పాలు చూడనా, భాండాన్ని చూడనా?
palu chudana, bhandanni chudana?
Are we to look at milk or at the pot? The pot is only valued for the milk in it. The jewel is not to be valued for the cabinet.
This expression is used when someone is in a dilemma or a state of confusion between two tasks or priorities, implying that they cannot focus on one thing without worrying about the other. It describes a situation where a person is overwhelmed by multiple responsibilities.
Related Phrases
ఇల్లు చూచి ఇల్లాలును చూడమన్నారు
illu chuchi illalunu chudamannaru
Look at the house first, then look at the housewife.
This proverb suggests that the cleanliness and organization of a home reflect the character, management skills, and nature of the woman of the house. It is used to imply that one's environment is a mirror of their internal discipline and habits.
పాలే చూడనా భాండాన్ని చూడనా
pale chudana bhandanni chudana
Should I look at the milk or the vessel?
This expression describes a dilemma where one has to choose between preserving the quality of the contents (the goal) and the integrity of the container (the means/tool). It is used when a person is confused between two equally important or conflicting priorities, or when trying to handle a situation where fixing one thing might damage another.
యజమాని చూడని చేను పాడు
yajamani chudani chenu padu
A field not watched by its owner goes to ruin.
This proverb emphasizes the importance of personal supervision. It suggests that if a person does not personally oversee their own business, property, or affairs, they are bound to fail or suffer loss due to neglect or mismanagement by others.
బతికితే భూదానం, చస్తే గోదానం
batikite bhudanam, chaste godanam
Land donation if one lives, cow donation if one dies.
This proverb refers to someone who is in a critical, life-threatening situation where they are making desperate promises or sacrifices regardless of the outcome. It is often used to describe a 'win-win' situation for a priest or a middleman who benefits from a person's rituals whether they survive (through land offerings) or pass away (through cow offerings for the soul's journey).
బావి లోతు చూడవచ్చును గానీ, మనసు లోతు చూడలేము.
bavi lotu chudavachchunu gani, manasu lotu chudalemu.
You can see the depth of a well, but not the depth of the mind. No one can see into another further than his teeth. ( Danish. )
This proverb highlights that while it is easy to measure or understand physical and material things, it is impossible to truly know or measure a person's inner thoughts, intentions, or character. It is often used to advise caution when trusting people, as their outward appearance may not reflect their hidden motives.
ఎసటిలో మెతుకులన్నీ పట్టి చూడాలనా?
esatilo metukulanni patti chudalana?
Do you need to check every single grain of rice in the boiling pot?
This expression means that one does not need to examine every single part of a whole to understand the quality or result. Just as checking one or two grains of rice is enough to know if the whole pot is cooked, a small sample or a single instance is often sufficient to judge a person's character or the success of a project.
ఇల్లు చూసి ఇల్లాలును చూడమన్నారు
illu chusi illalunu chudamannaru
Look at the house first, then look at the housewife.
This proverb suggests that the state of a home reflects the character, management skills, and discipline of the person maintaining it. It is often used to imply that one can understand a person's nature and habits by observing their surroundings and how they manage their household.
అత్తవారింట అల్లుణ్ణి చూడాలి, ఆముదాల చేలో ఆబోతును చూడాలి.
attavarinta allunni chudali, amudala chelo abotunu chudali.
One should see a son-in-law at his mother-in-law's house and a bull in a castor field.
This proverb highlights situations where an individual feels overly comfortable and entitled. Just as a bull thrives and roams freely in a field of castor plants (which are difficult to clear), a son-in-law is often pampered, prioritized, and treated with excessive hospitality at his in-laws' place. It is used to describe someone enjoying a position of prestige or being the center of attention.
పాలను చూడనా భాండాన్ని చూడనా
palanu chudana bhandanni chudana
Should I look at the milk or the vessel?
This expression is used to describe a dilemma where one must choose between the quality of the content and the appearance of the container. It is often applied to situations where someone is stuck between focusing on the value of a person or object versus their external flaws or surroundings.
తల్లి ముఖం చూడని బిడ్డ, వాన ముఖం చూడని పైరు.
talli mukham chudani bidda, vana mukham chudani pairu.
A child who doesn't see their mother's face is like a crop that doesn't see the rain.
This proverb highlights the essential nature of a mother's care and rain for survival and growth. Just as a crop cannot flourish or survive without rain, a child suffers and cannot thrive without the nurturing presence and affection of a mother. It is used to describe situations of extreme deprivation or the lack of a fundamental life-sustaining element.