సుక్షేత్రంలో దొండ, నల్లరేగడిలో నల్లేరు

sukshetramlo donda, nallaregadilo nalleru

Translation

Ivy gourd in a fertile field, and adamant creeper in black cotton soil.

Meaning

This expression is used to describe something that grows or thrives uncontrollably once it starts. Both ivy gourd (donda) and adamant creeper (nalleru) are highly invasive and resilient plants that spread rapidly in their preferred soils. It is often used metaphorically to describe a situation, a habit, or a person's influence that takes deep root and expands quickly, making it difficult to contain or stop.

Related Phrases

By the look of a man's eye, granite will be broken. The power of an evil eye.

This expression refers to the harmful power of the 'evil eye' or jealousy. It suggests that a person's envious gaze is so potent and destructive that it can shatter something as solid as a black granite stone. It is commonly used when someone experiences a sudden misfortune or when something breaks unexpectedly, attributing it to the jealousy of others.

Like carrying Cissus quadrangularis to the graveyard.

This expression is used to describe a redundant or futile activity. Since graveyard sites (bonda lakunta) are typically overgrown with weeds like Nalleru (veldt grape), bringing more of the same plant there is an unnecessary waste of effort. It is similar to the English idiom 'carrying coals to Newcastle'.

A field that cannot grow horse gram is a barren land.

Horse gram is known for its ability to grow even in poor, dry, and low-fertility soils. This proverb implies that if a land is so infertile that it cannot even support the growth of horse gram, it is completely useless or barren. It is used to describe something or someone that lacks even the most basic potential or capability.

Both are the same.

Used to describe two people or things that are equally bad, useless, or share the same negative traits. It is equivalent to the English expression 'six of one and half a dozen of the other' or 'two of a kind'.

Will the field yield fruit as soon as fertilizer is applied?

This expression emphasizes that everything takes its own time to yield results. Just as a crop doesn't grow instantly after being fertilized, efforts require patience and time before one can see the benefits. It is used to advise someone against expecting immediate success or results right after starting a task.

Even if sown in black cotton soil, only white sorghum will grow.

This proverb is used to emphasize that an object or person's inherent nature or quality remains unchanged regardless of the environment. Just as sowing white sorghum seeds in rich black soil won't change the color of the crop to black, a person's character or the fundamental result of an action is determined by its origin, not just the surroundings.

Like a cart moving over a Cissus quadrangularis (Nalleru) plant.

This expression is used to describe a process that is extremely smooth, easy, and without any obstacles. Just as a cart glides effortlessly over the soft, succulent Nalleru plant, it signifies that a task is being completed very easily.

The field is better than the seed

This proverb emphasizes that environment and upbringing (nurture) are often more influential than inherent traits or lineage (nature). Just as a good quality seed cannot flourish in barren soil, a talented person needs a supportive environment to succeed. It is used to highlight the importance of the surroundings in which someone grows or works.

A Dusari vine in a barren field.

This expression refers to something that is useless or of no value being found in a place where nothing productive can grow anyway. It is used to describe a situation where effort or resources are wasted on something that will never yield results, or when one useless thing is added to another unproductive environment.

Like a cart running over Nallêru. Nallêru is the Vitis ( Cissus ) Quadrangularis.

This expression is used to describe a process that is extremely smooth, effortless, and free of any obstacles. Since the Nalleru plant is succulent and slippery, a cart's wheels glide over it very easily.