llaejeeavan aander varian

llaejeeavan (modest) aander (inside) varian (gone) valej (shameless)
kahenda (said) mathuan (from me) daria (afraid)

When two people are having an argument, the one who doesn't want to inflame the situation enters his home, the immodest  person thinks that the good person has gone inside because he is afraid scared of him.


llaejeeavan aander varian

Sajjan chordia

ਸੱਜਣ ਛੋਡਿਏ ਰਂਗ ਸੇ, ਫਿਰ ਭੀ ਆਵਣ ਕੰਮ

Sajjan (friends) chordia (part with) rang sai (with colour, but here it means gracefully and not with animosity) phir bhee (again, in future) aavan kam (be available, useful)

Friendships should be ended with grace as the friend may be needed in the future.


Sajjan chordia

Na mooh na maatha

ਨਾ ਮੂੰਹ ਨਾ ਮੱਥਾ, ਜਿੰਨ ਪਹਾੜੋਂ ਲੱਥਾ

Na mooh (mouth, but here it means face) na (nor) maatha (forehead)
gin (ghost) paharrawn (from mountain) lathan (came down).

A person whose face and forehead are ugly, appears as if a ghost having coming down from the mountain. Basically an insult!

Na mooh na maatha

Jis dai parr

ਜਿਸ ਦੇ ਪੈਰ ਨਾ ਫਟੇ ਬਿਆਈ , ਉਹ ਕੀ ਜਾਣੇ ਪੀੜ ਪਰਾਈ

Jis dai (whose) parr (foot) na phettai (torn) beeaiee (cracking of heels with cold
ie chilblain)  ooh (same person) kee jaannai (what does he know of) peerrh (pain or
anguish) parraaee (of others).

If a person has never experienced pain or anguish, he/she cannot know or appreciate the pain of others.

Jis dai parr

Eccau hutti

ਇੱਕੋ ਹੱਟੀ ਸੋਈ ਕੁਪੱਤੀ  ਮੁੜ ਘਿੜ ਜਾਣਾ ਓੁਸੇ ਹੱਟੀ

Eccau (one only) hutti (small shop) sauee (that is) kopatti (bad mannered or hot tempered ) morrh morrh (again and again) janna (to go) oussai (same) hutti (small shop).

When there is only one small shop in a village, even if the shop keeper is not good to the customers there is no choice but to frequent it.

Meaning, when parents have only one child it is important to keep good relations with it, even if the child is difficult!

Eccau hutti

Ghorrah firrai

ਘੋੜਾ ਫਿਰੇ ਗਰਾਂ ਗਰਾਂ, ਜਿਸਦਾ ਘੋੜਾ ਉਸਦਾ ਨਾਂ

Ghorrah (horse) firrai (roaming) gran gran (village to village), jis da (whose) ghorrah (horse) oss da (his) na (name). When a horse roams from village to village he is known by his owner's name.

Meaning, a child is known by its father's name (so and so's child), and the reputation of father and child are interdependent.

Ghorrah firrai

Ghar da yogi

ਘਰ ਦਾ ਯੋਗੀ ਯੋਗ ਨਾ, ਬਾਹਰਲਾ ਯੋਗੀ ਸਿਧ

Ghar (home) da (of) yogi (the person who knows yoga, is wise and reflective)
Yog na (know nothing of yoga), baherla (an outsider) yogi sidh (an accomplished yogi/saint). The home's yogi is thought of a knowing little, whereas a yogi that is from outside is thought to be wise.

Meaning: if a family member or a friend is intelligent and good in various walks of  life his/her skills and wisdom are not appreciated, but rather an outsider often gets praise and accolades even if not worthy.

Ghar da yogi

Johrian jug

ਜੋੜਿਆਂ ਜੱਗ ਥੋੜਿਆਂ ਪਰ ਨਰੜ ਵਥੇਰੇ

Johrian (couple, with the implication the couple is happy) jug (world) thorrian (few) par (but) narrerdh (forced knot) vathairrai (enough). A 'narrerd' is a forceful knot that is often roughly tied to hold buffalo for example.

In the world there are few happy compatible couples, but many unhappy couples who have been forced or coerced into marriage.

Johrian jug

Valleou khunji

ਵੇਲਿਓ ਖੁੱਝੀ ਡੂਮਣੀ , ਢੂੰਡੇ ਆਲ ਪਤਾਲ

Valeou (time) khunji (missed) doomni (honey bee) thoodai (searching) aall
(land) patal (water beneath the ground).

