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