రక్షించని వాణ్ణి భక్షించినట్లు.

rakshinchani vanni bhakshinchinatlu.

Translation

Like devouring the one who does not protect.

Meaning

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone who is expected to provide help or protection instead causes harm or destruction. It refers to a betrayal of trust or a scenario where a person's lack of support leads to an even more predatory or damaging outcome.

Related Phrases

For Lakshmayya who eats ten sweets, is one sweet a matter of concern?

This proverb is used to describe a person who handles large challenges or massive tasks effortlessly, implying that a minor version of that task is trivial for them. It plays on the name 'Lakshmayya' and the word 'Lakshyam' (target/concern). It is similar to saying 'A person used to dealing with thousands won't blink at a single rupee.'

Eat the one who saved you, he said.

This expression refers to extreme ingratitude or backstabbing. It describes a situation where someone harms or betrays the person who provided them with protection, help, or a livelihood. It is used to criticize those who bite the hand that feeds them.

For the illiterate Virupaksha Deekshita, are twenty-one sweets a challenge?

This expression is used to describe someone who lacks knowledge or skill in a particular area but excels in consumption or simple physical tasks. It highlights a contrast between a lack of intellectual depth ('illiterate') and a huge appetite or capacity for material indulgence. It is often used sarcastically to refer to someone who is more interested in eating than learning.

Like devouring the one who saved you.

This expression describes extreme ingratitude or betrayal. It is used when someone harms or ruins the very person who helped, supported, or saved them in their time of need.

Only if the wings move, the stomach can be filled

This is a common Telugu proverb used to describe the lives of daily wage laborers or poor people. It means that one must work hard every single day just to afford a meal. If they stop working for even a day, they will go hungry. It highlights a hand-to-mouth existence where survival depends entirely on continuous physical labor.

For a person with an empty/illiterate stomach like Virupaksha Dikshita, is eating twenty-one sweets even a challenge?

This proverb is used to describe a person who is uneducated or lacks intellectual depth (nirakshara kukshi) but has an insatiable appetite or a singular focus on material consumption. It suggests that for someone who doesn't spend time on learning or refinement, performing a task of indulgence—like eating a large number of sweets—is effortless and of no consequence.

Lusting after vomited food.

This proverb is used to describe a person who returns to something they once rejected or discarded with disgust. It highlights a lack of self-respect or dignity when someone seeks out a thing, person, or position they previously deemed worthless or beneath them.

Like how circling a cow gives the same merit as circling the entire earth.

This proverb is used when a small, symbolic, or smart action yields the same significant results as a massive, laborious task. It highlights efficiency and the importance of intent over physical exertion.

Fire tests gold, and misfortune tests the brave-hearted.

Just as fire is used to determine the purity of gold by burning away dross, hardship and adversity serve as a test for a person's character and mental strength. This expression is used to highlight that true courage and resilience are only revealed during difficult times.

Are you to devour the man who has protected you ?

This expression is used to convey a sense of loyalty and gratitude. It highlights that one should never harm or betray their benefactor or savior. It is often used to show a commitment to integrity even when facing temptation.

Save a thief from the gallows, and he will be the first to cut your throat.