The honey bee that has missed the season (to collect pollen) searches land and water (for it).

If the honey bee doesn’t collect pollen from flowers during the spring season, she will be unable collect any pollen in the winter, as there will be no flowers anywhere.

In other words 'make hay whilst the sun shines'.


Valleou khunji

Kookher kheh

ਕੁੱਕੜ ਖੇਹ ਉਡਾਈ , ਆਪਣੇ ਝਾਟੇ ਪਾਈ
Kookker (rooster) kheh (dust) oordhaee (spread in the air) aapnai (his own)
jhatai (dishevelled hair) paaee (put).

When a rooster raises dust from the ground, the dust goes in its own hair. Meaning when a person disrespects others, behaves in an unseemly or shameful way, his actions reflect and damage himself.

Kookher kheh

Sheran

ਸ਼ੇਰਾਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਬੈਠਕਾਂ , ਗਿਦੱੜ ਕਰਣ ਕਲੋਲ

Sheran (lions) deean (of) baithkhan (meetings or drawing rooms), gidhers (jackals, but here it refers to cowards or unworthy people) kerran kalol (making merry); lions have civilised gatherings, when jackals gather they are brash and brazen.

Meaning: Upright, brave, good folk add dignity, in their absence become more seedy and unseemly.

Sheran

Sakhi nalau

ਸਖ਼ੀ ਨਾਲੋ ਸੂਮ ਭਲਾ ਜਿਹੜਾ ਤੁਰਤ ਦੇਵੇ ਜਵਾਬ

Sakhi (friend) nalau (from) soom (miser) bhalla (better) jihra (who) torret (immiediately) davai juvab (give answer, but in here it means says no).

It means: a miser person is better than a friend as he readily says that he can't lend the money where a friend keeps making promises but never lends any money.


Sakhi nalau

Guroo

ਗੁਰੂ ਜਿਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਟਪਣੇ , ਚੇਲੇ ਜਾਣ ਛੜੱਪ
Guroo (teacher) jinnaha (whose) tapnnai (leap) chalai (followers) jann chharapp
(take very high jump). The teacher leaps a little, but his/her follower leap.

It means students of clever teachers are cleverer than their teachers – this proverb can be used in both negative and positive sense; positively in the way that children can surpass parents, and negatively in the way some assume they have learned all there is to learn.

Guroo

Bhaleh ghar

ਭਲੇ ਘਰ ਦੀ ਨੂੰਹ , ਕੱਧ ਵੱਲ ਨੂੰ ਮੂੰਹ
Bhalai (well mannered) ghar (home, here it means family) nooh
(daughter-in- law) kandhh (wall) val noo (towards) mooh (face).

A daughter–in–law of a very good family is sitting facing to wards the wall.

Meaning the members of good families may also be unsociable and rude.

Bhaleh ghar

Vaireh aaee

ਵਿਹੜੇ ਆਈ ਜੰਞ , ਵਿੰਨ੍ਹੋ ਕੁੜੀ ਦੇ ਕੰਨ
Vaireh (compound) aaee (came) janj (wedding party), vinnhau (pierce) kurrhi (girl, here it means bride) de (of) kann (ears).
The wedding party arrives at the bride's house, and the parents pierce the bride's ears to allow her to wear earrings. It means leaving things to the very last moment.

Vaireh aaee

Mama firai

ਮਾਮਾ ਫਿਰੇ ਨੱਥ ਘੜਾਉਣ ਨੂੰ ,ਭਾਨਜੀ ਫਿਰੇ ਨੰਕ ਵੱਢਾਉਣ ਨੂੰ
Mama (uncle, mum’s brother) firai (to wander, roam, try) nath (nose ring)
ghodhouen noo (to make), bhanji (niece) firai nak (nose) vadhoun noo (to cut her nose off).

It is a tradition in Indian people for the Mama to give a nose ring to his niece at the time of her wedding. So in this muhavare the Mama is trying to give the nose ring. The niece however wishes to cut of her nose. To cut of the nose is a metaphor for being disrespectful and/or bringing disgrace.

