Hindi idioms derived from Sanskrit sayings :-
1.
काला अच्छर भैंस बराबर Sanskrit (IAST): akṣarāṇi vicitrāṇi ye na jānanti mānavāḥ |
balīvardasamās te tu khuraśṛṅgavivarjitāḥ ||
(Cāṇakyarājanītiśāstram, 1124)
Meaning: An illiterate person sees written words as meaningless, like a buffalo staring blankly.
English Idiom: "It’s all Greek to me."
Explanation: When something is incomprehensible, it’s like a foreign language you can’t understand.
2.
लोहे से लोहा कटता है Sanskrit (IAST): āyasair āyasaṃ chedyam |
(Kauṭilīyam Arthaśāstram, 232)
Meaning: A tough problem or person requires an equally tough solution or person.
English Idiom: "Fight fire with fire."
Explanation: Use a similar force or tactic to tackle a challenge.
3.
भैंस के आगे बीन बजाना Sanskrit (IAST): upavīṇita eṣa gardabhaḥ |
samupaślokit eṣa vānaraḥ |
payasi śṛta eṣa māhiṣe |
sahakārasya raso nipātitaḥ ||
(Pādatāḍitakam, 131)
Meaning: Wasting effort on someone who doesn’t appreciate or understand it.
English Idiom: "Casting pearls before swine."
Explanation: Offering something valuable to those who can’t value it.
4.
कुएँ का मेंढक Sanskrit (IAST): darduraḥ kūpaśayaḥ |
(Mahābhāratam, 5.161.19)
Meaning: Someone with a narrow worldview, unaware of the larger world.
English Idiom: "Living under a rock."
Explanation: Being ignorant of the broader world due to a limited perspective.
5.
काल करै सो आज कर, आज करैं सो अब Sanskrit (IAST): śvaḥ kāryam ad ascend kuryāt pūrvāhṇe cāparāhṇikam |
na hi pratīkṣate mṛtyuḥ kṛtam asya na vā kṛtam ||
(Mahābhāratam, 12.174.14, among other shastras)
Meaning: Don’t delay tasks; do them now.
English Idiom: "Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today."
Explanation: Act promptly to avoid missing opportunities.
6.
कनक कनक तें सौगुनी मादकता अधिकाय Sanskrit (IAST): aho kanakamāhātmyaṃ vaktuṃ kenāpi śakyate |
nāmasāmyād aho citraṃ dhattūro’pi madapradaḥ ||
(Mahāsubhāṣitasaṅgrahaḥ, 4129)
Meaning: Things with similar names can differ greatly; gold (wealth) and the intoxicating datura plant are compared.
English Idiom: "All that glitters is not gold."
Explanation: Appearances can be deceptive; not everything valuable-looking is truly valuable.
7.
लड़की पराया धन होती है Sanskrit (IAST): artho hi kanyā parakīya eva |
(Abhijñānaśākuntalam, 4.22)
Meaning: A daughter belongs to her future husband’s family.
English Idiom: None directly equivalent, but similar to "A daughter is raised for someone else."
Explanation: Reflects the traditional view that a girl’s destiny lies with her marital family.
8.
बाल बाँका करना Sanskrit (IAST): keśo’pi vakraścakeṇākāri kiṃ me |
(Caṇḍīśatakam, 23)
and me romāpi na vakrīkṛtam |
(Tatra Mahārāṇākuṃbhāṭīkā)
Meaning: To remain completely unaffected or unharmed.
English Idiom: "Not a hair out of place."
Explanation: Staying unscathed or unruffled despite challenges.
9.
अपने घर में कुत्ता भी शेर होता है Sanskrit (IAST): svake gehe kukkuro’pi tāvaccaṇḍo bhavati |
(Mṛcchakaṭikam, 1.42)
Meaning: Even a timid creature is bold in its own home.
English Idiom: "King of the castle."
Explanation: One feels confident and in control in their own familiar environment.
If you know more such idioms, please share them in the reply or email
samv...@proton.me.
#Celebrating_Sanskrit
रविवार, 20 जुलाई 2025 को 6:38:04 am UTC+5:30 बजे संस्कृत संवादः ने लिखा: