Hindi proverbs

• उल्टा चोर कोतवाल को डांटे
  • Transliteration: ulta chor kotval ko daten
  • Meaning:The pot is calling the kettle black. One who makes the error has no right to blame someone else
  • Singh, Dr. D. V; Trivedi, Dr. R. L. (2014). ICSE Hindi Language Links: For Class 8. p. 194. GGKEY:UZ3Z2FJ8KQG. 

• हाथ कंगन को आरसी क्या
  • Transliteration: Haath kng'gan ko aar'si kya
  • You don't need a mirror to look at the bracelet on your wrist.
  • Plukker, D. F.; Zanten, R. Veldhuijzen van (1 January 1993). Allied Chambers transliterated Hindi-Hindi-English dictionary. Allied Publishers. p. 239. ISBN 978-81-86062-10-4. 

• जान है तो जहान है
  • Transliteration: Jaa'n hey to ja'han hey
  • there is life, there is world.
  • Source: Phansi se Poorv. Atmaram & Sons. p. 360. GGKEY:0ELREBJ4Q0B. 

• जंगल में मोर नाचा किस ने देखा ?
  • Transliteration: Jun'gl mei mo'r na'che kis ne de'ka
  • Who saw a peacock dance in the woods?
  • English equivalent: If you got it, flaunt it.
  • Source: India Today Volume 25. Thomson Living Media India Ltd.. 2000. p. viii. 

• जिस की लाठी उसकी भैंस
  • Whoever owns the lathi (a huge cane/stick) owns the buffalo.
  • English equivalent: Might is right.
  • Source: S. W. Fallon; Sir Richard Carnac Temple; Faqir Chand (Lala.) (1998). A dictionary of Hindustani proverbs. Asian Educational Services. p. 119. ISBN 978-81-206-0663-0. 

• घर का भेदी लंका ढाये
  • An harmless-appearing confidant can bring down Lanka (a then very prosperous city with probably smaller territory from Hindu mythology, today known by name of country called Srilanka)
  • Source: Tivārī, Gajendra (1996). Rañja līḍara ko bahuta hai. Amana Prakāśana. p. 1. 

• बंदर क्या जाने अदरक का स्वाद
  • What does a monkey know about the taste of ginger?
  • English equivalent: Laying pearls before swine.
  • Source: Prakash, Om (1995). "110". Vyavharik Hindi Shuddh Prayog. Rajpal & Sons. p. 166. ISBN 978-81-7028-107-8. 

• अब पछताए होत क्या जब चिड़िया चुग गई खेत
  • What is the use of crying when the birds ate the whole farm?
  • English equivalent: It's no use crying over spilled milk.
  • "It’s no use crying over spilt evils. It’s better to mop them up laughing."
  • Eleanor Farjeon, Gypsy and Ginger (1920)
  • Source: Shyam Bahadur Varma, ed (2006). Encyclopaedia of Quotations. Prabhat Prakashan. p. 96. 

• नाच न जाने, आँगन ठेढ़ा
  • Literal: Knows no dance, claims the stage is tilted.
  • English equivalent: A bad workman blames his tools.
  • "A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools."
  • Douglas Adams in Mostly Harmless (1992)
  • Source: Hindi Proverbs, Popular Sayings, Hindi Kahavat, Kahawat

• दूर के ढोल सुहावने लगते हैं
  • The drums sound better at a distance.
  • برگرفته از ضرب المثل فارسی : صدای دهل از دور خوشه .
  • From persian proverb -refer to the people that their lifes seems to be very good but infact they arent happy and just try to show something else to the others
  • English equivalent: The grass is always greener on the other side.
  • "We tend to like the things we don't have."
  • Source: Hindi Proverbs, Popular Sayings, Hindi Kahavat, Kahawat

• घर की मुर्गी दाल बराबर
  • Something owned(POSSESSED) in abundance is undervalued. Literally it means chicken at home (expensive food) feels like daal (lentil dish, staple food in India)
  • "Self possessions are always undermined and other's possessions seem better."
  • Source: Hindi Proverbs, Popular Sayings, Hindi Kahavat, Kahawat

• जल में रहकर मगर से बैर ठीक नहीं
  • You should not have enmity with the crocodile if you are living in the water.
  • English equivalent: It is hard to live in Rome and strive against the Pope.
  • "You should not be hostile with people you need to stay/work with."
  • Source: Hindi Proverbs, Popular Sayings, Hindi Kahavat, Kahawat, [1]

• जाति ना पूछो साधु की; पूछ लीजिए ज्ञान.
  • Ask not a saint of his caste; ask of his knowledge.
  • English equivalent: Don't judge a book by its cover.
  • "A person's merit should be determined by his inherent qualities and contributions as an individual, not by superficial traits which fail to capture the essence of a person."

See also

• Indian proverbs