వెట్టివాని చేతిరాయి తగిలెనా తగులును, తప్పినా తప్పను

vettivani chetirayi tagilena tagulunu, tappina tappanu

Translation

A stone thrown by an unskilled laborer might hit the target or it might miss it entirely.

Meaning

This proverb is used to describe actions or outcomes that are completely dependent on luck or chance rather than skill or planning. It implies that when someone incompetent or careless does something, there is no guarantee of the result; it is purely accidental if it works out.

Related Phrases

Even if all other seasons fail, the Hasta rain will not fail.

This is a traditional agricultural proverb related to the lunar mansions (Kartes). It implies that even if the rains fail during other periods, the rains during the 'Hasta Karthe' are reliable and inevitable. In a broader sense, it refers to a dependable final chance or a certainty that one can rely on when everything else fails.

Even if the Brahmins miss (the predictions), the neem trees won't; even if the neem trees miss, the Eruvaka Purnima won't.

This is a traditional agricultural proverb highlighting the certainty of seasonal cycles. It suggests that while human predictions (astrology/almanacs) might fail, nature's signs (like neem trees flowering) and fixed seasonal festivals (like Eruvaka Purnima, which marks the start of the sowing season) are reliable indicators for farmers to begin their work.

The one who is drunk and the one who has failed are the same.

This expression is used to highlight that people who are in an intoxicated state and those who have lost their sense of judgment or morals are equally unreliable. It suggests that both categories of people lack accountability for their actions and cannot be trusted or held to the same standards as a rational person.

Even if the word is missed, the rhyme should not be missed.

This expression is used to describe someone who prioritizes style, rhythm, or external appearances over the actual substance or truth of a matter. It often refers to people who focus more on making their speech sound catchy or poetic rather than ensuring it is accurate or meaningful.

Though the word of Maryâda Râmanna fail, my blow will not fail. Maryâda Râmanna ( 'the respected Râmanna' ) was a famous minister, renowned for his judgment and the wisdom of his decisions.

This expression signifies an absolute determination or an unshakeable commitment to an action. It implies that while even a person known for supreme integrity (like the legendary judge Maryada Ramanna) might theoretically fail or falter, the speaker's resolve or the consequence of their action is inevitable and certain.

Even if any worship is missed, the worship of the stomach cannot be missed.

This proverb highlights the absolute necessity of satisfying one's hunger. It means that while one might skip religious rituals or other commitments, one cannot ignore the basic physiological need for food. It is often used to emphasize that survival and livelihood come before everything else.

Whether you deviate from the truth or deviate from a prescribed diet, troubles are inevitable.

This proverb highlights the importance of integrity and discipline. It suggests that just as ignoring medical dietary restrictions leads to physical suffering, abandoning truth and honesty leads to moral and social consequences. In both cases, the person must face the resulting hardships.

If sharpness is lost or if the season is missed, the tax is a waste.

This proverb emphasizes the importance of timing and preparedness in agriculture. If the tools aren't sharp or if the farmer misses the specific sowing window (season), the crop will fail, making the payment of land taxes a total loss. It is used more broadly to signify that performing a task without proper preparation or at the wrong time leads to wasted effort and resources.

Even if the word is missed, the rhyme must not be missed.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone prioritizes style, rhythm, or external appearance over the actual content or truth. In a literal sense, it refers to poetry where maintaining the rhyme (prasa) is seen as more important than the choice of words. In a general context, it refers to people who focus on sticking to a pattern or keeping up appearances even when the substance is lost.

A stone thrown by a madman may hit or it may miss.

This proverb is used to describe an unpredictable outcome or a situation governed purely by chance rather than skill or logic. It suggests that when dealing with an unstable person or a disorganized plan, the result is entirely accidental—success is a stroke of luck and failure is just as likely, so one should not depend on it.