So the muhavare captures the experience of a family member/s trying to help/support/love another. The other however doesn't appreciate the help and seems bent on hurting others and him/herself.

mama pherai

Dheeai gal

ਧੀਏ ਗੱਲ ਕਰ , ਨੂੰਹੇਂ ਕੰਨ ਕਰ
Dheeai (daughter) gal kar (you talk), noohai (daughter–in–law) kann (ear) kar. This one means literally that you speak to your daughter (get your daughter to talk of something) so your daughter-in-law will hear (and learn!). Its a way of bringing up a difficult subject in an indirect manner.

So for example: a mother may foster a conversation on the benefits of working hard with her daughter, so to encourage her idle daughter-in-law!

dheeai gal

Billee na

ਬਿੱਲੀ ਨੇ ਸ਼ੀਹ ਪੜ੍ਹਾਇਆ, ਸ਼ੀਹ ਬਿੱਲੀ ਨੂੰ ਖਾਣ ਆਇਆ ।
Billee (cat) nai seeh (lion) parrahia (taught the lion), seeh (lion) billee (cat) noo khan aaeeia (leapt at the cat to eat her up).
The cat taught the lion all her clever ways, and to repay her, after all the lessons had been learnt, the lion wished to eat her.
Meaning, some people can be so selfish that they can harm the person who has nurtured them, in ways hurting the hand that fed them. In the cat’s case she taught the lion everything, except how to climb up the tree!

billee na

Kavan tolee

ਕਾਂਵਾਂ ਟੋਲੀ , ਇੱਕੋ ਬੋਲੀ
Kavan toli eakco boli

Kavan (crows) toli (group) eako (same) boli (language).
Like minded (similar) people think alike.


kavan tolee

I have been doing some travelling and will resume the blog soon!

Kal dee bhootni

ਕੱਲ ਦੀ ਭੂਤਨੀ ਿੇਸਵਆਂ  ‘ਚ’ ਅੱਧ
Kal dee (yesterday’s) bhootni (ghost) sibia ch (in graveyeard) addh (half share); yesterday's ghost takes half the graveyard.
Yesterday's ghost, a ghost that has recently arrived in her graveyard, presumptuously takes half ownership. Someone who is young and inexperienced putting on undeserved/unearned airs and graces.

kal dee bhootni

Jo sukh

ਜੋ ਸੁਖ ਛੱਜੂ ਦੇ ਚੁਬਾਰੇ ਸੋ ਸੁਖ ਬਲੱਖ ਨਾ ਬੁਖਾਰੇ
Jo sukh (the happiness) Chajjoo (name of a man) de chubbaara (large room on the upper storey), oho sukh (that happiness) Bulakh na Bukhara (is neither Bulakh nor in Bukhara).

Bukhara is the capital of the Bukhara Province, Uzbekistan located on the Silk Road. The city has long been a center of trade, scholarship, culture, and religion and has been listed UNESCO as a World Heritage Site (taken from Wikipedia). Bulakh is also a city (in Kazakhstan).

It means “east or west the home is best”, the contentment of home is greater than being in a glorious city such as Bukhara.

jo sukh

Bukhara

Dhaaee paa

ਡਾੲੀ ਪਾ ਿਖਚੜੀ,ਚੁਬਾਰੇ ਚ ਰਸੋੲੀ
Dhaaee paa (nearly half kilo in weight ) kichharee (rice and pulse dish) chubbarra (open room on upper storey of a house open room) rasoee (kitchen).

To make a little bit of kitcharee the usual kitchen is not enough. Instead the unnecessarily large chubbarra is used as the kitchen. In essence to make a mountain out molehill.

dhaaee paa

Apni apni daphlee

ਅਾਪਣੀ ਅਾਪਣੀ ਡਫ਼ਲੀ ਤੇ ਅਾਪਣਾ ਅਾਪਣਾ ਰਾਗ
Apni apni (one’s own) daphlee (small drum) apna apna rang (one’s own song).

When a number of people beat to their own drum and music, with subsequent disagreement. People just pleasing themselves and not willing to listen to the views of others.

apni apni daphlee

Jis de pallai

ਿਜਸ ਦੇ ਪੱਲੇ ਦਾਣੇ ਉਦੇ ਕਮਲੇ ਵੀ ਿਸਅਾਣੇ
Jis (who) de pallai (has) daanai (grains meaning money) odhai (his) kamlai (foolish family) vi (as well) siannai (intelligent).

A pallai is a piece of cloth (like a 'jholi') that is held in a shape so that someone may place something in it. Similarly someone may offer something to another from it.

