వెట్టి గొట్టి, తంగెడు పట్టి.

vetti gotti, tangedu patti.

Translation

Striking a bond-laborer and holding a Tangedu (Tanner's Cassia) branch.

Meaning

This proverb refers to a situation where one person unfairly exerts power over a helpless person. It is used to describe someone who takes advantage of their authority or position to harass or exploit those who cannot resist or defend themselves.

Related Phrases

The cattle is judged by the market, the child is judged by the lineage.

This proverb emphasizes the influence of heredity and upbringing. Just as the quality of livestock is determined by where it is bought (the market's reputation), a child's character and behavior are often a reflection of their family's traits, values, and ancestry (Vangadam).

Can you go hunting by catching a mad dog?

This proverb is used to illustrate that you cannot achieve a successful or noble outcome by relying on incompetent, unreliable, or unstable people. Just as a rabid or mad dog is unpredictable and cannot be trained for the discipline of hunting, an unfit person cannot be trusted to perform a specific task effectively.

The fruit depends on the tree - the harvest depends on the field.

This proverb is used to explain that the quality of an outcome or offspring depends on its origin or upbringing. Similar to 'the apple doesn't fall far from the tree,' it suggests that results are proportional to the source's nature or the effort invested in the foundation.

Rice from the market, firewood from the Tangedu tree.

This expression is used to describe a person who lives hand-to-mouth or leads a very simple, unorganized life without any savings or future planning. It refers to someone who buys rice daily from the shop and picks up wild twigs for fuel just before cooking, signifying a lack of domestic stability or foresight.

As the Tangêḍu blossoms.

This expression is used to describe something that is occurring in great abundance, or a situation that has become unexpectedly colorful and prosperous. Just as the Tangedu (Senna aurata) flowers bloom all at once, covering the bushes in vibrant yellow, this phrase signifies a sudden and beautiful transformation or a plentiful state.

Tangêḍu is the Cassia Auriculata.

Like the blooming of the Tangedu flower

This expression is used to describe something that happens in great abundance or a sudden, plentiful appearance of something positive. The Tangedu (Tanner's Cassia) plant is known for its vibrant yellow flowers that bloom profusely, covering the landscape. It is often used to describe a sudden stroke of luck or wealth.

A horse for nothing, a Tangêdu switch. Tangêdu is the Cassia Auriculata.—“ When you ride gratis you use your cudgel well.” ( Brown's Tel. Dicty. )

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone is extremely careless or reckless with resources because they didn't have to pay for them or work for them. Since the horse was obtained for free and the whip (stick) was just plucked from a nearby bush, the person uses them without any concern for damage or exhaustion. It is similar to the English concept of 'easy come, easy go' or being reckless with others' property.

Like mother, like daughter; like seed, like crop.

This proverb emphasizes that character, behavior, and quality are inherited or influenced by origins. Just as the quality of a harvest depends on the quality of the seed sown, a child's traits and upbringing are often a reflection of the mother or the family environment. It is used to describe how someone's nature is a result of their roots.

The fruit depends on the tree

Like father, like son; or the quality of a product depends on its source. It is used to suggest that the nature or character of a person or thing is determined by its origin or upbringing.

A free horse and a stick of Tangedu.

This proverb is used to describe someone who uses resources recklessly or wastefully just because they obtained them for free or without any effort. It highlights the human tendency to lack care or responsibility for things that cost them nothing.