వసుదేవుడి వంటి వాడే అవసరానికి గాడిద కాళ్ళు పట్టుకున్నాడు

vasudevudi vanti vade avasaraniki gadida kallu pattukunnadu

Translation

Even a person like Vasudeva had to touch the feet of a donkey out of necessity.

Meaning

This expression is used to describe a situation where even a great, powerful, or dignified person has to humble themselves or seek help from someone inferior or unworthy to overcome a crisis or achieve a vital goal. It originates from the story of Vasudeva (Lord Krishna's father) crossing the Yamuna river, signifying that necessity knows no pride.

Related Phrases

The donkey that went to the city bit the donkey that went to the village.

This proverb is used to mock people who return from a big city or a prestigious position and act superior or arrogant toward those who stayed in their hometown or humble roots. It highlights the empty vanity of someone who feels elevated by their environment despite their basic nature remaining the same.

For a lame donkey, a slip is just an excuse.

This proverb is used to describe someone who is already lazy or incapable and uses any small mishap or external circumstance as a convenient excuse to stop working or avoid their responsibilities. It suggests that the person was looking for a reason to fail or quit all along.

One must even touch the feet of a donkey until the task is completed.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where one must humble themselves or flatter even an unworthy or inferior person to get a specific job done or to achieve a goal. It emphasizes pragmatism and temporary compromise for the sake of success.

A camel for beauty, and a donkey for music.

This ironic proverb is used to mock someone who lacks talent or aesthetic appeal but behaves as if they possess them. A camel is traditionally considered unattractive and a donkey's braying is harsh; therefore, using them as standards for beauty and music highlights a complete lack of those qualities.

It is said that Vasudeva went and held the feet of a donkey.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where a highly respected, powerful, or intelligent person has to humble themselves or seek help from someone insignificant or unworthy due to desperate circumstances or to achieve a larger goal.

Like a helpless man clutching the legs of a donkey.

This expression is used to describe a person who, in a state of absolute desperation or helplessness, seeks assistance from someone completely insignificant, unworthy, or incapable of helping. It highlights the irony and humiliation of being forced to rely on the lowest possible means when one has no other choice.

When luck/fate is unfavorable, even Vasudeva had to hold a donkey's feet!

This expression is used to describe a situation where, due to bad luck or extreme adversity, even a person of great status or power must humble themselves and seek help from someone insignificant or unworthy. It refers to the legend where Vasudeva, to save baby Krishna, had to humble himself before a donkey to prevent it from braying and alerting guards.

Like Vasudeva going and holding the feet of a donkey

This expression refers to a situation where a person of high stature or capability is forced by desperate circumstances to seek help from someone much inferior or unworthy. It originates from the story of Krishna's birth, where his father Vasudeva, in a moment of extreme crisis, had to humble himself to ensure safety. It is used to describe doing whatever is necessary, even if it feels demeaning, to overcome a difficult obstacle.

Like catching the legs of a donkey because an ox is kicking.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone, in an attempt to escape one problem or danger, seeks help from an even worse or more unreliable source. It highlights the foolishness of choosing a remedy that is as bad as or worse than the original trouble.

When time is bad, one must hold a donkey's feet.

This proverb suggests that when a person is in a difficult situation or facing bad times, they might have to humble themselves or seek help from someone they normally look down upon to get their work done. It emphasizes the importance of pragmatism and patience over pride during adversity.