వడ్లరాసి వరదకు పోతుంటే, పాలోజ్ణి కనిపెట్టి ఉండమన్నాడట.
vadlarasi varadaku potunte, palojni kanipetti undamannadata.
While the heap of grain was being washed away by the flood, he asked to keep an eye on the carpenter.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone is overly concerned with trivial or minor losses while a major catastrophe or a significant loss is occurring. It highlights a lack of priorities and poor judgment during a crisis.
Related Phrases
వడ్లరాసి వరదకుపోయినా, వానకు కరువురాదు.
vadlarasi varadakupoyina, vanaku karuvuradu.
Even if the heap of paddy is washed away by the flood, there is no shortage of rain.
This proverb is used to describe an ironic or paradoxical situation where someone loses their accumulated wealth or resources to a natural disaster, yet the very source or cause of that disaster (like rain) remains abundantly available. It implies that while the end product is lost, the root cause persists.
పెట్టి పొయ్యనమ్మ కొట్టి పొమ్మన్నదట.
petti poyyanamma kotti pommannadata.
She that gave neither food nor drink, beat [me] and said "be off." Said by a beggar.
This proverb describes a person who is not only uncharitable or unhelpful but also behaves rudely or aggressively towards those seeking help. It is used to highlight a situation where instead of receiving expected hospitality or assistance, one receives harsh treatment.
కంటికి తగిలే పుల్లను కనిపెట్టి తిరుగుమన్నారు.
kantiki tagile pullanu kanipetti tirugumannaru.
They said to look out for the stick that might hit your eye.
This proverb is a warning to be extremely cautious of immediate and obvious dangers. It suggests that one should be mindful and observant of their surroundings to avoid foreseeable harm or obstacles that are right in front of them.
కొటారు కొల్లపోతున్నది అంటే, పాలివాడు లేకుండ చూడరా అన్నాడట
kotaru kollapotunnadi ante, palivadu lekunda chudara annadata
When told the granary is being looted, he said, 'Just make sure the partner doesn't get a share.'
This proverb describes a person with a spiteful or self-destructive mindset. It refers to someone who is so consumed by envy or rivalry that they would rather see their entire property or business destroyed than let their partner or rival get a single piece of it. It is used to criticize petty behavior where one loses everything just to spite another.
గడ్డపారలు గాలికి కొట్టుకొని పోతుంటే, పుల్లాకు నా గతి ఏమి అన్నదట
gaddaparalu galiki kottukoni potunte, pullaku na gati emi annadata
When crowbars themselves are being blown away by the wind, a leaf plate asked 'What will happen to me?'
This proverb is used to describe a situation where even the strongest or most powerful entities are suffering or failing, making the concerns of the weak or insignificant seem obvious yet trivial. It highlights a scale of disaster where if the indestructible is perishing, the fragile has no hope.
వడ్లవాండ్ల పిల్లేమి జేస్తున్నదంటే, వలకబోసి ఎత్తుకుంటుందన్నాడట
vadlavandla pillemi jestunnadante, valakabosi ettukuntundannadata
When asked what the carpenter's daughter was doing, he said she was spilling things only to pick them up again.
This proverb describes a person who engages in redundant, unproductive, or repetitive work that yields no actual progress. It is used to mock someone who keeps themselves busy with meaningless tasks or creates their own problems just to solve them, essentially wasting time and energy without any real result.
పనిలేక పటేలు ఇంటికి వెళితే, పాత గోడకు పూత పెట్టమన్నాడట
panileka patelu intiki velite, pata godaku puta pettamannadata
When someone went to the village head's house because they had no work, he told them to plaster an old wall.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where seeking help or engagement from someone in authority when idle results in being assigned a tedious, pointless, or unnecessary task. It suggests that it is sometimes better to be idle than to ask for work from those who will exploit your time with unproductive labor.
వండుతూ ఉండగా వాంతి వస్తున్నది అంటే, ఉండి భోజనం చేసి పొమ్మన్నదట.
vandutu undaga vanti vastunnadi ante, undi bhojanam chesi pommannadata.
When she said she felt like vomiting while cooking, the host told her to stay and leave only after eating.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone is given an absurd or unwanted suggestion in response to a problem. It satirizes people who lack common sense or empathy, or those who insist on formalities even when the situation is inappropriate or uncomfortable.
వడ్లు వాచిన వీరారెడ్డీ వడ్ల ధర ఎంతంటే, అవి ఉంటే ఇవి ఎందుకు వస్తాయి అన్నాడట
vadlu vachina virareddi vadla dhara entante, avi unte ivi enduku vastayi annadata
When asked the price of rice (paddy), Veera Reddy, who was suffering from swollen testicles, replied: 'If I didn't have these, why would I be worrying about those?'
This proverb is used to describe a situation where a person is so overwhelmed by a severe personal problem or physical pain that they lose interest in worldly matters, business, or common logic. It highlights that one's immediate suffering takes precedence over everything else, sometimes leading to irritable or irrelevant responses to unrelated questions.
జాబు వ్రాసి పెట్టమంటే, కాళ్ళు నొప్పలంటే, వాటితో పనేమంటే, నేను రాసింది నేనే చదవాలన్నాడట..
jabu vrasi pettamante, kallu noppalante, vatito panemante, nenu rasindi nene chadavalannadata..
When asked to write a letter, he said his legs were aching; when asked what legs have to do with it, he said he would have to be the one to go and read what he wrote.
This is a humorous proverb used to describe a person who makes absurd or circular excuses to avoid doing work. It highlights a lazy individual who complicates a simple task with illogical reasoning just to escape responsibility.