వైరాగ్యం కోసం పురాణం వింటే పచ్చి శృంగారం వంటపట్టిందట.
vairagyam kosam puranam vinte pachchi shringaram vantapattindata.
When listening to the Puranas to attain detachment, one instead absorbed pure erotica.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone's efforts lead to the exact opposite of the intended noble result. It refers to people who pretend to seek spiritual enlightenment or discipline but end up focusing on worldly or base desires instead.
Related Phrases
వెచ్చంగా ఉంటే ఏరుకొని తింటారు, చల్లబడితే చల్లాచెదురవుతారు
vechchanga unte erukoni tintaru, challabadite challacheduravutaru
If it is warm, they pick and eat; if it turns cold, they scatter away.
This proverb describes fair-weather friends or opportunistic people. It suggests that as long as someone has wealth, power, or 'warmth' (resources), people will flock to them to benefit. However, once those resources are gone or the situation turns 'cold' (difficult), those same people will abandon them immediately.
తింటే గరెలు తినాలి, వింటే భారతం వినాలి.
tinte garelu tinali, vinte bharatam vinali.
If one wants to eat the tastiest, one has to eat gare, and if one wants to listen to the best,
A saying, describing a typical Telugu taste, suggests the best dish to eat and the best book to read.
రాణివాసం వచ్చి మూలవాసం పీకిందట.
ranivasam vachchi mulavasam pikindata.
The queen's residence came and uprooted the original residence.
This proverb is used to describe a situation where a newcomer or a later arrival displaces, dominates, or destroys the original inhabitant or established system. It is similar to the English expression 'the camel getting its nose under the tent' but specifically refers to a newer entity taking over the place of an older, existing one.
సన్నసన్నంగా కాపుతనం వచ్చింది, సన్నబియ్యం వండవే అన్నాడట
sannasannanga kaputanam vachchindi, sannabiyyam vandave annadata
He said 'Domestic life has slowly settled in, now cook fine rice'.
This proverb is used to mock someone who expects luxury or high standards before they have truly established their foundations or stability. It describes a situation where someone demands rewards or comforts prematurely, often with very little effort or progress made.
స్మశాన వైరాగ్యం ఒంటిపచ్చి ఆరినదాకే
smashana vairagyam ontipachchi arinadake
Crematorium renunciation lasts only until the body's dampness dries.
This expression refers to a temporary feeling of detachment or philosophical realization that arises in the face of death or tragedy, but fades away quickly as soon as one returns to normal life. It is used to describe short-lived resolutions or fleeting spiritual thoughts.
మాధుకరం వానింటికి ఉపాదానం వాడు పోయినట్లు
madhukaram vanintiki upadanam vadu poyinatlu
Like a person who collects raw offerings (upadanam) going to the house of a person who survives on cooked alms (madhukaram).
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone seeks help or resources from someone who is in an even more desperate or needy position than themselves. It highlights the irony and futility of asking for assistance from those who lack the means to support even their own needs.
ప్రసూతి వైరాగ్యం, పురాణ వైరాగ్యం, శ్మశాన వైరాగ్యం
prasuti vairagyam, purana vairagyam, shmashana vairagyam
Three causes of transient repentance, viz., the pains of tra- vail, the effects of preaching, and the sight of death.
This expression describes 'temporary detachment' or fleeting moments of renunciation. It refers to how people suddenly feel spiritual or philosophical when facing extreme pain (childbirth), hearing holy scriptures (puranas), or witnessing death (funeral), only to return to their worldly habits and attachments shortly after the intensity of the moment passes.
The chamber of sickness is the chapel of devotion. Vows made in storms are forgotten in calms.
కుక్కశ్చ పచ్చిగోడశ్చ దాటితే మళ్లిదాటితే రెడ్డిశ్చ రెడ్డిసానిశ్చ సహమూలం వినశ్యతః
kukkashcha pachchigodashcha datite mallidatite reddishcha reddisanishcha sahamulam vinashyatah
If a dog crosses a wet wall and recrosses, the Reddi and his lady with all the family perish. There was a certain stingy Reddi who paid nothing to the village priest ( Grāma Purohita ). On one occasion when the Reddi was making some additions to his house a dog jumped over a freshly built wall. The village priest, who happened to be present, determined to take advantage of this circumstance, simulated great consternation, and repeated the above sham Mantra. The Reddi was successfully taken in, and at his expense the priest performed expiatory burnt offerings, &c.
This is a humorous or satirical 'Sanskrit-style' verse (Sloka) in Telugu folklore used to mock superstitious beliefs or 'Muhurtas' (auspicious timings). It suggests that if a dog jumps over a wet (newly built) wall and then jumps back, the owners of the house will be ruined. In usage, it is often cited to poke fun at someone who invents or follows illogical and overly complex omens for trivial events.
తింటే గారెలు తినాలి, వింటే భారతం వినాలి
tinte garelu tinali, vinte bharatam vinali
If you eat, eat Garelu; if you listen, listen to the Mahabharata.
This proverb emphasizes the pursuit of excellence and quality. It suggests that if one chooses to engage in an activity, it should be the best version of it—specifically, that 'Garelu' is the ultimate delicacy and the 'Mahabharata' is the ultimate epic to listen to.
వల్లకాటి వైరాగ్యం, పురిటాలి వైరాగ్యం.
vallakati vairagyam, puritali vairagyam.
Crematorium detachment and childbirth detachment.
This expression refers to temporary or short-lived philosophical detachment or wisdom. 'Vallakati Vairagyam' refers to the fleeting feeling of renouncing worldly desires one feels at a funeral, while 'Puritali Vairagyam' refers to a woman's temporary vow never to have another child during the pain of labor. It is used to describe people who make sudden, serious resolutions during times of distress but quickly forget them once life returns to normal.