రాగం రాని వాడికి పాట మోజు, తాళం రాని వాడికి భజన మోజు
ragam rani vadiki pata moju, talam rani vadiki bhajana moju
One who cannot sing a tune is fond of songs; one who has no rhythm is fond of bhajans.
This proverb is used to mock people who lack the actual skill or talent for something yet display an excessive, often annoying, enthusiasm for it. It highlights the irony of people being most passionate about things they are least qualified for.
Related Phrases
బడికి బెత్తం మడికి గెత్తం
badiki bettam madiki gettam
A cane for the school and manure for the field.
This proverb emphasizes the importance of discipline and nourishment for growth. Just as a field needs fertilizer (manure) to yield a good crop, a student needs discipline (symbolized by the cane) to acquire knowledge and character. It is used to explain that different environments require specific tools or methods to produce the best results.
సంచి లేని వాడికి ముష్టి లేదు, మనసు లేని వాడికి మోక్షం లేదు.
sanchi leni vadiki mushti ledu, manasu leni vadiki moksham ledu.
One without a bag gets no alms, one without a pure mind gets no salvation.
This proverb emphasizes that preparation and intention are necessary for results. Just as a beggar cannot receive charity without a container to hold it, a person cannot achieve spiritual liberation or success without the right mindset and sincerity. It is often used to highlight that internal readiness is as important as external effort.
చచ్చినవాడికి పిండివంటలు, బతికినవాడికి బండెడు అప్పులు.
chachchinavadiki pindivantalu, batikinavadiki bandedu appulu.
Delicacies for the dead, a cartload of debts for the living.
This proverb highlights the irony of human traditions where people spend extravagantly on funeral rituals and feasts for the deceased, often by borrowing money, which leaves the surviving family members in deep financial distress. It is used to criticize performative social customs that prioritize ritualistic honor over the practical welfare of the living.
కులం లేని వాడికి గుణం లేని వాడికి పిలిచి పిల్లనిస్తారా?
kulam leni vadiki gunam leni vadiki pilichi pillanistara?
Will anyone call and give their daughter in marriage to one without a lineage or one without character?
This expression emphasizes that social standing (lineage) and personal character are the primary criteria for trust and alliance in society. It is used to suggest that certain fundamental qualities are essential for someone to be considered worthy of respect or a significant responsibility like marriage.
రాజుగారి మోజు భోగందానికి భోగం
rajugari moju bhogandaniki bhogam
The King's whim is a luxury for the courtesan.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone's passion, interest, or fancy for something results in an unexpected benefit or luxury for another. It highlights how the personal desires of those in power or wealth can become a source of livelihood or gain for others.
కోపం వచ్చి కారం తిన్నట్లు
kopam vachchi karam tinnatlu
Eating chili powder out of anger.
This expression describes a situation where someone, in a fit of rage, takes an action that only ends up hurting themselves rather than the person they are angry with. It is used to caution against self-destructive behavior driven by spite or temper.
పనిచేయని వాడికి ప్రగల్భాలెక్కువ
panicheyani vadiki pragalbhalekkuva
The one who does no work boasts the most.
This expression is used to describe people who talk grandly about their abilities or achievements but contribute very little in reality. It is similar to the English idiom 'Empty vessels make the most noise'.
ఎవడి జందెం వాడికి ముప్పు
evadi jandem vadiki muppu
One's own sacred thread is a danger to oneself.
This proverb describes a situation where a person's own characteristic, possession, or identity becomes the cause of their downfall or trouble. It is used when someone is trapped or harmed by their own tools or status.
ఎవడి పిచ్చి వాడికానందం
evadi pichchi vadikanandam
Each person's madness is their own joy.
This proverb suggests that everyone has their own unique eccentricities, hobbies, or obsessions that might seem irrational to others but bring great satisfaction to themselves. It is used to express that happiness is subjective and one shouldn't judge what makes another person happy, even if it seems foolish.
దిక్కులేని వాడికి దేవుడే దిక్కు
dikkuleni vadiki devude dikku
For those who have no one, God is the only refuge
This proverb is used to convey that when a person is helpless, abandoned, or has no support system (orphans, the destitute, or the oppressed), the divine power or providence is their ultimate protector. It is often used to offer comfort in dire situations or to remind others that the helpless are under God's care.