ఊరి ముందరి చేను కాకుల పాలు
uri mundari chenu kakula palu
A farm located right in front of the village belongs to the crows.
This proverb highlights that assets or properties that are easily accessible to everyone often end up being wasted, damaged, or stolen because they cannot be properly guarded. Just as a field near a village is easily picked over by birds before the owner can harvest it, things that lack privacy or protection are prone to exploitation.
Related Phrases
ఊరి ముందరి సేద్యం, మద్ది కాడి, బద్దెల పలుపు ఉంటే, ఆరేండ్లు సేద్యం చేస్తానన్నదట ఎద్దు
uri mundari sedyam, maddi kadi, baddela palupu unte, arendlu sedyam chestanannadata eddu
The ox said it would farm for six years if the field was in front of the village, the yoke was made of Maddi wood, and the rope was made of bamboo strips.
This proverb describes someone who sets ideal or impossible conditions before committing to a task. It highlights the tendency to blame external factors or demand perfect resources to justify one's willingness to work, implying that with such perfect comforts, anyone would be willing to do the job.
గటిక చేను గాడిద పాలు
gatika chenu gadida palu
A hard field and donkey's milk
This proverb is used to describe a situation that is completely useless or yields no benefit despite hard work. Just as a hard, barren field produces no crop and a donkey's milk is generally not consumed, it refers to a wasted effort or a lost cause where the resources and results are both worthless.
ముందరి కాళ్ళకు బంధాలు
mundari kallaku bandhalu
Shackles for the front legs
This expression is used to describe an action taken in advance to prevent someone or something from moving forward or causing trouble. It refers to the practice of tying the front legs of an animal to restrict its movement, figuratively implying a preemptive strike or a preventative measure to keep a situation under control.
చావిడి ముందరి కొంప కడప పుల్లలకు సరి
chavidi mundari kompa kadapa pullalaku sari
A thatched hut opposite a Court-house, is used up for bonds. Bonds were formerly always written on Palmyra leaves, such as are used for thatching.
This proverb highlights the lack of privacy or security for something located in a busy, public area. Just as people might pull sticks from a hut located in a common meeting place to use as fuel, things or people that are overly exposed to the public are often misused, taken for granted, or easily destroyed.
రాజుల సొమ్మ రాళ్ల పాలూ, లంజల పాలూ
rajula somma ralla palu, lanjala palu
The wealth of kings goes to stones and harlots. Kings addicted to debauchery spent their wealth in constructing houses, temples, &c. and also lavished much on their concubines instead of spend- ing their Revenue for the good of people they governed.
This proverb highlights how ill-managed or excessive wealth is often squandered on unproductive vanity projects (like grand stone monuments/forts) or hedonistic pleasures. It is used to caution against the misuse of resources and the inevitable waste that occurs when power and money are not directed toward the welfare of the people.
ఊరిముందర చేను, ఊరపిచ్చుకల పాలు.
urimundara chenu, urapichchukala palu.
A field at the edge of the village belongs to the house sparrows.
This proverb describes a situation where a resource is so easily accessible or exposed that it inevitably gets consumed or exploited by others. Just as a crop field located right at the village entrance is constantly raided by sparrows, an asset without proper protection or privacy will be taken advantage of by everyone around it.
ఊరి ముందరి చేను కాకుల పాలు, ఊళ్ళో వియ్యము కయ్యముల పాలు
uri mundari chenu kakula palu, ullo viyyamu kayyamula palu
A field in front of the village belongs to the crows; a marriage alliance within the same village belongs to quarrels.
This proverb warns against proximity in certain matters. A crop field located right at the entrance of a village is likely to be ruined by birds and passersby. Similarly, making a marriage alliance with a family in the same village often leads to frequent interference, trivial misunderstandings, and eventual conflicts due to being too close to each other.
అయ్య ఊరోళ్ళ పాలు, అమ్మ మాలోళ్ళ పాలు
ayya urolla palu, amma malolla palu
The father belongs to the villagers, and the mother belongs to the farmworkers.
This proverb describes a situation where both parents are constantly busy with outside work or social obligations, leaving no time for their own family or household. It is used to critique parents who neglect their responsibilities at home while being overly active in community affairs.
లగ్గం ముందా పల్లకి ముందా అన్నాట్ట
laggam munda pallaki munda annatta
Did the auspicious wedding time come first, or did the palanquin arrive first?
This proverb is used to describe a situation where one is caught up in trivial or logistical details (like the arrival of a transport palanquin) while overlooking the primary, essential event (the wedding timing itself). It refers to poor prioritization or unnecessary confusion regarding the order of events.
కలుపు తీసిన చేను కనుల పండుగ.
kalupu tisina chenu kanula panduga.
A weeded field is a feast for the eyes.
Just as a field cleared of weeds looks beautiful and healthy to a farmer, any task or project that has been refined and cleared of unnecessary elements becomes a delight to behold. It is used to emphasize that hard work in removing obstacles or imperfections leads to a beautiful and rewarding result.