ఊళ్ళోకి రాజుగారు వస్తున్నారంటే, పెళ్లాము వంక అనుమానంగా చూసినట్లు
ulloki rajugaru vastunnarante, pellamu vanka anumananga chusinatlu
When it is said the King is coming to the village, looking at one's wife suspiciously.
This proverb describes an absurd or extreme level of insecurity and over-cautiousness. Historically, powerful figures were feared for taking whatever they desired; however, doubting one's own spouse just because a powerful person enters the vicinity represents irrational anxiety or a lack of trust. It is used to mock someone who anticipates a problem that is highly unlikely or reacts disproportionately to a situation.
Related Phrases
తల్లి కడుపు చూచును, పెళ్లాము వీపు చూచును
talli kadupu chuchunu, pellamu vipu chuchunu
The mother will look at his belly the wife at his back. The mother will look to see how her son fares, the wife to see what her husband has brought home for her. Come but come stooping.
This proverb contrasts the different perspectives of love and dependency. A mother's love is selfless, worrying if her child has eaten enough (stomach), whereas a wife's perspective (historically in this context) might be focused on the provisions or earnings the husband brings home (the load on the back). It highlights the transition from being cared for to having responsibilities.
* 'Ακέφαλος μυθος. † II domandar costa poco.
గురువులు వస్తున్నారంటే, గోచులిప్పి తోరణాలు కట్టమన్నారట
guruvulu vastunnarante, gochulippi toranalu kattamannarata
When told the teachers were coming, they were asked to untie their loincloths to make decorative buntings.
This proverb describes a situation where someone acts with excessive or foolish enthusiasm to please someone in authority, even at the cost of their own dignity or basic needs. It is used to mock people who provide overboard, illogical, or self-destructive hospitality/service just to show off their devotion.
ఊరివారి బిడ్డను రాజుగారు కొడితే, రాజుగారి బిడ్డను దేవుడు కొట్టును.
urivari biddanu rajugaru kodite, rajugari biddanu devudu kottunu.
If the king strikes the child of a commoner, God will strike the child of the king.
This proverb emphasizes the principle of divine justice and karma. It suggests that those in power are not immune to consequences; if an authority figure treats a defenseless person unfairly, they or their legacy will eventually face retribution from a higher power. It serves as a warning against the misuse of power.
తంబళ అనుమానము
tambala anumanamu
The scrupulosity of a Śaiva priest. The Tambaḷas are a class of Śûdra priests who wear the sacred thread, and endeavour to observe Brahminical customs. Applied to foolish scruples.
This expression refers to excessive or unnecessary suspicion. It originates from a folklore where a priest (Tambala) remains suspicious of others' intentions even when things are straightforward, leading to self-created anxiety or complications. It is used to describe a person who doubts everything despite having no valid reason.
దౌలు దస్తు, పెండ్లాము పస్తు
daulu dastu, pendlamu pastu
Dashing appearance, but the wife is starving
This proverb describes a person who prioritizes maintaining a grand, flashy outward appearance or a luxurious lifestyle in society while neglecting the basic needs of their family at home. It is used to criticize vanity, hypocrisy, or financial mismanagement.
చిదికి చిదికి చిన్నవాని పెండ్లి చేసే సరికి, పెద్ద వాని పెండ్లాము పెద్దల లోకి పోయిందట
chidiki chidiki chinnavani pendli chese sariki, pedda vani pendlamu peddala loki poyindata
By the time the youngest son's wedding was arranged with great struggle, the eldest son's wife passed away.
This proverb describes a situation where one problem is solved with extreme difficulty only for another major crisis to occur. It highlights the irony of fate where despite continuous efforts to settle or fix affairs in a family or project, things never reach a state of completion or peace because new setbacks arise immediately.
చూచి రమ్మంటే పెండ్లాడి వచ్చినట్లు
chuchi rammante pendladi vachchinatlu
When asked to just go and see, he came back married.
This proverb describes a situation where someone exceeds their brief or instructions in an impulsive or extreme way, often causing unintended consequences. It is used when a person is sent for a simple task but ends up making a major, permanent decision without permission.
గరుత్మంతుణ్ని చూచిన పాము వలె
garutmantunni chuchina pamu vale
Like a snake seeing Garutmat. Garutmat or Garuda ( No. 751 ) was "the king of the feathered tribes, and the remorseless enemy of the serpent race." ( Vishṇu Purāṇa—Wilson's trans. )
This expression is used to describe someone who is suddenly paralyzed by extreme fear or becomes completely submissive and silent in the presence of a powerful authority figure or enemy. Garuda is the mythical eagle and the natural predator of snakes, so a snake becomes helpless upon seeing him.
* विनतायाश्च पुत्रौ द्वौ विख्यातौ गरुडारुणौ । सुपर्णः पततां श्रेष्ठो दारुणः पद्मगाशनः ॥
మనిషికి రాక మానుకు వస్తుందా?
manishiki raka manuku vastunda?
Will [calamity] come to a tree and not to a man? Human beings are more liable to injury than inanimate objects.
This proverb is used to offer comfort or perspective when someone is facing difficulties. It implies that challenges, illnesses, or problems are an inherent part of the human experience. Since a tree cannot experience or handle human struggles, it is natural and expected for humans to face them.
ముద్దులు గులకరా ముదిపెండ్లి కొడకా అంటే, పెండ్లికి వచ్చిన పేరంటాండ్లు అందరూ నా పెద్ద పెండ్లాలు అన్నట్టు.
muddulu gulakara mudipendli kodaka ante, pendliki vachchina perantandlu andaru na pedda pendlalu annattu.
When an elderly bridegroom was jokingly asked to say something funny, he replied " All the married ladies who have come to the marriage are my old wives." A person making himself ridiculous.
This proverb is used to describe someone who lacks common sense or humility, and instead of taking a compliment or a suggestion gracefully, they respond with an absurd, arrogant, or inappropriate remark. It mocks a person who, despite being in an awkward or late-stage situation (like an old man getting married), acts with unearned overconfidence or makes foolish claims that embarrass themselves.