Return of Wisdom through Aphorisms!
Culture 101: Unpacking Local Sayings.
Continuing the series on wisdom of local aphorisms.
Literal Saying: Lentils in, something black, is.
There is something black in the lentils.
Meaning: Everyday home-cooked lentils are typically yellow in color. During the cooking process, whether rinsing or pressure-cooking, it's not uncommon to spot a black seed or two, which are harmless and easily removed. The core idea behind this well-known phrase is to highlight these black seeds as anomalies amidst the predominantly yellow lentils.
Usage: Similar to the expression 'Something is fishy,' it is used to indicate mistrust in a process or government policy explanation. Or when someone appears to be honest but you have a suspicion that something is amiss. For example, when someone unexpectedly resigns at work and you don’t believe the explanations given by management. The phrase can also be indicative of a deeper malaise.
Want to surprise your Indian acquaintances at work? Next time something fishy happens at work, just say, very confidently, "Looks like there is something black in this dal." You're welcome! :-)
Literal Saying: Late they came, timely or ‘well’ they came.
Though late, they came in a timely fashion, or was just right, or in a helping manner.
Meaning: A person or situation righted itself though late, and perhaps in an unexpected fashion, or when all hope was lost. The specific word ‘durust’ is Persian in origin.
Usage: Used to indicate thankfulness that something worked out in the end, or someone came through for you in the end. You can use it for a person or a situational intervention. For instance, you are in a fix and need a specific answer, but the person you want is not available, and just when you have given up hope, they drop by one evening, offer to help and it all works out in the end. As soon as you see the person, you exclaim, “Der aaye, durust aaye.” Google Translates it as ‘Better late than never,’ but that is not accurate.
Literal Saying: Dog’s tail, crooked stays crooked.
A dog’s crooked tail returns to being crooked.
Meaning: You cannot straighten a dog’s tail no matter how much you try. It returns to its original shape. So it is with people or situations, but this refers mainly to people’s behaviors.
Usage: If someone refuses to change, or despite multiple attempts returns to their old ways, this serves as a reminder that people rarely change. It is usually a negative connotation, to imply that the person is irredeemable in terms of the habit or change so why waste your time? Sometimes, you may jest with someone familiar that they are showcasing this behavior or as a cautionary admonishment.
Literal Saying: Life go, but word, not go.
Let one’s life go, but not one’s word.
Meaning: This is an extremely famous saying from the life of Rama. He is known for being true to his word, and it is a tradition that traces back to the first king, Raghu, of the dynasty of Rama.
[Spoiler alert]
Rama refers to it in the texts of the Ramayana1 when he declines to return to the kingdom after committing to his father that he shall go into exile for fourteen years, though his stepmother reverts her ask, and his brother begs him to return. The fuller saying is - in my words - when Rama says, “What? Shall I give up the tradition that has come from the times of my ancestor, King Raghu? I will sacrifice my life, but go back on my word, I will not.”
I have restated it in the context of this story where Rama says, “I would sooner give up my life than betray my word of honor.”
Usage: The promised word of a human being is everything. It is truth. It is honor. It is a commitment. The idea is to give it wisely too. Do not promise what you cannot deliver. When you say you will do something, do it. The mark of integrity in a person is their ability to be true to their word, like Rama. When people fail to keep their word, or falsely promise and then retract their word, they are understood to be a person of weak character with low integrity. Of course, this is the ideal set in the culture, but not always practiced!
p.s. It does not mean “Life may die but words may not,” as suggested by this Google translation.
Previous Posts in this Series
By the author of the second Ramayana written in Awadhi (a dialect of Hindi), in the 16th century, as Sanskrit receded from local usage. He is believed to have seen scenes from the Ramayana as he wrote it.
My first read of your post, Jayshree. In USA published since late 1700 is the Old Farmers Almanac with weather forecasts and stories, aphorisms, folk lore check it out for interest. I enjoyed reading your aphorisms. Promised word by Rama—honor-truth is certainly something missing in society today when media and politicians distort, bend the dog’s tail’ for their own gain.
I spend most my days with an East Indian Sikh family! I tutor their grand daughter and have babysat her for a few evenings a week since she was 2. I just heard the grandmother use this expression the other day when someone attempted to scam her. Serendipity that I’d read your post today!