రామాయణం రాసింది బోయ, భారతం రాసింది కోయ.

ramayanam rasindi boya, bharatam rasindi koya.

Translation

Ramayana was written by a Boya, Mahabharata was written by a Koya.

Meaning

This proverb is used to highlight that greatness and knowledge are not the birthright of any specific caste or social status. Valmiki (who wrote the Ramayana) was from the Boya community, and Vyasa (who wrote the Mahabharata) was the son of a fisherwoman. It serves as an example of social equality in spiritual and intellectual achievement.

Related Phrases

A Mahabharata the size of a winnowing basket - A Ramayana the size of a thorn bush.

This expression is used to describe an excessively long, tedious, and never-ending explanation or story. It refers to someone who stretches a simple point into a confusing and unnecessarily detailed narrative, much like calling a small winnowing basket (cheta) or a small fence (kampa) as grand epics like Mahabharata or Ramayana.

What the body does and what the mind does will result in good.

This expression reflects a philosophical or fatalistic outlook, suggesting that whatever happens—whether driven by physical actions or mental intentions—is ultimately for the best or part of a larger destiny. It is often used to provide consolation during unexpected outcomes or to emphasize that things work out for the better in the long run.

Spring has arrived, and the cuckoo has sung.

This expression is used to describe a natural or harmonious sequence of events where everything happens as it should at the right time. It signifies the onset of a beautiful season or a positive change, often used metaphorically to indicate that good times or expected outcomes have finally manifested.

Brahma wrote the fate, Lakshmana drew the line.

This expression is used to describe a situation where one's destiny is fixed by a higher power (Brahma) and strict boundaries or rules are set by an authority figure (Lakshmana). It implies that a person is bound by both their predetermined fate and the rigid constraints of their current circumstances, leaving no room for change or escape.

The Râmâyana is [a tale of] adultery; the Bhârata is obscene; the Bhâgavata is a lie.

This is a paradoxical or cynical saying used to highlight how critics or those with a narrow perspective can misinterpret the core themes of the great epics. It refers to how someone who doesn't understand the spiritual context might only see the abduction of Sita (Ramayana), the harsh violence/politics (Mahabharata), or the supernatural miracles (Bhagavatam) as negative traits.

Writing on water

This expression refers to something that is temporary, unstable, or unreliable. Just as words written on the surface of water disappear instantly, it is used to describe promises that aren't kept, plans that have no foundation, or things that lack longevity.

Ramayana is about infidelity, Mahabharata is about lies.

This provocative proverb is used to criticize or point out that even the greatest epics contain flaws and moral complexities. In a broader sense, it is used to argue that no one or nothing is perfect, or to justify small mistakes by comparing them to the controversial actions found in sacred texts. It suggests that if even the gods faced such allegations, human errors are inevitable.

When asked to write a letter, he said his legs were aching; when asked what legs have to do with it, he said he would have to be the one to go and read what he wrote.

This is a humorous proverb used to describe a person who makes absurd or circular excuses to avoid doing work. It highlights a lazy individual who complicates a simple task with illogical reasoning just to escape responsibility.

When one woman said only her husband could read what he wrote, another replied that even her husband couldn't read what he himself wrote.

This is a humorous Telugu proverb used to describe extremely illegible or bad handwriting. It mocks a situation where a person's writing is so poor that not even the author can decipher it later. It is used in contexts where someone tries to show off their unique skill or work, only to be outdone by someone else's even more chaotic or incompetent version.

Should what was written for Sita be written for the whole world?

This expression is used to describe an extremely slow or tedious writer. It implies that the person is taking so much time to write a simple letter or note that it feels as if they are documenting the history of an entire region (Seema). It is used to mock someone's inefficiency or unnecessary delay in completing a simple writing task.