Even foolish members of a wealthy persons’ family are considered wise.

jis de pallai

Saddee na

ਸੱਦੀ ਨਾ ਬੁਲਾੲੀ , ਮੈਂ ਲਾੜੇ ਦੀ ਤਾੲੀ
Saddi (asked) na (not) bolaee (invited) tha mai larraih (groom) di taee (aunti - groom's father's elder brother's wife). This muhavare off course refers to wedding as implicit in using 'larraih/groom'. It is way of referring to an invited guest who makes her presence felt, is too comfortable.

saddee na

Choree de thann

ਚੋਰੀ ਦੇ ਥਾਣ ਤਾਂ ਲਾਿਠਅਾਂ ਦੇ ਗਜ਼
Choree (stealing) da (of) thaan (roll of cloth) ta latheeaa (long stick) da gaj (yard); stolens rolls of cloth and sticks measuring a yard.

Stolen fabric, because it is stolen and not worked for is not valued. When it is sold it is sold without care and in a rush. Rather than being lovingly and carefully measured it is sold hastily. Any stick that approximates a yard is used, and the random size of this stick reflects the lack of value seen in the cloth (often the stick measures much more than yard).

A bit like 'easy come easy go'.

choree de thann

Chor bazaar, Delhi

Dabb ke vaah

ਦੱਬ ਕੇ ਵਾਹ ਤੇ ਰੱਜ ਕੇ ਖਾਹ
Dabb ke (with commitment/will) vaah (plough the field) tae (and) rajj ke kha (eat freely and fully); plough the field with will and commitment and eat freely till full.

In other words, work hard to earn your living and enjoy the fruit of your labour.

dab ke vaah

Uddam aggai lashmi

ਉਦੱਮ ਅੱਗੇ ਲਛੱਮੀ ਪੱਖੇ ਅੱਗੇ ਪੌਣ, ਿਜੱਥੇ ਦਲਿਦੱਰ ਅਾ ਵਸੇ ਉਥੇ ਸੁਖਿਅਾ ਕੌਣ

Uddam (effort, hard work) aggai (in front) lashmi (wealth), pakhai (fan) aggai (in front) pawn (air), jithai (where) dalidder (laziness) aa vesai (settles) othai (there) sukhian (happy) kawn (who)

Lashmi (wealth) follows hard work like flowing air comes from a fan. Where laziness settles who can be happy.

uddam aggai lashmi

Lakshmi: the Goddess of Wealth

Kuchar kurri

ਕੁਛੱੜ ਕੁੜੀ ਸ਼ਹਿਰ ਢੰਡੋਰਾ

Kuchchar (lap) kuree (girl) shehir (town) dhandora (search). The girl being carried is searched for in the town.

Qualities close or within may be unknowingly searched for (when they are already possessed). Can also have a more literal meaning, such as the common situation of searching for keys that are in one's pocket.

kuchar kurri

Kutta raj

ਕੁੱਤਾ ਰਾਜ ਿਬਠਾਿਲਅਾ ਚੱਕੀ ਚਟਣ ਜਾੲੇ
Kutta (dog) raj (throne) beethalia (to seat) chakki (handmill) chattun (lick) jaai (to go). The dog was seated on the throne but kept licking the handmill.

In other words, people who have bad habits and are uncultured (like a dog!) will continue to be true to this, even if their status is elevated, and they climb up the social hierachy.


kutta raj

P.S, this is the family dog!

Khujai da guwaah

ਖੁਅਾਜੇ ਦਾ ਗੁਵਾਹ ਡੱਡੂ

Khuajai (pond’s) da guwaah (witness ) daddoo (frog); the pond's witness is the frog

The frog is closely connected to the pond. It will side with the pond as it lives there and is dependent on its water, and therefore is a biased witness, it will take the side of the pond. In essence, someone who lives somewhere, or is involved closely with something could well be biased and unreliable (like a frog!)

khuvajai da gawaah

Dhobi da kutta

ਧੋਬੀ ਦਾ ਕੁੱਤਾ ਨਾ ਘਰ ਦਾ ਨਾ ਘਾਟ ਦਾ

Dhobi (washer man) da kutta (dog) na (neither) ghar (home ) da na (nor) ghat (quey, where washer man washes the clothes) da; the washer's man dog doesn't belong to either house or ghat.

