పొరుగూరు పోగానే పోవునా దుర్దశ

poruguru pogane povuna durdasha

Translation

Will bad luck vanish just by going to a neighboring village?

Meaning

Changing locations or moving to a different place does not necessarily solve one's problems if they are inherent or caused by poor luck/decisions. It highlights that destiny or the consequences of one's actions follow them wherever they go, and running away is not a solution to fundamental misfortune.

Related Phrases

Will a black dog become a holy cow by merely going to Benares?

A change in location or environment does not change a person's inherent nature or character. This proverb is used to point out that visiting holy places or performing external rituals cannot wash away deep-seated flaws or transform someone who is fundamentally wicked into someone virtuous.

Formal observances cannot make a sinful man holy. He that goes a beast to Rome, a beast returns. ( Italian. )* Send a fool to the market, and a fool he'll return.

Time passes, but the word remains.

This expression emphasizes the lasting impact of one's words compared to the fleeting nature of time. It is used to remind someone to be careful with their speech or promises, as people will remember what was said long after the moment has passed.

Will your sins vanish if you go to a neighboring village?

This proverb emphasizes that one cannot escape the consequences of their actions or their internal guilt simply by changing their location. Physical movement doesn't provide moral absolution. It is used to point out that a person's problems or character flaws follow them wherever they go.

If you let a tree grow old, will it break if you pinch it?

This proverb emphasizes that bad habits, problems, or children's misbehavior should be corrected when they are small or in their early stages. Once they grow strong or become deep-rooted over time, they become impossible to control or eliminate.

Will a snake bite go away if wiped with a saree?

This proverb is used to emphasize that serious problems or deep-seated issues cannot be solved with superficial or trivial remedies. Just as the venom of a snake bite cannot be removed by simply wiping the skin with a piece of cloth, complex challenges require appropriate and effective actions rather than mere symbolic gestures.

Will the blackness go away if you wash charcoal with milk?

This proverb is used to describe an inherent nature or character trait that cannot be changed regardless of how much effort is put into refining or cleaning it. It is often applied to people with deep-seated negative traits or stubborn habits.

Ninety-nine persons joined together [ attacked a man, but only ] succeeded in scratching his skin. A cowardly mob.

This proverb is used to mock a situation where a large group of people gathers to perform a simple task but ends up overcomplicating it or making a huge fuss about a very minor achievement. It highlights inefficiency and the lack of coordination despite having many people involved.

* Domanda al mio caro se sono ladro. 26

If the almanacs are lost, will the stars disappear?

This proverb is used to convey that truth or reality does not depend on documentation or records. Even if the books (panchangams) containing astronomical data are lost, the stars in the sky remain. It suggests that fundamental facts remain unchanged regardless of whether we have the means to track or prove them at a given moment.

Service in another village and farming in another village eat you up; you do not get to eat them.

This proverb highlights the inefficiency and loss associated with managing tasks or assets from a distance. Just as working as a laborer or farming land in a distant village involves high costs, travel time, and lack of direct supervision, the expenses and efforts end up consuming the person's resources ('eating them up') rather than providing a livelihood or profit ('you don't eat them'). It is used to advise against taking up ventures where one cannot exercise direct control or where overheads exceed returns.

Will a Mussulman become a Dâsari by going to Tirapati? Tirapati ( prop. Tirupati ) is a sacred hill about 80 miles from Madras.

This proverb is used to emphasize that a person's fundamental nature, identity, or habits do not change simply by visiting a place or changing their environment. It highlights that external actions do not necessarily lead to internal transformations.