పిల్లిని చంపిన పాపం నీది, బెల్లం తిన్న పాపం నాది
pillini champina papam nidi, bellam tinna papam nadi
You take the sin of killing the cat, I'll take the sin of eating your molasses. Said by a stingy Kômati to a Brahman priest to whom he had presented tha cheapest possible offering that would expiate the sin he had committed by killing a cat, viz., a little image of a cat made of molasses, which he afterwards was greedy enough to take back again and swallow.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone hypocritically tries to equate a major transgression with a minor or harmless act. It highlights a person's clever but unfair way of shifting blame or normalizing their own small gains while others face the consequences of serious mistakes. It is often used to mock someone who tries to share 'blame' in a way that actually benefits them.
Related Phrases
తండ్రిని చంపబోయిన పాపము అత్తవారింటికి పోయి అంబటికట్ట తెగేవరకు ఉంటే పోను.
tandrini champaboyina papamu attavarintiki poyi ambatikatta tegevaraku unte ponu.
The sin of intending to kill your father will be effaced if you go to your mother-in-law's house and stay there till the porridge dish is burst. A man was in the habit of telling his friends when they enquired how his son progressed with his studies that he was very stupid and idle. This he did from a superstitious dread of his son being struck by the evil eye of an envious person if he praised him. The son, not understanding his father's motive and being greatly irritated, determined to kill him. He got upon a beam over his father's couch and was about to drop a large stone on his head when he fortunately overheard him explaining to his mother the reason of his strange conduct. The boy then came down and fell at his father's feet confessing his murderous intentions and begging for for- giveness and to be shown a way of expiating his sin. The father replied to him in the words of the Proverb, telling him he was to remain in his mother-in-law's house until the porridge dish was broken. He went, and after having been paid the usual attentions for a day or two was afterwards treated with rudeness and fed with poor fare. At last the butter milk was one day poured so roughly into his porridge that the side of it gave way. He was then released from his expiatory ordeal and returned home rejoicing!
This is a humorous and sarcastic proverb used to describe the difficulties and loss of respect a man faces when he stays for an excessively long time at his in-laws' house (Illarikam). It suggests that the humiliation and hardship endured there are so severe that they could compensate even for the gravest of sins.
కోపం పాపమునకు పొత్తు
kopam papamunaku pottu
Anger is a partner to sin
This proverb suggests that anger is the root cause or a close companion of sinful actions. It implies that when a person is angry, they lose their sense of judgment and are more likely to commit wrongdoings or harmful acts.
పుణ్యానికి పోతే పాపం ఎదురొచ్చినట్లు
punyaniki pote papam edurochchinatlu
When he went to do good, evil met him.
This expression is used when a person tries to do a good deed or help someone, but instead of receiving gratitude or a good result, they end up facing trouble, blame, or negative consequences. It is similar to the English saying 'No good deed goes unpunished'.
తాను చేసిన పాపం తనువుతో, తల్లి చేసిన పాపం ధరణితో.
tanu chesina papam tanuvuto, talli chesina papam dharanito.
The sin which a man commits goes with his body, the sin which his mother commits goes with the earth. This is interpreted to mean that if a man commits the sin of adultery, his crime may be expiated by a punishment equal to loss of life, but if a woman is guilty of the same offence, it clings to her descendants as long as the world endures.
This proverb highlights the depth of maternal influence and consequences. It suggests that while an individual's misdeeds might only affect their own physical being or lifespan, a mother's actions have far-reaching, generational effects that impact the lineage or the land itself. It is used to emphasize the heavy responsibility of a mother's conduct.
చేసిన పాపము చెప్పితే మానును.
chesina papamu cheppite manunu.
Sin is removed by confession. Confession of a fault makes half amends. A sin confessed is half forgiven. (Italian.)
This proverb emphasizes the importance of confession and accountability. It suggests that acknowledging one's mistakes or wrongdoings openly helps in reducing the burden of guilt and paves the way for forgiveness or self-correction. It is used to encourage people to be honest about their faults rather than hiding them.
కుక్కను చంపిన పాపం గుడి కట్టినా పోదు
kukkanu champina papam gudi kattina podu
The sin of killing a dog cannot be expiated even by building a temple.
This expression is used to emphasize that certain misdeeds or cruel acts are so grave that no amount of subsequent good deeds, charity, or religious penance can atone for them. It highlights that the consequences of a fundamental wrong cannot be easily erased by superficial acts of virtue.
తాను చేసిన పాపం తనువుతో, తల్లి చేసిన పాపం ధరణితో.
tanu chesina papam tanuvuto, talli chesina papam dharanito.
The sin committed by oneself stays with the body, the sin committed by the mother stays with the earth.
This proverb highlights the gravity and consequences of actions. It suggests that while an individual's personal mistakes or sins affect their own physical being or life journey, a mother's actions have a much broader, foundational impact on the lineage or the environment. It is often used to emphasize accountability and the lasting legacy of one's deeds.
ఆపదకు పాపం లేదు
apadaku papam ledu
There is no sin in times of danger/adversity.
This proverb suggests that in life-threatening or extreme crisis situations, standard moral rules or rigid religious restrictions may be overlooked for survival. It is similar to the concept of 'Necessity knows no law.' It is used to justify an unconventional action taken during an emergency that would otherwise be considered wrong.
ప్రాణం తీపా, బెల్లం తీపా?
pranam tipa, bellam tipa?
Is life sweeter than molasses ? Said of a peculiarly timid nervous man.
This rhetorical question is used to emphasize that nothing is more precious than one's own life. It is often said when someone takes extreme measures or compromises to save themselves in a life-threatening situation, highlighting that self-preservation is the ultimate human instinct.
పాపం ఉంటే భయం, పల్లం ఉంటే నీళ్లు
papam unte bhayam, pallam unte nillu
Where there is sin there will be fear, where there is low ground there will be water.
This proverb highlights natural consequences. Just as water naturally flows and settles in low-lying areas (slopes), guilt or fear naturally follows a person who has committed a wrong act. It is used to describe how a guilty conscience is always fearful of being caught or punished.