Monday, November 19, 2012

More proverbs

Here are more proverbs used in Thanjavur Marathi. I have tried to give the best explanation possible, from what little I know. My guide, mentor and my inspiration in creating this blog, my dear Dad is not doing well as old age is catching up on him and cannot guide me....

Ghanta Jhaale aaha, Bhaathala nahi vaata
घंटा झाला आहे , भाताला नहीं  वाट 
This is I think a very simple proverb meaning just what it says... It is time to eat, there is no sign of food. Bhath is Rice. ghanta being Time. Vaat is way.
It is time (for food) and no way for food..is the more precise meaning. 
In a proverbial sense this probably meant about being stuck in a situation with no way out? 


Bhajana Kara Raamacha, Bharitha kara vaangyaacha
भजन करा  रामाचा , भरीत करा  वांग्याचा 
I love this one. Of course it means, 
" perform bhajan to Shri Raama, and make a Bharith (raitha, bhartha) of vaangi (brinjal)"
True meaning is the concentration that is taken in making the food, and not on the worship. The sublime and the mundane!


Ghante jhaala nau, Anthra (ANTHRUN) chaampa mau
घंटा  झाला नौ , अंथरुण चाम्पा मऊ 
Beautiful proverb meaning, as the time turns 9pm, the bed seems welcoming.
Translation: As the time turn 9pm, the comforter(anthrun) and mat(champa) look soft (and welcoming)
This is used to reprimand someone, who turns to bed when it is barely 9pm, dropping all the work they have to do.



Saaracha raada Angaala chokkot
साराचा  राड़  अंगाला चक्कोट 
Translation; the thick residue of the 'saar' is good for health.
Meaning: while no one likes to eat the thick residue in the 'saar' this saying is used to make the children eat this 'saarach raad'


Pota chirun Meeth bharlaska
पोट  चिरून मीठ भर्लास्का 
Precisely means "Rubbing Salt on a wound"


Bahaar ek kaavla disna
बहार एक कावला दिसना 
Translation is " Not a crow can be seen outside"
Whatever the condition, a national bandh or a bad weather birds are always seen  outside, they know no curfew or bad weather. However, this idiom means the condition is so bad that not even a crow(a bird) can be seen outside., the road or outside was so lonely.


Pot himsa karna
पोट हिंसा करना 
Cooling the stomach? I am guessing this means calming a person who is burning with emotion.
Strangely in TM weddings, after the wedding and entry of the bride into her husband's family, a Saree is given to the bride's mother and this sari was referred to as .." pot himsa karaach lugda" पोट  हिंसा कराच लुगड़ा "
Maybe a token to recognize the mother's feelings as she feels the snap of the apron strings.

Bo Maarna
भो मारना 
Idiom used in anger or irritation. When someone is crying over something repeatedly, the  hearer says this... bho maaruko! ..भो मारुको !

That's all folks for today. I hope I have done a good job of translating these proverbs and idioms. Like I have always mentioned, TM is getting lost and with it we are losing the meaning of all these rich proverbs.  Dear Reader, please do correct any misrepresentations.  Thank you.








7 comments:

  1. One more for record "kaama baror kaam mana ram" ( Probably those days women folk had a lot of household work, hence this idiom(?)).

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  2. A few more...

    1. Cholila choli, polila poli.
    Return a choli (as gift)if you get a choli and a poli if thats what you get.

    2. Aangi phatkantha hei paaya.
    (this one was hard to spell in english script!)
    Aangi- all
    phatka-tear in cloth, phatkantha- in the torn hole
    hei-in
    paaya-foot
    Loosely this means foot in all the holes;
    the figurative meaning is that one is involved in too many things.

    3. Paanch boat hei ek sarka naahi
    5 fingers are not similar.

    4. Dev disla
    God was visible, literally.
    Means the task was as hard.

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    Replies
    1. mangesh sirdeshpandeApril 14, 2013 at 3:21 AM

      Angi=shirt

      hei==yeee=reaches

      the meaning is = when a shirt is torn ,it reaches the feet. !

      Meaning ..certain overused or torn/broken things are useless to use !

      Delete
    2. Thank you and welcome back Shri Sirdeshpande. Looks like I had the wrong meaning for the above proverb! Actually, I have not seen it being used much in my house.

      Delete
  3. Thank you Sudha Balaji and Anonymous for the valuable addition to the proverbs.
    Yes I had forgotten those and all of these are used in our everyday lives!

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  4. My mother used to say: "Ghante jhaala aatha (8). Bhaathala naheen vaata".

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  5. "Ghante jhaala aata (8) Bhaathala naheen vaat" is another saying from my mother.

    Also "Ghante jhaala nau, Bhaathala jhaala mau" from my mother.

    ReplyDelete