పసరం ఒంటిపూట పడ్డా, బ్రాహ్మణుడు ఒంటిపూట పడ్డా మానెడు

pasaram ontiputa padda, brahmanudu ontiputa padda manedu

Translation

If a cow fasts for one meal, or if a Brahmin fasts for one meal, it equals a 'manedu' (a specific measure).

Meaning

This proverb highlights that certain entities suffer significant loss or cause significant loss even with a small deprivation. For a cattle (pasaram), missing one meal affects its strength and milk yield immediately; for a Brahmin (traditionally dependent on ritual meals), missing one meal is considered a great loss of merit or hospitality. It is used to describe situations where even a small lapse can result in a substantial measurable deficit.

Related Phrases

Like a monkey's wound becoming gigantic.

This proverb describes how a small problem or a minor issue can become huge and uncontrollable if one keeps dwelling on it or meddling with it unnecessarily. Just as a monkey constantly picks at a small scratch until it becomes a large, infected wound, humans often worsen situations by overthinking or interfering excessively.

Will an accusation [ be forgotten ], will water which falls in a banked field escape?

This expression means that once something is said or done, it cannot be taken back or undone. Words spoken aloud, especially accusations or insults, leave a lasting impact just as water that flows into a farm plot stays there. It is used to advise caution in speech or to highlight the permanence of certain actions.

Throw much dirt, and some will stick. An ill wound may be cured, but not an ill name.

A basketful of medicines for a disease that lasts only half a day.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone overreacts or provides an excessive, disproportionate solution to a very minor or short-lived problem. It highlights the lack of balance between the magnitude of the issue and the intensity of the response.

[ Talk of ] that burning and this burning, this Brâhmaṇârtha is belly burning. Said by a greedy Vaidika Brahman. Brâhmaṇârtha is an invitation issued to two or three Brahmans on the anniversary of the death of a relative.

This expression describes a situation where someone is overwhelmed by multiple troubles at once. It literally refers to a cook dealing with the heat of the stove, the heat of the weather, and the physical discomfort or indigestion caused by eating heavy food at a ritualistic feast. It is used when a person is frustrated by a series of compounding difficulties.

Crematorium renunciation lasts only until the body's dampness dries.

This expression refers to a temporary feeling of detachment or philosophical realization that arises in the face of death or tragedy, but fades away quickly as soon as one returns to normal life. It is used to describe short-lived resolutions or fleeting spiritual thoughts.

A prayer without devotion is a waste of leaves.

This proverb suggests that performing rituals or tasks without genuine intent or sincerity is a waste of resources and effort. Just as offering leaves (patri) during worship is useless if one lacks devotion (bhakti), any action done mechanically without heart is unproductive.

Eating two meals a day is enjoyment, eating one meal a day is spiritual discipline (Yoga).

This proverb highlights the traditional Indian perspective on food and health. It suggests that eating twice a day is a comfortable, pleasurable life for a common person (Bhoga), while restricting oneself to a single meal is a practice of self-control and spiritual focus (Yoga/Upavasa). It is often used to emphasize moderation and the benefits of fasting or controlled eating.

A cat [is as sacred as ] a Brahman, and the stool ( used for prayers, &c. ) is as sacred as his wife.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where completely unqualified or deceptive people are pretending to be virtuous or play roles they are naturally unfit for. It highlights hypocrisy or a ridiculous mismatch of character, often used when villains act like saints.

A word spoken over someone is like water falling into a field.

This proverb emphasizes that once a word is spoken or a promise is made publicly, it becomes a responsibility or an obligation that cannot be taken back, much like how water diverted into a farm plot stays there to nourish the crop.

The cat is a Brahmin, and the low wooden stool is a married woman.

This expression is used to mock someone who puts on a false show of extreme piety, innocence, or virtue. It describes a hypocrite who pretends to be saintly while harboring deceitful intentions or having a questionable character.