పొత్తుల మగడు పుచ్చి చచ్చెను.

pottula magadu puchchi chachchenu.

Translation

The joint-husband was neglected and died.

Meaning

This proverb describes a situation where a task or responsibility shared by many people ends up being neglected because everyone assumes someone else will take care of it. It is the Telugu equivalent of 'Everybody's business is nobody's business.' It is used when collective responsibility leads to total failure.

Notes

The ass that is common property is always the worst saddled. ( French. )*

Related Phrases

While she was mourning her husband's death, her lover came and threw stones at her.

This proverb describes a situation where a person is already dealing with a major tragedy or crisis, only to be further harassed or troubled by an insignificant or unwelcome person. It is used to highlight the height of misfortune or the insensitivity of others during a person's most vulnerable moments.

An envious person ruined things while living and ruined them even after dying.

This proverb describes a person with a deeply resentful or jealous nature who causes harm through their actions while alive and leaves behind such a mess or negative legacy that others suffer even after they are gone. It is used to describe people whose spiteful character knows no bounds.

When it was said let Achigadu die, it was Buchigadu who died.

This expression is used when a situation turns out contrary to expectations or when an unintended person suffers instead of the one who was supposed to. It highlights irony, bad luck, or the unpredictability of outcomes where the target remains safe but an innocent or different party is affected.

The envious Reddi ruined the village while living, and was a curse to it when dead. A Reddi who had oppressed the people of his village all his life, requested them, when dying, to burn his body in a certain spot. This they willingly acceded to, and took the Reddi's corpse there for that pur- pose, when they were attacked by the inhabitants of the neighbouring village, within the limit of which the Reddi had desired to be burned, and this became an everlasting cause of contention. ( See Tâtchâri's Tales Page 5. )

This proverb is used to describe a person with an intensely jealous or malicious nature who causes trouble for others throughout their life and whose legacy or final actions continue to cause problems even after they are gone. It refers to people who are so spiteful that their negative influence persists beyond their presence.

Giving what was given and taking back what was taken

This expression is used to describe a situation where an exchange or transaction results in no net gain or change, essentially returning to the original state. It is often used to describe futile efforts or circular logic where one ends up exactly where they started.

Achi's wedding led to Buchi's death

This proverb is used to describe a situation where one person's celebration or positive event unexpectedly results in trouble or a disaster for someone else. It highlights unintended negative consequences or a stroke of bad luck occurring simultaneously with a good event.

A common ox dies of neglect (decay).

This proverb refers to the 'tragedy of the commons'. When a responsibility is shared by many people without a single owner, nobody takes proper care of it, eventually leading to its ruin or death.

Calumny is not removed even by death.

This expression is used to describe a deeply ingrained habit, trait, or skill that stays with a person throughout their lifetime. It suggests that once something is learned or becomes part of a person's nature, it is nearly impossible to change or get rid of it.

Slander leaves a slur. Give a dog an ill name, and you may as well hang him.

The sheep which was the joint property of two persons, was deserted and died.

This proverb highlights the lack of individual responsibility in shared tasks. When a sheep is owned by multiple people in partnership, everyone assumes someone else is looking after its health, leading to neglect and its eventual death. It is used to describe situations where communal property or joint projects fail because no one takes specific ownership or accountability.

The ass of many owners is eaten by wolves. (Spanish.)* Between two stools fall to the bottom.

Dying halfway for Puranas, dying completely for music.

This proverb is used to describe tasks or hobbies that are extremely exhausting, time-consuming, or require immense struggle to master. It suggests that learning ancient scriptures (Puranas) takes half of one's life/energy, but mastering music (Sangeetam) demands one's entire life and soul.