Indian Proverbs

• IT IS NOT the thunder that causes the rain.
• If you don’t have an enemy, don’t you have a cousin?
• It may not pay to weigh everyone in the same scales. (- it suggests a lost sense of discrimination).*
• A lie doesn’t have a foot to stand on.
• Never scatter pearls for the cocks. (Don’t waste good advice on the foolish).*
• To get silk from a stone. (An impossible task).
• May God save me from the one I saved (brought up, too).*
• You may adopt an indirect approach to reach your goal.*
• To show one’s fist to a blind man is neither a sin nor a virtue. (Advice can be lost on stupid people).
• The bachelors crave to get married, and the married ones regret they got married.
• A truly educated person is a gem.*
• Distance lends enchantment.*
• Prosperity teaches one, and poverty puts one to shame.
• She wants to have buttermilk, but has hidden the pot brought for it behind one’s back. (She wants to have something, but feels shy in asking for it).
• An idle person may have just three tasks: sleeping, eating and quarrelling.*
• The wiser the man, the more in trouble.
• A very jealous person is glad when somebody else cries, and sighs when others laugh.*
• The lightest is to be barefooted. (No property, no worries).
• Welcome an opportunity as it comes.*
• Unity can be equal to a thousand golden coins.*
• The flea sinned, the reed-mat got the beating.*
• When pumpkins are watered, brinjals also get watered. (Some small people are often benefited when the benefit is given to the big ones).
• The mother keeps on caring for her daughter while the daughter keeps on craving for her husband.
• A human being is quite impatient. (2)
• Lice flourish in rags.
• Anyone can be trapped.
• One may be generous at heart, but may not be able to afford it.
• It can be impossible to change an established image.*
• One man cut the bund/barrage, and a thousand people fell into the river.
• A confused man is like the drowning man who asks for pears from the willow tree. (A confused person doesn’t know what is good for him).
• One should strive to maintain one’s honour (Dastar (rather frail headgear) represents honour here).
• People pretend to dislike what they cannot get.
• AFTER killing a yakur bird your hands will stink. (A bad deed leaves a bad taste). (3)
• Don’t build the bungalow on an inch of ground. (Cf. Don’t build castles in the air).*
• Nine days wonders are forgotten soon after that.*
• To search for thorns in the milk. (An expression for criticizing without justification).
• First for self, then for the stranger. (Charity begins at home).
• It may be easier to perceive error than to find truth. (The latter lies in the depth, where few try to search).
• A king for a moment, and a beggar soon after (One’s fortune can change very fast).
• Economize expenditure. (4)
• Good people are gentle.
• One man’s beard is on fire, and another man warms his hands on it. (On taking advantage of someone’s misery).
• It does not pay to talk a lot. (Brevity is the soul of wit).
• The income is like jasmine. (Its scent is lovely).
• “Mother, no one abuses me.” – “Go and sit by the roadside.” (In other words: Ask for problems and you will get them).
• Diamond cuts diamond.
• The customers are known to the shopkeeper.
• Prosperity improves one’s personality, adversity cripples it.
• Rice tastes good when properly cooked, and talking is good when the opportunity is ripe. (Strike when the iron is hot).
• One should try to get enormously benefited by a small effort.*
• One should set sails with the tide.
• The sparrow feels comfortable on the thorn bush.
• TO SERVE a mean man may not be profitable.* (5)
• Unwanted meddling in affairs could prove harmful.*
• Maybe a naked person should not be taken to a cloth shop. (It can be so difficult to control the desires of someone who is in great need).*
• Good connections should pay.* (6)
• Whatever has bloomed, has bloomed from the very bud. (Cf. Coming events cast their shadows before them).
• Relations last longer when transactions are clean.*
• To smell one’s own bosom is fit. (Introspection).*
• While alive in rags; when dead in satin to cover the body.*
• The members of the family are in distress, but the idols are worshipped. (7)
• To chalk out preventive measures in good time before an emergency is much warranted.*
• Strive to live well within your means.

