పిల్లలు లేనిది ఇల్లు కాదు, పిట్టలు లేనిది తోపు కాదు

pillalu lenidi illu kadu, pittalu lenidi topu kadu

Translation

A house without children is not a home, and a grove without birds is not a grove.

Meaning

This proverb highlights the essential elements that bring life and joy to a place. Just as birds are vital for the vibrancy and identity of a grove (orchard), children are considered the soul and joy of a household. It is used to emphasize the importance of children in making a home feel complete and lively.

Related Phrases

A court is not complete without a war-drum, and a sweet bun (boore) is not complete without soaking.

This proverb emphasizes that certain things are incomplete or ineffective without their essential components. Just as a royal assembly lacks dignity without the sound of the veeranam (drum), a traditional sweet like Boore will not be tasty or soft if the batter/filling isn't soaked or fermented properly. It is used to highlight the importance of fundamental requirements for any task or entity to be successful.

A house without books is like a room without windows

This expression highlights the importance of books in providing perspective and knowledge. Just as windows allow light and fresh air into a room, books provide intellectual light and an outlook on the outside world, making a home enlightened and complete.

A shed is not a house, and a traveler is not a husband.

This proverb highlights the importance of stability and permanence. Just as a temporary thatched shed (pandiri) cannot provide the security of a permanent home, a person who is just passing through (paradesi) cannot fulfill the long-term responsibilities or provide the stability expected of a spouse. It is used to caution against relying on temporary arrangements or people who lack commitment.

A house without elders is like a monastery without enlightened souls.

This proverb emphasizes the importance of elders in a family. Just as a monastery requires experienced spiritual masters (Siddhas) to maintain discipline and guidance, a household needs the wisdom and experience of elders to function properly and maintain traditions.

That which exists does not leave, and that which does not exist does not come.

This proverb expresses a sense of stoicism or fatalism regarding one's destiny or inherent nature. It means that what is meant to be yours will stay, and what is not destined for you cannot be acquired. It is often used to console someone facing loss or to suggest that some things are unchangeable and predetermined by fate.

One who does not have a single thread of knowledge is not a scholar.

This expression is used to describe someone who lacks even the most basic knowledge or foundational understanding of a subject, yet claims to be an expert. Just as a piece of cloth cannot exist without a thread, a teacher or scholar ('Pantulu') cannot exist without basic wisdom or character.

One son is not a son, and one tree is not a grove.

This proverb emphasizes that relying on a single resource or individual is risky. Just as a single tree cannot provide the shade or abundance of an entire forest/grove, having only one child (in a traditional context) or one plan was seen as precarious because if that one fails, there is no backup or support system.

Neither a housewife for the home, nor a pot for the stack.

This expression is used to describe someone or something that is completely useless or fails to serve any intended purpose. Just as a woman who doesn't care for the home isn't a true housewife, and a broken or ill-fitting pot cannot be part of a stack (donthi), a person who lacks utility in their designated role is described this way.

Without a woman it is a forest; without a man it is a monastery.

This proverb highlights the importance of both genders in maintaining a balanced household. It implies that a home without a woman's presence feels wild and disorganized like a forest, while a home without a man feels lonely or austere like a monastery. It emphasizes domestic completeness through partnership.

That which has not been brought forth is not a child ; that which is not worn is not a garment. Nothing belonging to others can make up for the want of one's own.

This expression highlights the value of personal experience, biological connection, and practical utility. It suggests that the true essence or value of something is realized only when it fulfills its primary purpose or has a direct personal bond. It is often used to emphasize that ownership or a relationship is truly meaningful only when it is direct and earned, rather than through secondary means.