వంకాయ రుచి తోటవాడు ఎరుగును, అరటికాయ రుచి రాజు ఎరుగును.
vankaya ruchi totavadu erugunu, aratikaya ruchi raju erugunu.
The gardener knows the taste of the brinjal; the king knows the taste of the plantain. Brinjals should be cooked and eaten fresh from the garden. Plantains when used in an unripe state as a vegetable, should be kept a few days. Before the brinjals are set before a king they have lost some of their flavour, and as the gardener cannot afford to keep the plantains he plucks, he cooks them before they are ready for the pot.
This proverb highlights how appreciation and value vary based on perspective and social standing. The gardener knows the true quality of the eggplant because he grows it and sees it daily (practical knowledge), while the King appreciates the banana as it is a staple of royal feasts and luxury (refined or final enjoyment). It is used to say that different people have different expertise or preferences based on their life experiences.
Related Phrases
నీరు పల్లమెరుగును, నిజము దేవుడెరుగును.
niru pallamerugunu, nijamu devuderugunu.
Water finds the low ground, God knows the truth.
This expression means that just as water naturally flows towards lower ground, the ultimate truth is always known to the Divine. It is used to suggest that while humans may be deceived or facts may be hidden, the absolute truth cannot be concealed from God or will eventually be revealed by fate.
చీర చిరుగును, పెయ్య పెరుగును
chira chirugunu, peyya perugunu
The sari will tear, the heifer will grow.
This proverb is used to emphasize making wise investments or spending money on things that appreciate in value. It compares buying clothes (which wear out and lose value) to buying livestock (which grows and produces profit), suggesting one should prioritize long-term growth over temporary material possessions.
ఆకలి రుచి యెరుగదు, నిద్ర సుఖం యెరుగదు.
akali ruchi yerugadu, nidra sukham yerugadu.
Hunger does not know (need) taste and sleep knows (needs) no comfort.
When a person is very hungry anything tastes good; when very sleepy, one does not require the usual comfort one looks for.
వంకాయ రుచి తోటవాడెరుగును, అరటికాయ రుచి రాజెరుగును.
vankaya ruchi totavaderugunu, aratikaya ruchi rajerugunu.
The gardener knows the taste of the brinjal, and the King knows the taste of the banana.
This proverb highlights that appreciation and expertise depend on one's role or status. The gardener (the producer/laborer) knows the true quality and effort behind common goods like brinjal, while the King (the consumer/elite) enjoys the refined or premium rewards like the banana. It is used to describe how different people value things based on their perspective and lifestyle.
పుంటికూరలో పుడక రుచి, మాంసములో ఎముక రుచి
puntikuralo pudaka ruchi, mamsamulo emuka ruchi
The stick (stem) is the taste in gongura greens, the bone is the taste in meat.
This expression highlights that certain parts of food, which might seem like obstacles or waste, actually provide the best flavor. It is used to suggest that the essence or the best part of something often lies in its core or challenging components.
తనయుని పుట్టుక తల్లి యెరుగును
tanayuni puttuka talli yerugunu
The mother knows the birth of the son. i. e. she knows who is his father.
This expression signifies that a person who is the source or the creator of something knows its true origins, essence, and secrets better than anyone else. It is used to suggest that certain internal truths are known only to those intimately involved from the beginning, much like a mother knows her child's history perfectly.
దొంగను దొంగ ఎరుగును
donganu donga erugunu
A thief is known by a thief. A thief knows a thief, as a wolf knows a wolf.
This proverb implies that people of the same kind, especially those with malicious or secretive habits, can easily recognize each other's traits or motives. It is equivalent to the English proverb 'It takes one to know one' or 'Birds of a feather flock together.'
కన్ను ఎరుగకున్నా కడుపు ఎరుగుతుంది
kannu erugakunna kadupu erugutundi
Although the eye does not see, the belly finds. A man's want leads him to seek and find a livelihood. A hungry man sees far. A hungry man discovers more than a hundred lawyers. (Spanish.)
This proverb is used to describe the instinctual bond between a mother and her child. It implies that even if a mother cannot see her child's suffering or needs with her eyes, she can feel them intuitively in her gut or heart. It is often used to emphasize maternal intuition and the deep, invisible connection of parenthood.
వచ్చీ రాని మాటలు రుచి, వూరీ వూరని వూరుగాయ రుచి.
vachchi rani matalu ruchi, vuri vurani vurugaya ruchi.
The half articulated words [ of children ] are pleasant [ to the ear ] and half pickled vegetables to the taste.
This proverb describes the charm of imperfection or the initial stages of a process. Just as the broken, innocent babbling of a toddler is more delightful to hear than perfect speech, a pickle that is still in the process of marinating (not yet fully fermented) has a unique, appetizing flavor.
ఊరి జబ్బు చాకలి ఎరుగును, ఉద్యోగపు జబ్బు బంట్రోతు ఎరుగును.
uri jabbu chakali erugunu, udyogapu jabbu bantrotu erugunu.
The washerman knows the reduced state of the village; the peon knows the reduction [ of his superiors ] in office.
This proverb suggests that subordinates or those who handle the personal chores of others are often the first to know the hidden secrets, scandals, or weaknesses of a community or an organization. Just as a washerman sees the stains on everyone's clothes, an assistant or peon observes the internal politics and flaws of a workplace.