• God cures the patient, The doctor takes the fee.
• You have no cares? Then buy a goat.
• The goat gave up her life; ’twas not enough:The eater grumbles that the meat is tough!
• He shot at a sparrow. And spoiled a good arrow.
• The man thinks he knows, But the woman knows better.
• Before you have forded the river, o brother, Revile not unduly the crocodile’s mother.
• Earth laughs at him who calls a place his own.
• The idol-carver worships not; He knows what gods are made of.
• Shoot the tiger through and through; Miss him, and he won’t miss you.
• Cutting down a donkey’s ears. Will make no arab steed of him.
• What’s in the soul, the sorrow shows. Remember well. There are no fans in hell!
• “My beard is burning!” one will cry. Another lights his pipe thereby.
• Man is the slave of gold, Gold is the slave of none.
• Danger he challenges, laughing and singing, Grasping the tiger’s moustaches and swinging. The barber, lacking custom, shaved the cat.
• Among the blind the one-eyed man is king.
• Pearls grow yellow, men grow old.
• A sin will guide you to a grave.
• What business had the eggs to dance with stones?
• Avoid suspicion: when you’re walking through Your neighbor’s melon-patch, don’t tie your shoe.
• If you suspect him, then reject him. If you select him, don’t suspect him.
• If friend but speak with friend, The liar is disgraced.
• Appraise the spring before you drink the water; Observe the mother before you wed the daughter.
• He knew the ox might kick, So he stood behind the mule.
• “He has killed a thousand men!'” “Ah, he’s half a doctor, then.”
• A word informs the wise at once. A hundred lashes teach the dunce.
• The food was the bee’s, but by man it is eaten. The sin was the flea’s, but the bedding is beaten.
• Have flowers less of fragrance when they bloom where none may mark? Are rubies dull and worthless when they lie on mountains lone?
• Who finds a crow asleep when figs are ripe?
• Within the temple thrives the scamp. It’s darkest underneath the lamp.
• The rains have come! The rice-blades spring! The farmer cares not who is kingl
• The eager fish repent within the net. Young lovers wish, and married men regret.
• Death took him off But cured his cough.
• Time and space are naught to them that love!
• The roots of strife are four, all told: A woman, cattle, land and gold.
• The more he dances, feasts and sings; The married man is bound to toil;
• His mind is full of sterner things, And those are food and wood and oil.
• The farmer prays for rain, the washer-man for sun. If prayers were not in vain, the world would be undone.
• Fair is the hope of a distant day; Blue are the hills that are far away.
• The wayside spring is the friend of all.
• Sloth breaks the husbandman.
• Qlass bracelets at a farthing each are sold; But when on arms without a fleck They clasp, in love, a husband’s neck Their worth is many thousand pounds of gold.
• The jungle peacocks dance. Though none is there to see.
• Broken friendship’s friendship ended; Shattered pearls may not be mended.
• The bridegroom longs to see the bride, The guests to see the dinner.
• Where donkeys gather, kicks are cheap.
• A penny buyeth troubles That dollars cannot cure.
• It is the soldier’s blood and grief That makes the glory of the chief.
• Both of us are lords of men — Who will drive the donkeys, then?
• Some men are ruined in pursuit of pleasure. [Mod]
• Though strong are dagger, sword and musket-ball, The cooking pot is mightiest of all.
• The crab instructs its young, “Walk straight ahead — like me!”
• Where deep and smooth the stream beguiles, Beware! Look, out for crocodiles!
• The curs are barking, one and all, But that won’t make the mountain fall.
• Although the cow may not be vicious, Her long, sharp horns make folks suspicious.
• When clover blooms, the honey bee has little time for stinging. [Abr]
• I’ll make it rain as soon as men Will all agree and tell me when.
• Who brags about his great forbears Would steal the praise that should be theirs.