పాలేరు దున్నినవాడు అప్పలపాలు
paleru dunninavadu appalapalu
One who lets a farmhand do the plowing ends up in debt.
This proverb emphasizes the importance of personal supervision and hard work in one's business or agriculture. It suggests that if you rely entirely on others (like a farmhand or employee) to do your core work without oversight, the inefficiency or lack of care will eventually lead to financial loss or debt.
Related Phrases
మన్నును నమ్మి దున్నినవాడే మన్నీడు.
mannunu nammi dunninavade mannidu.
The one who trusts the soil and plows it is the leader.
This proverb highlights the importance and dignity of agriculture. It suggests that the person who puts their faith in the land and works hard as a farmer is the true lord or a person of great stature. It is used to emphasize that prosperity and leadership come from basic hard work and nurturing the earth.
నిష్ట నీళ్లపాలు, మంత్రం మాలపాలు
nishta nillapalu, mantram malapalu
Devotion gone into the water, and the mantra gone to the outcasts.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where all the hard work, meticulous effort, or ritualistic care put into a task goes completely to waste or is rendered useless due to a small mistake or an unfortunate turn of events. It implies that the sanctity or value of an endeavor has been lost.
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.
మెట్ట దున్నినవాడు, లొట్టె త్రాగినవాడు ఒకటే.
metta dunninavadu, lotte traginavadu okate.
The one who plows rain-fed land and the one who drinks toddy are the same.
This proverb highlights the uncertainty and futility of certain actions. Plowing 'Metta' (dry/rain-fed land) is risky because the harvest depends entirely on unpredictable rain, often leading to no result. Similarly, a person who drinks 'Lotte' (toddy/liquor) loses their senses and ends up with nothing. It is used to describe situations where hard work or actions are likely to go to waste due to unfavorable conditions or bad habits.
మడిదున్ని మహారాజయినవాడు, చేను దున్ని చెడ్డవాడూ లేడు.
madidunni maharajayinavadu, chenu dunni cheddavadu ledu.
There is no one who became a king by tilling a small plot, and no one who was ruined by tilling a field.
This proverb emphasizes the dignity and reliability of hard work, specifically in agriculture. It suggests that while farming may not make one instant royalty, honest labor in the fields will never lead to one's downfall or absolute ruin. It encourages persistence and the belief that self-employment through land will always provide a livelihood.
ఇల్లు ఈగలపాలు, దొడ్డి దోమలపాలు
illu igalapalu, doddi domalapalu
The house belongs to the flies, the backyard belongs to the mosquitoes.
This proverb is used to describe a state of utter neglect, lack of maintenance, or mismanagement of a property or household. It highlights a situation where, due to the absence or carelessness of the inhabitants, the premises have been completely overrun by pests.
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.
మడి దున్ని మన్నినవాడు, చేను చేసి చెడినవాడు లేడు.
madi dunni manninavadu, chenu chesi chedinavadu ledu.
There is no one who lived by plowing the wet land or was ruined by working the farm field.
This proverb emphasizes the dignity and reliability of agriculture. It suggests that hard work in farming consistently provides a livelihood and never leads to a person's downfall. It is used to encourage people to trust in honest labor and the fertility of the land.
పల్లము దున్నినవాడు, పల్లకి ఎక్కుతాడు
pallamu dunninavadu, pallaki ekkutadu
The one who plows the lowlands will ride the palanquin.
This proverb emphasizes that hard work and perseverance lead to prosperity and high status. Lowlands are often the most fertile but difficult areas to cultivate; therefore, the person who puts in the effort to farm them will eventually earn enough wealth and respect to afford a luxury like a palanquin (an ancient symbol of status and comfort).
శాపాలకు చచ్చినవాడు, దీవెనలకు బ్రతికినవాడు లేరు.
shapalaku chachchinavadu, divenalaku bratikinavadu leru.
There is no one who died because of curses, nor anyone who lived because of blessings.
This proverb emphasizes that human life and destiny are governed by actions and natural laws rather than just the words of others. It suggests that mere words—whether malicious curses or benevolent blessings—do not have the power to change one's fate or physical reality. It is used to encourage people to ignore empty threats or not rely solely on praise.