వింతలేని ఆవలింత పుట్టదు
vintaleni avalinta puttadu
There is no yawn without a wonder. Pratáparudru king of Ōrugallu, (Wurrangal) had a very sagacious minister, by name Yugandharuḍu, who was summoned by the Sultan to be employed in his court. The king refusing to send him, was taken prisoner and confined in the capital. His faithful minister having declared that he would rescue him and bring him back openly, went disguised to the capital and there feigning madness, ran daily through the streets calling out " Ho! I am going to take away Ōruganti Pratáparudruḍu." The Sultan, suspecting that his madness was assumed, caused him to be watched. The spies dis- covered that he cooked under a tree at midnight, and a man was concealed in the tree to watch him when he thought himself alone. According to his custom the minister came at midnight to cook his food, and while doing so, yawned. He immediately thought to himself that there must be some cause for this, and glancing furtively up the tree perceived the spy. He then said in a loud voice 'There is no yawn without a wonder,' and commenced breaking his pots and acting the mad man. The minister was then reported as really mad and his ravings were unheeded. Shortly afterwards a ship laden with valuables, was sent by the minister's con- trivance to the port. The Sultan hearing this, was anxious to inspect the cargo, and being informed that the imprisoned king was a connoisseur in gems ordered him to be brought with him on board the vessel. The minister also managed to get on board and while the Sultan was engaged in examining the precious stones, caused the anchor to be weighed. The Sultan then learnt the trick that had been played upon him and commending the sagacity of the minister, pardoned both him and the king, who returned rejoicing to Ōrugallu.
This expression suggests that nothing happens without an underlying cause or motivation. It is often used to imply that if someone is acting unusually or if a rumor is spreading, there must be some truth or specific reason behind it.
* A somewhat different version of the story is given in the Madras Church Missionary Record for October 1865 by the Rev. F. W. N. Alxander : "I could get very little information from my informant about this ancient king, one thing only is certain that in his days the Mohammedans invaded this part of India and besieged Wurrangal, but the Fort was not taken in his days. The story told to me by several people is very contradictory and unlikely in itself. The most credible version seems to be, that Wurrangal was besieged by the Padasha of Delhi in person, and for 7 years the assailants were beaten by the threat of being thrown into the sea from the large space enclosed by the walls. Falling in this way, they at last took the king by stratagem. The Mohammedans feigned a desire for peace and decoyed Pra- táparudru outside the gates on pretence of making peace, and then seized him in a chariot and carried him off to Delhi and kept him there many days. Meanwhile things went on badly in Wurrangal. In the absence of their king the people refused to obey the minister, and anarchy reigned in the city. The minister resolved to deliver his lord from confinement, and restore him to his subjects. He went to Delhi and began to tell in the most public manner that he was come to release Pratáparudru, the imprisoned king. For this he was imprisoned and beaten again and again, till at last he was regarded as a mad man and no heed was taken of his sayings or doings. Roaming through the city, he at last found out where his lord was, and brought to him two legs of the carved ebony cot on which the king used to sleep in Wurrangal, and offered them for sale. They were recognized at once; and the pretended seller was asked where he got them and where the remaining pair was to be found. The king was told that the missing pair would be found on board a ship in the river, and he was asked to come and see them. To this the king assented, and somehow brought with him the Padasha of Delhi. They both went on board the ship indicated, and at the helm was seen the pre- tended mad man who was in truth the minister of the king. In an instant the ship was loose, and the sails spread, keeping in mid-stream they escaped down the river before they could be apprehended, and entering the Godaveri the king and the Padasha made their way to Wurrangal. The latter is said was subsequently released by ransom, and Pratáparudru died peaceably in his own city."
Related Phrases
తుమ్ముకు తమ్ముడు ఆవలింతకు అన్న
tummuku tammudu avalintaku anna
A sneeze has a younger brother, and a yawn has an elder brother.
This is a traditional Telugu saying used when someone sneezes or yawns repeatedly. It suggests that these actions rarely occur just once; if you sneeze once, another is likely to follow (the 'younger brother'), and if you yawn, more are soon to come (the 'elder brother').
చింత లేనమ్మ సంతలో నిద్రపోయిందట
chinta lenamma santalo nidrapoyindata
The woman with no worries slept in the marketplace.
This proverb describes a state of absolute peace of mind. When a person is free from anxieties, burdens, or guilt, they can sleep soundly anywhere, even in a noisy and chaotic environment like a busy marketplace. It is used to highlight that mental peace is the key to rest.
లేవలేని అత్తకు వూపలేని కోడలు
levaleni attaku vupaleni kodalu
A bed-ridden mother-in-law and a lazy daughter-in-law. A useless couple.
This proverb describes a situation where two people who are supposed to help each other are both equally incompetent, lazy, or incapable. It is often used to mock a partnership or a household where no work gets done because neither party has the strength or will to perform their duties.
సంతు లేని తల్లి, చింత లేని పెళ్ళి
santu leni talli, chinta leni pelli
A mother without offspring, a wedding without worry.
This proverb is used ironically or sarcastically to describe a situation that is incomplete or lacks its fundamental purpose. Just as a woman cannot be a mother without children, a grand event like a wedding is rarely free of some level of worry or responsibility. It implies that certain roles or events naturally come with inherent burdens or characteristics, and without them, the situation is paradoxical or meaningless.
చింత చచ్చినా పులుపు చావదు
chinta chachchina pulupu chavadu
The tamarind may be dried, but it loses not its acidity. Retaining vigour of mind though weakened in body.
This proverb is used to describe a person who has lost their wealth, status, or power but still retains their old ego, arrogance, or habits. Just as the acidic quality remains in tamarind even after it dries up, some people refuse to change their stubborn nature despite a change in their circumstances.
వింత లేనిదే ఆవులింత పుట్టదు
vinta lenide avulinta puttadu
A yawn doesn't happen without a wonder.
This proverb is used to suggest that nothing happens without a cause or a secret reason. Just as a yawn is often triggered by something (like tiredness or boredom), any unexpected event or behavior usually has an underlying explanation or a hidden motive.
ఎన్ని పుటాలేసినా ఇత్తడి ఇత్తడే, పుత్తడి పుత్తడే
enni putalesina ittadi ittade, puttadi puttade
No matter how many times it is purified in fire, brass remains brass and gold remains gold.
This expression is used to convey that the inherent nature or character of a person or object cannot be changed by external processes or superficial treatments. Just as intense heat cannot turn a base metal like brass into gold, artificial efforts cannot change a person's fundamental traits or true value.
చింతలేని అంబలి చారెడే చాలు
chintaleni ambali charede chalu
A handful of porridge without worries is enough.
This proverb emphasizes that peace of mind is far more valuable than wealth or luxury. It suggests that a simple meal (ambali) eaten in tranquility is better than a feast consumed in stress or anxiety. It is used to express contentment with a modest but peaceful life.
వింత లేకుండా ఆవలింత రాదు
vinta lekunda avalinta radu
A yawn does not come without a wonder.
This expression suggests that every action or occurrence, no matter how small or natural it seems, has an underlying cause or reason. It is often used to imply that something unusual must have happened to trigger a specific reaction or to suggest that there is more to a situation than meets the eye.
చేవలేని చేను - లేవలేని ఆవు
chevaleni chenu - levaleni avu
A field without fertility - a cow that cannot stand up.
This proverb describes a situation of utter helplessness or lack of utility. Just as a field with no nutrients cannot produce a crop and a weak cow cannot provide service or milk, it refers to things or people that lack the basic strength or resources required to be productive.