పెద్దిభొట్లూ పెద్దిభొట్లూ సన్యాసం తీసుకుంటావా అంటే, పెండ్లాము చెప్పుతో మాడున కొడితే తీసుకోక తప్పతుందా అన్నాడట.
peddibhotlu peddibhotlu sanyasam tisukuntava ante, pendlamu chepputo maduna kodite tisukoka tappatunda annadata.
When asked 'Peddibhotlu, Peddibhotlu, will you take sanyasa (renunciation)?', he replied, 'If my wife hits me on the head with a sandal, do I have any choice but to take it?'
This proverb describes a situation where someone claims to be making a noble or spiritual sacrifice, but in reality, they are only doing so because they have been forced by humiliating circumstances or have no other choice left. It is used to mock people who pretend their forced actions are voluntary acts of virtue.
Related Phrases
అప్పు తీసుకున్నప్పుడే అప్పజెప్పే ఆలోచన ఉండాలి
appu tisukunnappude appajeppe alochana undali
The thought of repaying should exist at the very moment the loan is taken.
This expression emphasizes financial integrity and responsibility. It suggests that one should only borrow money if they have a clear intention and plan to repay it, rather than worrying about repayment only when the deadline approaches. It is used to advise people to be cautious and honest in their financial dealings.
వచ్చేటప్పుడు తీసుకురారు, పోయేటప్పుడు తీసుకుపోరు.
vachchetappudu tisukuraru, poyetappudu tisukuporu.
They don't bring anything when they arrive, and they don't take anything when they leave.
This proverb is a philosophical reflection on human life and materialism. It signifies that humans enter the world empty-handed at birth and depart without any worldly possessions at death. It is used to advise people against greed, over-attachment to wealth, and to encourage living a righteous life focused on good deeds rather than amassing riches.
ఆడేది అడ్డనామాలు పెడితే, పాడేది పంగనామాలు పెట్టినట్టు.
adedi addanamalu pedite, padedi panganamalu pettinattu.
If the dancer puts on horizontal marks, the singer puts on vertical marks.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where two people are competing in their eccentricities, mistakes, or exaggerations. It implies that if one person goes to one extreme, the other goes even further to outdo them, usually in a negative or ridiculous way.
ఉన్నదున్నట్లు చెప్పమంటే తిన్నదేమిచేసెను అన్నదట
unnadunnatlu cheppamante tinnademichesenu annadata
When asked to tell things as they are, she asked what the food she ate did.
This proverb is used to describe a person who, when asked for an honest or straightforward opinion, brings up irrelevant personal grievances or reacts with unexpected defensiveness/deflection. It highlights the tendency of some people to shift the topic to their own dissatisfaction instead of being objective.
మంత్రము చెప్ప మల్లుభొట్లు, తినడముకు యెల్లుభొట్లు.
mantramu cheppa mallubhotlu, tinadamuku yellubhotlu.
Mallubhoṭlu to read the prayers, and Ellubhoṭlu to eat. It was Ellubhoṭlu's part to read the prayers, but as he was an ignorant man Mallubhoṭlu officiated for him, while he attended to the eating part of the ceremony.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where one person does all the hard work or fulfills the responsibilities, while someone else steps in to enjoy the rewards or benefits. It highlights hypocrisy or an unfair division of labor where the person who should be working is absent, but is the first to arrive for the feast.
కాలు జారితే తీసుకో వచ్చునుగాని, నోరు జారితే తీసుకోలేము
kalu jarite tisuko vachchunugani, noru jarite tisukolemu
If your foot slips you may recover your balance, but if your mouth slips you cannot recall your words. A slip of the foot may be soon recovered; but that of the tongue perhaps never. Better a slip of the foot than of the tongue. (French.)* A word and a stone once let go cannot be recalled. (Spanish.)
This proverb emphasizes the permanence of spoken words. While a physical fall or slip can be recovered from, words spoken carelessly or hurtfully cannot be retracted once they are out. It is used as a caution to think carefully before speaking.
* Mieux vaut glisser du pied que de la langue. † Palabra y piedra suele no tiene vuelta.
చావాలని సన్యాసం తీసుకుంటే గంత బొంత గాడిదమోత అయినదట
chavalani sanyasam tisukunte ganta bonta gadidamota ayinadata
When one took sanyasam (renunciation) wanting to die, it turned into carrying a saddle, a quilt, and a donkey’s load.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone tries to escape their current problems or responsibilities by taking a drastic step, only to find themselves burdened with even more difficult or tedious tasks than before. It highlights that shortcuts or running away from reality often lead to more complications.
వండవే పెండ్లికూతురా అంటే కుండ తీసుకుని నీళ్ళకు వెళ్లుతాను అన్నదట.
vandave pendlikutura ante kunda tisukuni nillaku vellutanu annadata.
When the bride was asked to cook, she said she would take the pot and go for water.
This proverb describes someone who tries to avoid a difficult or primary responsibility by suggesting an easier or indirect task. It is used to mock people who give excuses or offer alternatives to escape the actual work assigned to them.
వండవే పెండ్లికూతురా అంటే, కుండ తీసుకొని నీళ్లకు వెళ్తాను అన్నదట
vandave pendlikutura ante, kunda tisukoni nillaku veltanu annadata
When the bride was asked to cook, she said she would take a pot and go for water.
This expression is used to describe someone who tries to avoid a difficult or primary task by opting for an easier or irrelevant chore. It signifies procrastination or dodging responsibility by being busy with something else.
ఆచారం ఆచారం అన్నంభొట్లూ అంటే, పెద్ద చెరువు కుక్క ముట్టుకొన్నది అన్నట్టు.
acharam acharam annambhotlu ante, pedda cheruvu kukka muttukonnadi annattu.
[ Seeing a hypocrite ] they cried out, “O Annambhotlu! purity! purity!” He answered “Alas! a dog has touched the big tank.”
This proverb is used to mock hypocritical or excessive obsession with ritual purity or rules. It suggests that while someone is fussing over minor details of cleanliness or tradition, a much larger, unavoidable 'impurity' or problem has already occurred, rendering their fussing pointless.