gAdegaLu

aDDa gODeya mEle dIpa iTTa hAge

(It is like placing a lamp in the wall in the middle).

This is said of people who refuse to take sides and try to be in the middle.

aDikege hOda mAna Ane koTru barolla

(The reputation lost for a betel nut cannot be regained by

donating an elephant).

ambali kuDiyuvavanige mIse tikkuvanobba

(For one who drinks swill there is one to trim his mostache).

This is said of people who live beyond their means.

akki mEle Ase, nenTara mEle prIti

(There is love for rice and love for relatives too).

The implication is that you cannot have a cake and eat it too.

ajjige arive chinte, magaLige ganDana chinte

(Grandma is worried about a piece of cloth to wear; the daughter is worried about her lover).

This is said of irresponsible youngsters who expect a lot from parents who struggle to make ends meet.

alpanige aishwarya bandre ardha rAthrili koDe hiDisikonDa

(When a poor fellow got rich, he had an umbrella over his head in midnight).

A symbol of richness in olden times was to have a servant hold an umbrella while the rich man rode in the sun. The new rich would flaunt by doing it at night when there is no need for it.

antu intu kunti makkaLige entU rajyavilla

(After this, that and the other, the sons of Kunti did not rule).

This proverb is reserved for unlucky ones who never make it however they struggle.

The Pandavas, sons of Kunti, spent their childhood and youth in exile. After they finally won the great battle of Mahabharata there was nothing to rule but a ghost kingdom.

attegondu kAla; sosegondu kAla

(There is a time for mother-in-law and a time for daughter-in-law).

This proverb is similar to "Every dog has his day." However the image of the mother-in-law who ruled the roost in joint families with a vengeance to make up for the indignities suffered during her daughter-in-law days is evident here.

bekku kaNNu muchchikonDu hAlu kuDidante

(It is like a cat drinking milk with eyes closed).

Meaning that others can see though a misdeed despite pretensions.

bEline eddu hola mEyithanthe

(The fence itself grazed through the field).

A fence is meant to stop cattle from grazing. What if the fence itself is a culprit? This proverb comes from a skepticism of those who break laws they are supposed to uphold.

bhangi dEvarige henDaguDuka pUjari

(For the God who is on dope you need a priest who is a drunk).

The underlings are usually quite a match for the rogues in power whom they serve.

chELige pArupatya koTTa hAge

(It is like giving authority to a scorpion).

If the mean people get into positions of authority they cause a great damage like a scorpion, which needs no reason to sting, would work overtime if asked to do so.

chinte illadavanige santeyallU nidde

(One without worries can doze off in a market place).

dEvaru vara koTTarU pUjari vara koDa

(The God may grant the boon but the priest will not).

Once again this is a dig at the underlings who are worse than the bureaucrats they serve.

dharmakke daTTi koTTare hittalige hOgi moLa hAkidaru

(When a cloth is given for charity it was measured in the backyard).

i.e. looking a gift horse in the mouth.

dUrada beTTa kaNNige nuNNage

(The hill at a distance is smooth to the eye).

i.e. deficiencies are not noticed from a distance.

ettu ErigeLeyitu, kONa nIrigeLeyitu.

(The ox pulled to the shore, the buffalo pulled to the water).

This is a scene of a cart pulled by an ox and a buffalo which do not co-ordinate well and do what they please leading to a disaster. Mismatched company of people could lead to a similar situation.

ettu Iyitu andare koTTigege kaTTu endarante

(“The ox has delivered”, “Tie up the calf in the pen.”)

Those who agree to everything without using their brains are made fun of in this way.

ganDa henDira jagaLa unDu malago thanaka

The quarrel between a husband and wife is till they eat and go to bed).

i.e. disagreements between people in love is forgotten easily.

gaNEshanannu mADalu hOgi avara appanannu mADidante

(It is like trying to make an idol of Ganesh and ending up with his father).

A warning for the bunglers who create more trouble than fixing them.

geddettina bAla hiDida hAge

(It is like holding the tail of the winning ox).

i.e. Success has many fathers but failure is an orphan.

giDavAgi baggaddu maravAgi baggIthe?

(If it does not bend as a sapling, will it when it is a tree?)

Those who have trouble following rules as young will get worse when they get older.

gubbi mEle bramhAstravE?

(A nuclear weapon on a sparrow?)

This is said of actions beyond proportion taken on helpless people.

Incidentally, Brahmastra is the ultimate weapon of destruction with nothing to counter it except another Brahmastra.