Gaadegalu: Proverbs (in Kan) not donkeys!
February 18, 2010Several instances in our lives are always accompanied by a few crazy one-liners. For instance, during any forthcoming exams or tests in school, our folks would always encourage us to study hard and use this one-liner: “kai kesaradare bai mosaru” – meaning good efforts follow good results. Proverbs or ‘gaadegalu’ as we know them have several histories and etymologies. Instead of exploring their real essence, I thought let me add some humour and provide a few literal translations. Enjoy…
And feel free to add more… :)
Pustakada badnekai
The Brinjal of Books
Kelage Biddroo Meese Mannagalilla
Despite falling down, moustache not soiled
Kumbalakai Kalla hegulu muttikonda
The pumpkin thief touched his shoulder
Thanna kala kelage kumalakayi kolathiruvaga bereyavara sasive hekkuvudu
When a pumpkin is rotting in your yard, you point to mustard seeds in your neighbour’s yard
Nanu chaape kelage hodare neenu rangoli kelage hode
I crawled under the mattress, but you have gone under the rangoli
Kallana nambidaru kullana nambabeda
You can trust a thief, but not a dwarf
Alpanige aishwarya bandaga madyarathreyalli kode hidida
When a poor man struck fortune, he opened an umbrella in the middle of the night
Kai kesaradare bai mosaru
If your hand is soiled, your mouth will get curd
LOL…Good place for D to start… to learn the intricacies of Kannada
Haha yes, true. Never thought of that angle though
Su
How about these?
1) Yuddha kaale shastrabhyaasa
Preparing just before the war
2) Mantra kintha ugule jyasthi
Not doing anything great, just showing off
3) Saayovaaga Maalappa meenu thindu saththa
A pure vegetarian decided to eat Fish, just before dying
niks
Taking about one-liners, my personal favorite (courtesy Thatha)
“Saileke adru, badaku bekalla”
@niks: Reg 2 and 3 – you have given the essence of the proverb. The idea of my blog was to translate it literally and share some laughs
@Akkobi: yes this is by far the best of them all
We should apply for some sort of copyright or some thing!
hi su,
Obbarigintha obbaru smart.
sudhi ,all are good .some are applies day today life. good collections both from you and nikil.
Adike kaddaru kalla Ane kaddaroo kalla ( you are a theif even if you steal a betel nut or for that matter even a elephant.
vijju
Haha, good one Vijju Mama
“When a lesse soul hits afortune” is more appropriate translation for “Alpanige aishwarya bandaga”.