More Wisdom through Simple Aphorisms!
Culture 101: Unpacking Local Sayings.
Literal Saying: Home’s chicken, lentils equal to.
Even if you're enjoying chicken at home, you act as if it's everyday lentils.
Meaning: A dish, like chicken—typically reserved for special occasions—is treated as an everyday item, like lentils (dal), merely because it’s being served at home or in a familiar context. In literal terms, this refers to how a domesticated chicken is equated with lentils, even though one is more expensive than the other.
This is a common saying often used to make a point of undervaluing someone or something just because they are familiar - even by those who don’t eat chicken!
It is distinct from “Familiarity breeds contempt,” and focuses more on the idea of being treated as ordinary in specific contexts.
Usage: Often used by the aggrieved party to complain of their being undervalued by friends or family. For example, imagine you’re a renowned linguistics professor. During a lively debate at the dinner table about the etymology of a word, your erudite input is ignored. Instead, your spouse turns to a dinner guest for clarification, only for the guest to refer the question right back to you. You may laugh and remark: “Ghar ki murghi dal barabar!”1
Literal Saying: In youth, a crow also looks good.
When young, even a crow appears like a swan.
Alternate: When young, even a donkey appears like a horse! Courtesy: Anees!
Meaning: This popular Hindi (and its alternate in Urdu) saying highlights how, under the influence of youth and hormones, one may perceive even a crow as a swan—romanticizing or overestimating someone who may not be a good match.
Usage: This is an evergreen proverb, often used by elders or peers to dissuade young individuals from making impulsive romantic decisions, caution them against letting infatuation cloud their judgment, or playfully mock their youthful fascination with unsuitable partners.
Literal Saying: Good do, river into, throw.
Do good and throw it into the river.
Meaning: This popular Urdu proverb suggests that one should do good for its own sake, without expecting a return.
Usage: Remind others to act with generosity and selflessness, even when their efforts might go unnoticed or unacknowledged. Or to remind oneself when someone has been ungrateful, that this is why the elders have said it - it is an ungrateful world!
Literal Saying: Guest, God is.
A Guest is like God.
Meaning: This Sanskrit saying encapsulates a deeply ingrained principle of Indian culture: treat your guest as you would treat God. The phrase developed from ancient texts, where gods and powerful sages often disguised themselves to visit homes of the devoted, the poor, or the greedy.
The purpose of these visits was to bestow blessings, mete out punishments, or teach life lessons, depending on the host. This fostered the belief that you never know when God or powerful souls may choose to visit your home!
Usage: This concept is intrinsic to Indian culture - guests are to be treated with care, love, respect, and offered the very best in your home. This also underpins the difficulty many Indians face in saying “No” to guests. Conversely, guests may find themselves overwhelmed by this hospitality—struggling to refuse a second (or third!) helping of food without offending their hosts!
Public officials enthusiastically embraced this concept and ran expensive marketing campaigns and for a while, we were inundated with ads and huge billboards reminding us of this saying!
So if you have ever been overwhelmed by an Indian’s hospitality, at least now you know why!
I hope you liked these selections. Have you encountered similar sayings in other cultures?Discover more timeless wisdom in the full series.
Hindi. Ghar = home; ki = of; murghi = chicken; dal = lentils; barabar = equal.
Of words the placement thereof me off did throw. But once explained, it was easy to understand. In language I am English centric so the world, not revolving around me, makes me the odd man out sometimes. Enjoyed the post.
No matter where the stars light shines you reach me as I look up to the sky and see your reflection. Thank you for the wisdom from India bring light from aged sages.