Proverbs must have originated very early. One of the earliest records is the Book of Proverbs from the books of the Old Testament Bible. The impact of a proverb is such that a whole sermon or a story can be summarized in one proverb. Proverbs also provide breaks from monotony of a speech and draw listeners’ attention. No wonder popular speakers use proverbs frequently to make their speech interesting and prove their point, at the same time. Hindi proverbs are used from the remote villages to the most urban localities of India.
Let us take some of the widely used ones: Dhai akhar prem ka padhe so pundit hoye means understanding the meaning of the two and half letter word (as it is written in Hindi ) love makes one more knowledgeable than anything else. Bains ke aage been bajana or Bandar kya jane adrak ka swad tells us not to talk big in front of someone who does not understand.
Doobte ko tinke ka sahara refers that a drowning man clings tightly to even little help. Another proverb is oont ke munh me jeera, and points to the fact what good would a cumin seed do to a camel, or what is the use of giving just a spoonful of food to a glutton. Some other common Hindi proverbs are: Ek anar sau beemar i.e. just one pomegranate is there for a hundred sick people and Ek teer se do shikar or Kill two birds with just one arrow. Next, Apne munh miya mithu banana tells us about those who indulge in self praise. Ghar ka bhedi Lanka Dhaye means our own people defaming or destroying us by disclosing our secrets.
The saying, lalach buri bala hai, tells us that greed leads to loss and disappointment. Adhjal gagari chalkat jaye means that a half filled pitcher throws out water or that a man with little knowledge boasts too much. Deep tale andhera says that there is dark under an earthen lamp, while Ab pachtaye hota kya jab chidiya chug gai khet means, what is the use to repent when all is finished? Or when birds have eaten all grains from the field what is the use to think that I should have done this or that?
Ek ankh se sabko dekhna is to see everybody with one eye. Oh no! This does not mean that the person is one-eyed but it means not to discriminate between people and treat all in same way. Ankh ka tara hai, has a similar proverb in English; that is the apple of someone’s eye. Eid ka chand hona is to meet after very long time, just as the moon announcing Eid appears after a long wait. Chor ki dadhi me tinka or No matter how careful is the theft; it shows some sign of its deed.
Thus Hindi proverbs, like any other popular sayings, also have been widely used by both educated or illiterate throughout history. These proverbs say a lot in just few words or are Gagar mein sagar (filling whole sea in one pitcher).
For more fantastic and excellent proverbs in Hindi you can visit:
http://www.indif.com/kids/hindi_proverbs/hindi_proverbs_02.aspx
http://amrithvani.wordpress.com/2007/06/17/hindi-proverbs/
http://www.hindilearner.com/hindi_quote.html
