పుట్ట మీద తేలు కుట్టినా, నాగుమయ్య మహిమేనా?

putta mida telu kuttina, nagumayya mahimena?

Translation

If one is stung by a scorpion on an ant hill has it the venom of the snake-god ?

Meaning

This proverb is used to mock people who blindly attribute every random or negative occurrence to divine will or a specific person's influence. It highlights the absurdity of giving credit (or blame) to a deity or a powerful figure for an unrelated event that happened in their vicinity.

Notes

Puttā is a white ant hill, where snakes are found. Applied to a person supposing himself to have been injured through the malice of an enemy.

Related Phrases

Like paying money to get stung by a scorpion.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone spends money or effort only to invite trouble or harm upon themselves. It refers to self-inflicted misery or bad investments that lead to painful consequences.

Like a thief, stung by a scorpion.

This refers to some criminal who cannot even complain. If a person is doing something criminal, he cannot complain against a natural problem/discomfort he has to face. The moral is that it is better not to commit blunders one may find it difficult to get out of them.

Like a robber stung by a scorpion. A man does not cry out when he suffers from his own folly.

This expression describes a situation where someone is suffering or facing a problem but cannot complain or cry out for help because doing so would reveal their own wrongdoings or secrets. Just as a thief cannot scream when stung by a scorpion while stealing for fear of getting caught, it refers to a state of silent, helpless suffering.

The evil/burden on the person has transferred to the earth.

This expression is used when a person narrowly escapes a misfortune or when an object is broken/lost instead of a person getting hurt. It signifies that the bad luck or evil eye intended for the person was absorbed by the earth or a material object, resulting in a sense of relief.

Like a monkey bitten by a scorpion

This expression is used to describe a person who is naturally restless or mischievous, but becomes even more hyperactive, erratic, or uncontrollable due to a specific provocation or situation. It highlights a state of extreme agitation added to an already unstable personality.

Like a scorpion stinging a jester. No one believes it. One may cry " Wolf !" too often. క్ష.

This expression is used to describe a situation where a person who is usually funny or non-serious is genuinely suffering or in trouble, but others mistake it for a joke or part of an act. It refers to a tragedy that is perceived as comedy by observers, leading to a lack of sympathy or help when it is actually needed.

Like a thief getting stung by a scorpion while breaking into a house

This proverb describes a situation where a person performing an illegal or unethical act meets with an unexpected problem or pain, but cannot cry out for help or complain because doing so would reveal their own wrongdoing. It is used to describe a predicament where someone must suffer in silence due to their own secret faults.

Like paying money to get stung by a scorpion.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone knowingly or unknowingly spends their resources (money, time, or effort) only to end up with trouble or self-inflicted harm. It is used when a person's own actions or investments lead to a negative outcome for themselves.

Like showing anger toward the mother-in-law on the earthen pot.

This expression describes a situation where someone takes out their frustration or anger on an innocent third party or an inanimate object because they cannot confront the person who actually caused the provocation. It is similar to the concept of 'displaced aggression'.

Truth is known upon settling down

This expression means that the truth will eventually reveal itself over time. It is used to suggest that one should be patient when facing false accusations or confusion, as time and stability will eventually bring the facts to light.