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పిచ్చుక మీద బ్రహ్మాస్త్రము.
pichchuka mida brahmastramu.
by Lord Brahma, the Creator.
Using a very powerful weapon against a small person. Unnecessary use of strong force.
కాలం కలిసి రాక పోతె, కర్రె పామై కాటు వేస్తుంది.
kalam kalisi raka pote, karre pamai katu vestundi.
If time is not favorable, even a stick becomes a snake and bites.
Adverse circumstances make matters worse when times are not favorable.
శివుని ఆజ్ఞ లేక చీమైన కుట్టదు.
shivuni ajnya leka chimaina kuttadu.
Everything happens according to the Lord’s will: even an ant does not bite without His
This reiterates the potency of God and His will. But all the same, one should perform one’s duty (karma) and leave the result to God.
లోగుట్టు పెరుమాళ్ళకు ఎరుక
loguttu perumallaku eruka
God knows the hidden secret.
When one does not know the inside (secret) story or the real truth behind something, one tends to shrug one's shoulders and say, 'God knows'.
ఆస లావు పీక సన్నం
asa lavu pika sannam
Desire is great but the throat is thin (narrow).
Usually a greedy person wishes to acquire all, but has limited ability to absorb. One should realize what one deserves before desiring it. This proverb is akin to the English expression 'bite off more than you can chew'.
తింటే గరెలు తినాలి, వింటే భారతం వినాలి.
tinte garelu tinali, vinte bharatam vinali.
If one wants to eat the tastiest, one has to eat gare, and if one wants to listen to the best,
A saying, describing a typical Telugu taste, suggests the best dish to eat and the best book to read.
గుడ్డు వచ్చి పిల్లను వెక్కిరించినట్లు.
guddu vachchi pillanu vekkirinchinatlu.
Like an egg heckling the young bird.
A young, inexperienced man ridiculing an elder one. It is better to learn to respect the elderly and experienced people, and, if possible, learn from their expertise gained over many years.
గుర్రము గ్రుడ్డిదైనా, దానలో తక్కువ లేదు.
gurramu gruddidaina, danalo takkuva ledu.
Though blind, the horse does not eat less.
Refers to a person, who may not be earning anything, but his needs will be no less than any body else’s. One should learn to live within one’s means, even by limiting his basic needs.
గోరంత దీపం కొండంత వెలుగు
goranta dipam kondanta velugu
The lamp (wick) is of the size of a nail; illumination the size of a hill.
Even a small lamp can give a wide glow. Physical size does not always lead to insignificant actions. It is the largeness of purpose that makes the act big.
పులిని చూసీ నక్క వాత బెట్టుకున్నట్ళు.
pulini chusi nakka vata bettukunnatlu.
Like the fox branding itself, to match the tiger’s stripes.
The reference is to ordinary person trying to pretend that he is a great man by imitating mere external features and mannerism of a great person. By such efforts one only makes a fool of oneself.