English
Although a man besmear himself with a Putti of castor oil and roll [ among the grain ] only what sticks, will stick to him, what does not, won’t. < See No. 1720. ) A Putti is 500 lbs. • • A man can only obtain that which his destiny has prepared for him. Every man hath his lot. No butter will stick to his bread. ( 259 ) 1481. ^>)F3g$5bo ^j)Sbftbex> A bushelful of good works, and a dishful of worms. A great show of piety, but the prospect of future punishment for evil deeds. 1482. When a man was given a Putti of corn he complained of short measure. (For Putti see No. 1480-see No. 1119.) Look not a gift horse in the mouth. (Latin.)* 1483. ^)F5^g£)§ &o&r° & ^o5b55bo7Y° "^)^>o<>5b?5y4oo. Like a beggar who said a O charitable lady, give me food like that which you give to your husband.” An absurd request. oSx>^> ~lh£)£)od3p ~s$Qook> 7T°. Shall I torment you as a son 1 shall I torment you as an enemy 1 shall I torment you as a nameless devil 1 or shall I torment you as a husband 1 1485. "£)&)& -£><bs5bo Like squeezing an empty civet bag. You cannot get blood out of a stone. * Noli ci'ui dentes insincere donati, ( 2GO ) TELUGU PROVEltBS. 1486. zxr*&> If Pubba bursts forth (in rain) or if obscenity breaks out, they won’t stop. Pubba is the eleventh lunar mansion. If the first of July it be rainy weather, ’Twill rain more or less for four weeks together. 1487. S^iSrSQ.- ro eo The child was demon-struck before it was ten days old. A Hindu infant is not taken out of the house during the mother’s Purudu or ten days of ceremonial uncleanness after its birth. During this time the 0 child is thought to be perfectly safe from the evil spirits, to attacks from * which it is afterwards liable. 1488. 's~ 0 8o££r o ^5)Olb, When a man was dying from diarrhoea, some one played pranks as if possessed by Pota Dazu. ( For F6ta Jldzu see No. 1413.) 1489. ^f)<oXz$X) £xj-°£>§ A ladleful of Dal on Pulagam. For Pal see No. 183— Pulagam is rice mixed with pulse ( called in Hindustani Khichrz.) — To add more d&l is considered barbarous. 1490. ^)07V°<Si KZ)7V’&. A ruffian even has his bughear- I 1491. ^)D £)&-£>tf£oo. The tiger licked him and left him. A marvellcujs escape. ( 201 ) 1492. ^)0S> The jackal branded himself with spots like a tiger. Vulgar display. Apeing one’s superiors. 1493. qS)D Like a gadfly on a tiger’s side. A safe refuge. 1494. iSoSffie^ "oSoSfi^. A tiger-cub is a [tiger-cub, a kid is a kid. ( See Nos. 259, 371, 515, 571, 573, 632, 924, 1475.) < Ca/ a/Ver hind. 1495. c§)0 &r^6s5boex> Taking hold of a tiger’s mustaches and swinging one’s self. A rash enterprise. 1496. qS)^£ ^dScgTr 3 ^ 15ex)oX)<3j> s3&©&?©5oo. As soon as a flower is full blown, it’s fragrance is perceived. A man’s worth is known when he is grown up. 1497. c§p2o §5^S ^)5o£^)£b, ^$)F3g£KX> ^)^3,<3b. A husband according to the worship [ of the wife ], a son according to the good works [ of the father ]. 1498. o ■£t° 8§ ^>)<b c*3ooc5b§6. What have people buying cooked food, to do with the price ofPuttis [of grain] 1 TELUGU PROVERBS. 1499. SXc$b. The cateress has no conscience. Said of the women who provide meals to travellers, and give them wretched food. 1500. S5bool§ qS)SoXD Worm eaten before blossoming. ( See No. 1437.) Premature. Precocious. 1501. ^r>TT> £5bor3Atf -t50c&S)o 7V°£> cSog^o. When a man plunges into the water does he care for cold or wind 1 Overwhelmed with grief. 1502. Q Like lifting up a string of flowers. A very easy business. 1503. -£>oc05bo. Like stringing heads. All in harmony. 1504. §)o"A>, 2jos'So^ J _ Although a man has necklace and earrings is he to sit on [ another man’s ] shoulder 1 Should a rich man be puffed up with pride ? 1505. IbcxEi ^ ^ CO CO CO One man said “ Let us go to the marriage,” the other replied “ Let us leave the country.” ( Sec Nos. Ill, 232, 435. ) A spirit of contradiction. ( 263 ) es o^<5** §^_!-tf o 1506. 1bo<gr t°£3 1^$>§s&> oo^ras5^7y°<&> ^oo-CSo^^^p. Thinking of the good fare at the marriage when suffering from the effects of it afterwards. 1507 . ^jojE ^o& “^>g£o The day after the marriage the goddess of misfortune appeared in the face of the bridegroom. The bridegroom looked a poor creature when stripped of all his finery. 1508. -^oa^So ss-£}\ aATT’TT 0 . OQ TJ OO Are the people coming to the marriage waiting in the back¬ yard? i. e. “ Why such haste ?” 1509. 20-£>y)^<3b '£o$S^oootf&. The buffalo you intended to buy has eaten up the vegetables I intended to plant. ( For BaelicitaK see No. 510. ) Taunting a man who is always talking but never acts. 1510. lb<b£)<x>b lb - |o£5boo<a§6 cSogbo S^ s X£oo. A woman who does not give [ alms ] will never give ; what evil has happened to the jade who does give 1 ( Sec Nos. 243, 284.) Said by a beggar of one from whom he generally received alms. \ ( 2. CA ) TELUGU PROVERBS. 