Learn here! Gujarati proverbs for all situations

Gujarati proverbs for all situations

‘A proverb deceives not; the heavens fall not’

So true the saying is! Cultures around the globe have a massive collection of proverbs, yet their meaning has universality; that everyone can relate to in some way and on some level. Proverbs are short, simple and wise sayings that give life lessons. They are usually regarded as being infused with ancestral wisdom that has been passed down from generation to generation. Often, it's easier to understand a small proverb rather than a comprehensive lecture as they impart knowledge in an easy-to-understand manner. In Gujarati culture also, simple life lessons are passed on through proverbs known as ‘kahevat’. 

Below are some of the most profound Gujarati proverbs with their meanings:

જાગ્યા ત્યાંથી સવાર  

jāgyā tyāmthī savāra

It is never too late to start doing the right thing.

 

ચોર પકડાય, ચટું પકડાય, પણ ખોટા બોલુ ના પકડાય

chora pakadaya, katum pakadāya, pana khotā bolu nā pakadāya

You can catch a thief; you can catch a selfish person but you cannot catch a liar.

 

અધૂરો ઘડો છલકાય

adhūro ghado chalakāya

Empty vessels make more noise, small rain will lay a great dust, a little pot is soon hot.

 

લક્ષ્મી ચાંદલો કરવા આવે ત્યારે કપલ ધોવા ના જવા

Lakṣmī cāndalō karavā āvē tyārē kapala dhōvā nā javā

When Maa Laxmi comes to put Kumkum on your forehead, you should not go to wash the forehead. (When opportunity knocks on your door, just grab it and not wait for anything)

 

અભિમાન તો રાજા રાવણનું પણ ન રહ્યું

abhimāna to rājā rāvananum pana na rahyum

Even the Ravana’s pride didn’t last (Pride is an ill horse to ride)

 

ઉતાવલે અંબા ના પાકે

Utāvalē ambā nā pākē

Fruits don’t ripe in hurry, one must wait

 

અલ્પજ્ઞાન, અતિ હાણ

alpajñāna, ati hāna

A little learning is a dangerous thing

 

આંધળામાં કાણો રાજા

āmdhal̤āmām kāno rājā

A heron is a king among crows (Something is better than Nothing)

 

આગ લાગે ત્યારે કૂવો ખોદવા ન જવાય

āga lāge tyāre kūvo khodavā na javāya

It is too late to dig a well when the house is on fire (to shut the stable door when the horse is stolen)

 

હિસાબ કોડીનો ને બક્ષીસ લાખ ની

Hisāba kōdīnō nē baksīsa lākha nī

One should not mix business and personal expenses

 

ઊજળું એટલું દૂધ નહિ

ūjal̤um eṭalum dūdha nahi

All that glitters is not gold

 

એક પંથ દો કાજ

eka pamtha do kāja

To kill two birds with one stone

 

બે હાથ વગર તાળી ન પડે

be hātha vagara tāl̤ī na padee

It needs two to tango

 

ના બોલવા માં નવ ગુણ

nā bolavā mām nava guna

Silence is golden.

 

ટીપે ટીપે સરોવર બંધાય, કાંકરે કાંકરે પાડ બંધાય

tīpe tīpe sarovara bamdhāya, kāmkare kāmkare pāda bamdhāya

Rome was not built in a day.

 

કડવો લીંબડો અને કડવા એના બીજ, બીજ વાવતા પણ મીઠા ના થાય

kadavo līmbado ane kaḍavā enā bīja, bīja vāvatā pana mīthā nā thāya

As you sow so shall you reap.

 

કપટી મિત્ર કરતાં દાનો દુશ્મન સારો

kapatī mitra karatām dāno duśmana sāro

False friends are worse than open enemies

 

ભેસ ભાગોલે, આને છાશ છાગોલે

Bhes bhaagole, ane chhash chhaagole

Counting the chickens before they are hatched

 

સમય વર્તે સાવધાન

samaya varte sāvadhāna

Better late than never

 

અધર્મીના અઢી દિવસ

adharmīnā adhī divasa

Liars have short wings

 

સબૂરીનાં ફળ મીઠાં

sabūrīnām phal̤a mīṭhām

Patience is bitter but its fruits are sweet

 

વરની મા વરને વખાણે

varanī mā varane vakhāne

Every potter, praises his own pots

 

ભગત ભયે લેકિન દાનત બૂરી

bhagata bhaye lekina dānata būrī

A honey tongue, a heart of gall

 

પગ પ્રમાણે પિછોડી તાણવી

paga pramāne pichodi tānavī

Stretch your legs according to your coverlet

 

બકરું કઢતા ઉંટ પેઠું.

Bakaru kadhatā unṭa pēthu.

While driving out a goat, a big camel steps in. (out of the frying pan, into the fire)

 

From the lowest of lows to the most mundane situations, there’s always a good Gujarati proverb to knock some sense into you. Let’s add these proverbs to our day-to-day language to sound more native, and linguistically flourished.