ప్రారబ్ధం బాగా లేకపోతే పై బట్టే పామై కరుస్తుంది.
prarabdham baga lekapote pai batte pamai karustundi.
If destiny is unfavorable, even the garment on your body will turn into a snake and bite you.
This proverb describes the height of misfortune. It implies that when a person is going through a period of extreme bad luck or ill-fate, even the most harmless and trusted things around them will turn hostile and cause them harm. It is used to express that no amount of precaution can save someone if their time is bad.
Related Phrases
మొగుడు లేకపోతే అప్ప మొగుడు, కూర లేకపోతే పప్పకూర.
mogudu lekapote appa mogudu, kura lekapote pappakura.
If a husband is not there, then the elder sister's husband; if a curry is not there, then dal.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone settles for a substitute or an alternative when the original or preferred choice is unavailable. It highlights the human tendency to find a replacement, sometimes even an inappropriate or simplified one, just to fill a void.
కాలం కలిసి రాక పోతె, కర్రె పామై కాటు వేస్తుంది.
kalam kalisi raka pote, karre pamai katu vestundi.
If time is not favorable, even a stick becomes a snake and bites.
Adverse circumstances make matters worse when times are not favorable.
అన్నము లేకపోతే వరి అన్నము, బట్ట లేకపోతే పట్టుబట్ట.
annamu lekapote vari annamu, batta lekapote pattubatta.
If you have no common food, [give me] the best; if you have no common cloth, [give me] a silk one.
This is a sarcastic expression used to describe someone who, when they lack basic necessities, demands or expects high-end luxuries instead of seeking practical alternatives. It highlights the irony of having extravagant tastes or unrealistic expectations while being in a state of poverty or deprivation.
Said by an impertinent beggar when refused assistance by a stingy person.
పది వేస్తే పచ్చిపులుసు, లేకపోతే పాడుపులుసు
padi veste pachchipulusu, lekapote padupulusu
If ten are added, it is raw tamarind soup; otherwise, it is spoiled soup.
This expression is used to highlight that a task or project can only be successful if the necessary resources, efforts, or people are involved. Without the essential ingredients or support, the result is worthless or a failure. It emphasizes the importance of adequacy and contribution.
కాలం తీరిందంటే పమిట చెరగే పామై కరుస్తుంది.
kalam tirindante pamita cherage pamai karustundi.
When time is up, even the end of one's saree can turn into a snake and bite.
This proverb conveys the idea of fatalism or destiny. It means that when someone's bad time or end arrives, even the most harmless and familiar things can turn into sources of danger or destruction. It is used to describe situations where everything goes wrong despite precautions.
కరవమంటే పాముకు కోపం, వదలమంటే కప్పకు కోపం
karavamante pamuku kopam, vadalamante kappaku kopam
If told to bite, the snake gets angry; if told to let go, the frog gets angry.
This proverb is used to describe a dilemma or a 'catch-22' situation where any decision made will result in displeasing one party or causing a problem. It reflects a state of being stuck between two difficult choices where you cannot satisfy everyone.
కాని కాలానికి కట్టె పామై కరుస్తుంది
kani kalaniki katte pamai karustundi
In bad times, even a stick turns into a snake and bites.
This proverb is used to describe a period of misfortune where everything seems to go wrong. It implies that when one is going through a streak of bad luck, even harmless objects or trusted situations can unexpectedly cause harm or turn against them.
కాలం కానప్పుడు ఆలే తేలై కరుస్తుంది
kalam kanappudu ale telai karustundi
When times are not favorable, even one's wife can bite like a scorpion
This proverb describes the misfortune of bad timing or a period of bad luck. It suggests that when one is going through a terrible phase in life, even the most trusted people or reliable things will turn against them or cause unexpected harm. It is used to express how everything seems to go wrong simultaneously during hard times.
చింత లేదు, చింత లేకపోతే పులుసు లేదు.
chinta ledu, chinta lekapote pulusu ledu.
"No matter" said one, "Then if there's no tamarind, there's no acid" said the other. There is here a pun upon the word Chinta which means both "thought, sorrow" and also "tamarinds."
This is a pun on the Telugu word 'Chinta' which means both 'worry' and 'tamarind'. It is used humorously to describe a situation where someone says they have no worries, but in reality, they are missing a basic necessity or the very thing that gives life flavor. It highlights that being completely free of 'concerns' might sometimes mean lacking something essential.
ఎద్దు పోగలేదు, పైన బాగలేదు
eddu pogaledu, paina bagaledu
The ox cannot walk, and the weather above is not good.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone makes multiple excuses to avoid work. It implies that both internal capability (the ox) and external conditions (the weather) are being blamed to justify inaction or laziness.