1511. 1L>437l ©odr'CS/V’S, S£3Tf SS^sr’Sa ^tSb. eo ’ eo If you feed, [people] will eat; but if you abuse none will bear it. 1512. v V°,tf3$ba. eo co’ eo w 9 If you feast me [I shall consider it] a marriage and if not, a funeral. ( Sec Nos. 213, 281. ) Fair and foul words. 1513. ”^)63x>o&& 5-6$ 60 — ■■ i ' ' o ^ She that gives will lose her life, she that advised will lose [the advantage of] her birth. The story runs thus : In the city of Matipuram, dwelt a king named Nayasddi. He had three wives named Sumeddh, Suvarchala, and Nitimati. Sumeddh was blessed with a son ; her rival wives, being barren, were less loved by the king. This caused them to be jealous of Sumeddh, and Nitimati counselled Suvarchald to poison the son, saying that afterwards they would share the king’s favor equally with their more fortunate rival. Suvarchala consulted in the matter with her intimate friend Vichitravati, the minister’s daughter : Vichitravati after some deliberation replied “'She that gives will lose her life, she that advised will lose her birth” ( i. e. will be banished from the king’s presence.) Suvarchald profiting by her friend’s advice and perceiving the fatal consequences which would follow the com¬ mission of the intended crime, desisted from her wicked purpose. 1514. l^ex)?6o^b £>5\£5£5bo. CO The treasure is known to the man who buried it. 1515. £)£55bo. CO CO CO CO The alms received witness to those who gave; those who gave not, truly do not receive. If the charitable become poor, they will not ask for help in vain j but the uncharitable will obtain nothing. 31 ( 265 ) 1516. "Sj £3 O She that gave neither food nor drink, heat [ me ] and said “ be off. n Said by a beggar. 1517. ~^)4>d ^TXg^bo. Entertainments [bring] relations, flattery [brings] fortune. ( See Nos. 1534, 1557. ) While the pot boils friendship blooms. (German.)* 1518. 1b4oo ‘^ n3 ^C^$5boer D . Will the meat and drink last for ever] Can one expect to live always on the bounty of others ? 1519. e3aoAbo^ Nr6 rS&sSxt, The elder brother-in-law is like a woman. Said of a stupid clumsy person. 1520. £xoo-u)tf £eoo, ^5,£>o^S6 SX>o-£)£ sSB. A tooth projecting beyond the lip y a wick too big for the oil dish. Said of an insolent fellow. He is on the high ropes. 1521. If it passes your lips it will go over the Penna river. ( For Penna see No. 152S— See^NoSr 47 r 525 r G85.) A secret revealed spreads quickly abroad. Three may keep counsel if two be away. Two eyes, two ears, only one mouth. ( German.)f * Siedct der Topf, so bluhet die Frcundscliaft. \ Zwei Augen, zwei Ohrert, nur cin Murid. ( 200 ) TELUGU PROVERBS. 1522. Iboi, The eldest son’s marriage, and the giant’s dinner. ( See Nos. 99, 711.) A giant had to be supplied with a man daily by the villagers in turn. ( See VikramArka Tales in Telugu Selections Page 41. ) A happy event and a great misfortune coming together. 1523- tiv eSS'sT 6 !^, If you can’t get a head for the family get a sheep’s head. (See Nos. 312, 314, 1906.) Better than nothing. When you can't get bread, out cakes arc not amiss. (Spanish.)* 1524. "t)g ^)e) s 5-D^7T° 3 £boo sYtp&o. Though you be pursued by a tiger, you should not pass in front of the royal court. (See No. 4525. ) Applied to a tyrannical Government. 1525. ~Z)£ ^S)e) c3o#<bK5ooo7T° Z>5Z ^r=6 ^o£<b You may face a royal tiger but you should not face a go¬ vernment official. ( See No. 1524. ). 1526. S^ToaSo.. o Disputing with the aged [ is as wrong as ] keeping -company with ghosts. 1527. ^)K$dSo 0 !F=$bz 5a. (SO O ! . .!■ The sorrow [ you have caused ] to the pious will come upon you again like a great serpent. “ His mischief shall return upon his own head." Psalm vii. 16. * A mengua do pan, buenas son tortas. ( 2G7 ) es o§ -£5o^S^3\ 1528. ‘t)S5. When we have crossed the Penna we can visit Perum&l. ♦ The meaning is “ Let us get over the river first and talk of visiting Perum&l ( Vishnu ) afterwards.— The Penna ( Pennar ) falls into the sea near Nellore. It is rapid and deep during the monsoon, though its bed is nearly dry for 5 or 6 months of the year. 1529. ^3^y^go. Like allotting glebe land in the Penna, A doubtful benefit. 1530. £bo<3b§6 60 The tree in the back yard won’t do for medicine. That which is near is not valued. > Far fetch'd and dear bought is good for ladies . A cow from afg,r gives plenty of milk. (French.)* 1531. * To grow is but to be broken. Ruin follows speedy exaltation. Fortune and glass soon break, alas! ( Dutch. )t 1532. *lb$b?£> ^350x50^50. Your curds take away the respect due to age. Because they cause eructation. 1533. HbSoXr 0 £fe)§!)K)£oo. oo eo Like mixing rice in the husk with curds.