ఊసరక్షేత్రంలో అలికితే ఉల్లికోపుల పంట.

usarakshetramlo alikite ullikopula panta.

Translation

If you smear cow-dung water on a barren field, it yields a crop of onions.

Meaning

This proverb is used to describe a situation where a completely useless or infertile endeavor unexpectedly yields a surprising result through superficial or minimal effort. It highlights the irony of getting a specific result from a place where nothing was expected to grow.

Related Phrases

Sow the seed knowing the field, give the gift knowing the recipient.

This proverb emphasizes the importance of context and suitability. Just as a farmer chooses seeds based on the quality of the soil to ensure a good harvest, one should evaluate the merit, character, and need of a person before offering help or charity to ensure it is used effectively.

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.

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.

Crops in a barren land, farming under a dry pond.

This expression describes a futile or useless effort. Just as crops cannot grow in salty/barren soil and farming is impossible without a water source, starting a project without the necessary resources or foundation will lead to certain failure.

In the Anuradha season, the harvest is as much as you ask for.

This is an agricultural proverb related to the 'Anuradha Karti' (a specific period in the traditional lunar calendar). It implies that rainfall and weather conditions during this period are so favorable that farmers will get a bumper crop, fulfilling all their expectations.

When a heavy crowbar is being blown away by the wind, the onion asked to check on its own roots.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone is worrying about a trivial or insignificant matter while a major catastrophe or a massive event is occurring. It highlights a lack of perspective or a failure to understand the gravity of a situation.

A crop in barren land, and farming under a tank with no water.

This expression describes a situation where efforts are completely wasted. Just as plants cannot grow in saline/barren soil and farming is impossible without water, it refers to embarking on a project or investment that is destined to fail due to a lack of fundamental resources or a poor environment.

Knowing the soil, [sow] seed; knowing the worthiness [give] gifts.

This proverb emphasizes the importance of context and worthiness. Just as a farmer selects seeds based on the quality of the soil to ensure a good harvest, one should evaluate the character and need of a person before giving charity or offering help. It teaches that resources should be utilized where they will be truly valued and effective.

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.