రాతిలో కప్ప, రాతిలోనే బ్రతికినట్లు.

ratilo kappa, ratilone bratikinatlu.

Translation

Like a frog in a stone, living within the stone itself.

Meaning

This expression refers to someone who lives in a very limited or confined environment but still manages to survive. It is often used to describe people who are content with their narrow surroundings or those who manage to find sustenance and life in the most unlikely and difficult circumstances without external help.

Related Phrases

Eerakka inside the house and Perakka in the backyard

This proverb refers to a person who plays different roles or behaves differently in different situations, or more commonly, it describes two people who are constantly competing or causing trouble in their respective domains. It is often used to describe sisters-in-law or women in a household who are equally difficult to deal with or who divide their 'territories' of influence.

Even if you live for a long time, you cannot avoid going to the cremation ground.

This proverb emphasizes the inevitability of death. It signifies that no matter how long or prosperously one lives, life is temporary and death is the ultimate reality for every living being. It is often used to remind people to remain humble or to accept the cycle of life.

Does the one who rose from ruin have more courage, or does the one who fell from prosperity have more sorrows?

This proverb highlights the contrast between two life experiences: resilience and loss. It suggests that a person who has overcome failure (Chedi Brathikinavaadu) gains immense strength and bravery, whereas a person who has fallen from a high status (Brathiki Chedinavaadu) suffers from deep emotional pain and many hardships. It is often used to describe the psychological state of people based on their life's trajectory.

The life one lived is known at the time of death.

This proverb emphasizes that a person's true character, reputation, and the impact of their life's work are only fully realized and judged by society after they pass away. It is often used to suggest that one's legacy is defined by how they are remembered by others when they are gone.

Lime trees lived in the water, acacia trees lived in the jungle. Very common.

This proverb is used to describe how different people or things thrive in their natural or specific environments. It suggests that survival depends on being in the right place or situation suited to one's nature. It can also be used to indicate that despite hardships or varying conditions, everyone finds a way to exist in their own niche.

Who has survived forever (after passing away)?

This expression is used to remind others of the inevitability of death. It suggests that since no one lives forever, one should focus on living a meaningful life or doing good deeds while they are still alive, rather than worrying excessively about the end.

Lemons survived in the water, and acacia trees survived in the forest.

This expression is used to describe a situation where life goes on naturally in its respective environment without much external help. It implies that every living being or entity finds a way to survive and thrive in its own habitat or circumstances. It is often used to reassure someone that things will naturally fall into place or that people will manage to get by in their own ways.

Like extracting fiber from hair

This expression describes a task that is practically impossible or an attempt to find something where it doesn't exist. It is used to mock someone who is being overly pedantic, searching for non-existent flaws, or attempting a futile, logic-defying action.

Betel leaf preparation/offering in the dark.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone performs a task or offers something in a clumsy, improper, or unorganized manner due to a lack of preparation or transparency. It implies doing something secretly or without proper visibility, often leading to mistakes or poor quality.

Like saying 'Step in with your right foot, daughter,' regarding lives that are supposed to last forever.

This expression is used sarcastically to describe people who make grand, long-term plans or worry about trivial ceremonies and traditions, despite the inherent transience and uncertainty of human life. It mocks the irony of treating temporary existence as if it were eternal.