bavi kinda dunni bratikinavadu, cheruvu kinda dunni chedipoyinavadu ledu
No one has failed after farming under a lake, and no one has flourished solely by farming under a well.
This proverb highlights the reliability of water sources in agriculture. It suggests that farming near a large lake (abundant water) ensures success and prosperity, whereas relying on a small well (limited water) is much riskier and rarely leads to significant wealth.
మాగిలి దున్నితే మాలవానికైనా పైరగును
magili dunnite malavanikaina pairagunu
If you plough the fallow field after the harvest, even a common man can yield a crop.
This proverb emphasizes the importance of timely and proper soil preparation. It suggests that if the land is ploughed during the 'Maghili' season (post-harvest winter/spring) to retain moisture and nutrients, anyone who puts in the effort will succeed in farming, regardless of their background or expertise.
మేయబోతే ఎద్దులలోకి, దున్నబోతే దూడలలోకి.
meyabote eddulaloki, dunnabote dudalaloki.
Among bulls when it is time to graze, among calves when it is time to plow.
This proverb describes an escapist or lazy person who avoids responsibility by making convenient excuses. When there is work to be done (plowing), they claim to be as inexperienced or weak as a calf. When it is time to enjoy benefits (grazing), they claim to be as mature and deserving as a bull.
మాగిలి దున్నితే మరింత పంట
magili dunnite marinta panta
Ploughing the land after the first rains yields more crops.
This proverb highlights the importance of timing and preparation in agriculture. 'Magili' refers to the land moistened by the first summer rains. It suggests that if a farmer takes advantage of these initial rains to plough the field, the soil quality improves, leading to a much higher yield. Metaphorically, it means that starting a task at the right opportune moment with proper preparation ensures success.