తల్లిదండ్రులు అన్నదమ్ములున్నా పొలతికి పురుషుడు కొరవే

tallidandrulu annadammulunna polatiki purushudu korave

Translation

Even if there are parents and brothers, for a woman, a husband is indispensable.

Meaning

This proverb emphasizes that despite having the support and love of her birth family (parents and siblings), a married woman's primary source of security, status, and companionship in traditional society is her husband. It is used to highlight the unique and essential role a spouse plays in a woman's life.

Related Phrases

When called 'Son of a donkey', he replied 'Then you are the father and we are the children'.

This proverb is used to describe a witty or sarcastic retort to an insult. It highlights a situation where someone tries to insult another person, but the target cleverly turns the logic back on the insulter, making them the target of their own abuse. It is used when someone attempts to belittle others but ends up looking foolish due to the recipient's quick-witted response.

To those who are unwilling to work, those who say 'no' are like parents.

This expression is used to describe lazy people who look for excuses to avoid work. Just as children are happy when parents tell them they don't have to do something, a lazy person feels grateful and relieved when someone stops them from working or gives them a reason to quit.

Ever-poor man - Worry-free man

This expression suggests that a person who has absolutely nothing to lose is free from the anxieties and worries that come with protecting wealth or status. It is used to describe a state where poverty, while a hardship, brings a certain level of mental peace because there is no fear of loss or theft.

Yawning has elder and younger brothers, sneezing has not even a younger brother. Yawning is sympathetic, sneezing is not. A good gaper makes two gapers. (French.)

This proverb is used to describe the contagious nature of certain actions versus the sudden, isolated nature of others. Yawning is socially contagious—when one person yawns, others often follow (the 'brothers'). In contrast, a sneeze is sudden and usually happens alone without triggering others to do the same. It highlights how some behaviors spread through a group while others remain individual.

Copper moustaches for a beautiful man.

This expression is used sarcastically to describe a situation where someone who is already flawed or unattractive has an additional peculiar or weird feature that makes them look even worse. It is often applied to a person or a situation that is already problematic and then acquires another ridiculous defect.

For a lazy person, those who say 'don't do it' are like parents.

This proverb is used to mock lazy people who are unwilling to work. Just as children love parents who don't force them to do chores, a lazy person considers anyone who discourages work or gives them an excuse to be idle as their greatest benefactor or well-wisher.

A man born on Navami and a woman born on Amavasya.

This is a traditional Telugu proverb used to describe individuals who are believed to be difficult to manage, stubborn, or troublesome. In Vedic astrology, Navami is considered a harsh day for men and Amavasya is considered difficult for women. It is used metaphorically to refer to people who cause stress to those around them.

A husband according to the worship [ of the wife ], a son according to the good works [ of the father ].

This proverb suggests that the quality of one's life partners and children is a result of one's past deeds, character, and spiritual merit. It is used to imply that the rewards or the caliber of people in one's life are proportionate to the effort and virtue one has cultivated.

An ox with a caught leg - a man who has lost his wife.

This proverb highlights a state of helplessness and loss of productivity. An ox with a leg injury is useless for farming, and similarly, in a traditional context, a widower is depicted as being lost or unable to manage his household and life effectively without his partner.

Among men, virtuous men are distinct.

This expression is a famous line from Yogi Vemana's poems. It signifies that while all humans may look alike on the outside, virtuous or noble people stand apart due to their character and actions, just as a swan is distinguished from a crow or a gemstone from common pebbles.