The dhobi's dog wanders here and there and doesn't belong. A little bit like 'a rolling stone gathers no moss'

dhobi da kutta

Sheeshmela

ਰਹਿਣਾ ਝੋਪੜੀ ਿਵੱਚ ਤੇ ਸੁਪਣੇ ਲੈਣੇ ਸ਼ੀਸ਼ਮਹਿਲਾਂ ਦੇ |

Rehna (live) Jhoupree (hut) vich tai  supnai (dreams) laenai (see) sheeshmahila (glass palaces) de; to live in a hut but dream of glass palaces (beautiful palaces). To be pleasantly or also perhaps unrealistically disconnected with reality, the real world.

sheeshmela

Chika hath na upprai

ਿਛੱਕੇ ਹੱਥ ਨਾ ਉਪੜੇ ਤਾਂ ਥੂ ਕੌੜੀ

Chika hath na upprai tha thoo koree.

A chika is a bowl like object hanging with wire and hooks so as to keep animals away from the food contained. When the food in it can't be reached it is looked on as bitter (koree).

So if something can't be attained it is perceived as not worth attaining (bitter). 

chika

Mallah da hukka

ਮੱਲਾਹ ਦਾ ਹੁੱਕਾ ਸੁੱਕਾ
Mallah (boatman) da hukka (smoking pipe) sukka (dry); the boatman's smoking pipe is dry.

A boatman, who is surrounded by water, nevertheless has a dry smoking pipe (that of course, is filled with water). A bit like saying a doctor will not care for his own health, a plumber his pipes etc.

malaa

Joo joo bheejay

ਿਜਂਊ ਿਜਂਊ ਿਭੱਜੇ ਕੱਬਲੀ ਿਤਊ ਿਤਊ ਭਾਰੀ ਹੋ
joo joo (as) bheejay (soak) kamblee (blanket) too too (so) bharee (heavy) huai; as the blanket is soaked with water so it becomes heavy.

As you mature with experience (moisten) so responsibility follows (heaviness)

joo joo

                   

Ma par

ਮਾਂ ਪਰ ਧੀ ਿਪਤਾ ਪਰ ਘੋੜਾ ਬਹੁਤਾ ਨਹੀ ਤਾਂ ਥੋੜਾ ਥੋੜਾ 

Ma (mother) par dhee (daughter), pita (father) par ghoraa (horse), botha nhi tha thoraa thoraa

daughter like mother, son like father, if not totally at least a little.


ma

Hathi de dandh

ਹਾਥੀ ਦੇ ਦੰਦ ਖਾਣ ਦੇ ਹੋਰ ਿਦਖਾਓਣ ਦੇ ਹੋਰ

Hathi de dandh khan de haur dikhaun de haur.

The elephant has different teeth for eating and showing (tusks). In other words, beauty, or pleasant appearance/behaviour can be deceptive, and not be a reflection of the person's true nature.


hathi

Deggi khutai

ਿਡਗੀ ਖੋਤੇ ਤੌ ਗੁੱਸਾ ਘੁਿਮਅਾਰ ਤੇ
Deggi khutai (donkey) to gussa ghumair (potter) tai.

when someone falls from a donkey her anger is directed to the donkey's owner (the potter). In essence, anger at oneself (in this case for falling of the donkey) is directed/vented onto someone else.

deggi

Kalai kan

ਕਾਲੇ ਕਾਂ ਨਾ ਹੁੰਦੇ ਵੱਗੇ ਭਾਂਵੇਂ ਸੌ ਮਣ ਸਾਬੁਣ ਲੱਗੇ

Kalai (black) kan (crows) na hunday buggay (white), bhamai sou mun sabun (soap) laggai.

A black crow can not turn white if it is washed in soap a hundred times; in essence a 'leopard cannot change its spots', something will be true to its nature.


kan

Coala dee delali

ਕੋਲੇ ਦੀ ਦਲਾਲੀ ਿਵੱਚ ਹੱਥ ਵੀ ਕਾਲੇ ਤੇ ਮੂੰਹ ਵੀ ਕਾਲਾ
Coala (coal) dee delali (dealings) vich hath bhi kala tai mooh bhi kala.

Deals involving coal will blacken both your hands and face.

A ‘delal’ is someone who ‘deals’ in the Panjabi community. A delali is a ‘deal’. So, in dealing with coal, both hands and face are blackened. In other words, dishonest or corrupt work will tarnish.

coala