Glimpses of the Konkani Language at the Turn of the 16th Century - Vol 3

l

Prof. f. ll. Rodrigues Member of the Instituto Menezes Braganga

0uilP$E$ 0F THr l(01{lmill mil0uAGE AT IHE IURI{ OT T}lE l OT1l III

C.

KONKANI PROVERBS AND IDIOMS

Separata do Boletim do lnctitoto Maaezc* Braganga,'No' 123 - f979

Tipogralia Rangal

-Baetori.

Goa

Konkani language wili unfold a large part of the tolklore oi this territory. In this fierd there are a few "rre"dy published works, such as Floriligio de frovirbios concanis (1922) a posthumous work of our great linguist and rexicograotr"r, Mgr. Sebastiao Rodolfo Dalgado (1955.1922). The presenr contribution represents a modest and lay effort, limited ro the vocabulary of Padre Diogo Ribeiro, who and the co,reaguesl rvho preceded him in the Jesuit pro.rince of Salcete, rvorked in the matter for about 65 years starting from I560; and probably this important source still remains unexplored.

Glancing over the twc parts of the said vocabulary, one finds at times a proverb or an idiom with equivarent contents to those of not only other Indian but even European ranguages, thus leading to admit that the lore of the mankind either derives from the same source or grows on the same lines.

The vocabulary also shows that, whire many proverbs and idioms in

6 vogue till the first quarter of the i7th c. have become obsolete in the course of timd, others have survived to date, sometimes with slight perversion.

The vocabulary of Fr. Ribeiro contains Konkani proverbs and idioms, thel number of which is too big to be reproduced here. f he following list, which is a result of airnost a cursory reading, cannot be neither exhaustive nor selective :

1.

Mozo pao adoll'lo- (Literally: I hit my foot)- I committed a carnal sin. Similar meaning is conveyed also by the following couplet: I

dli vattli hansaran Pettli

A

nkuary ghonsli pafianitn.

The brassmith hammered the little plate ; the sinners outraged the maid.

Odd,echem ailem od,dechem gelem- Ill-gotten is ill spent.

(Latin : Male parta male clilabunhn\.

J.

Euphemistic expressions for death

:

a) Dev ognea taha zali God's leave is granted. b) Tachem ghoddvattem bhoilem-His clock went full circle.

c) Gattar gela- Went to Ghats.

Kaltan taku vhelo God of death took him. e) Suorg prapt taha zal'i - Porver of Heaven descended d')

f) 4,

on him.

Got zalo, or vech,lo

-

Finished.

Alem, belem, narialem labu clishe mud'ol, .nashe- Ginger, jaggery and cocoanuts a r e rnerchandise which seems making profit, but sometimes does not return even the capital invested.

fr fi*.

p H:,

-7

i I I I

5,

(lit. As Zoiso ala vad.di, toiso d.ait)a horod'd, had'di father gave food, so son brought hay).-A fair work for a f.air wage.

6.

Zachem ant zoll,tacho cldollo

in F1

8.

goll-

Pain in heart, tears

eyes.

Khann afrnech{ srxcngar pormecho - One should eat of his own taste, but dress for others' liking.

He praises himself and belittles Aptust fornind,a horta

-

others.

Asoi pasoi follear tacho tthaphar nd - No news about him anywhere.

10. Void hat zhad.d.un gelo - The doctor gave up the patient, i.e. no h,rpe for his recovery.

11. a) Ojravor aa (lit. Be eternal) Live long years. (Lat. 9.

In

-

-

vipe; Ad' multos annos).

The same meaning is conveyed also by: aeternnm

b) Lohhio ootsa?n iie -Live many years. c) Oircvor mhataro za - Be ripe age old. d) Panch zonn putr zaot - Have five sons.

L2. Baint

fod'd'lolo zhaild,

rampta- (lit. - One *noa#fkirc a shrub to clutch). Being commit-

the well,'Wfor ted a fault, excuses are sought.

13. Chahri horunchi, bhahri hhanvchi -(lit.-One has to

work to eat bread). Bread is not earned idly. (Portuguese : Nd,o se ganhdm as trutas a bragas enrc'tttds Trouts are not caught with dry breeches).

Not even a hair was hurt' Kensak mukhe bhong zalo na

14. has twenty word bhed,One ois 15. Utrah

.

mant interpretations.

meanings, i.e-

8.16. Kolo'taka bhettlo- (lit.- He met a fox). He had good luck. {Kolo bhettlo - good omen).

17. Bizasorso anhur - Fruit is according to the seed.

18

Shaving the head for dishonour. Hence : Hanvetn mholl"lem tem sot zor nhoe, tor moiem hhad'd bod,d korche?n- In case my rvord is not true' shave my beard and head.

i9,

Borichem bor, term mhonnta afoun thor calls itself big, i.e. one praises himself.

20.

First filling the stontach Prothont. bhugt, magir mu.gt then saving the soul. (Lat. Printu.tn viperc, cleind,e fhil,c-

Bod,d, horunh

-

-

The little apple

sophare).

21,

Cholo yeha vol,nmean gazorta, ponn ch.oliek /add,o zao A boy can pass rvith a langot (drarvers), but a girl needs

an attire.

He renounced the worid.

22.

Sonvsaraft clhar d,ili

23.

Vell d,hare lagla

o6.

Dhormanche gaih d,ant nant - Gift cow has no teeth.

In Englisir: Never look a gift horse in the mouth. (Port. : Ao cavalo d,ado ndo se olha o dente - Of a gift horse tooth is not to be seen).

25.

-

-

The sun reached the horizon.

Taha anni maka dharzonnetn rvith each other,

na- He and I

are not lucky

\

ts'

1r I .

il

26. Dif d,ahhovn tooin"* d,horta- Catching the prey by lure.

27. Monshak nov d,varam. asat - Man has nine doors (two eyes, two ears, two nosLrils, mouth, anus, and urethra),

28.

and shell

iil

asa.;lit.

You have the spoon your hand do give me to eat and drink.

Dd,ay d,doy tujea hatant

if r hq

t

#

1I

-9 (Port.

: Ter faca e queijo na tndo-.To have knife and

in hand.) To have all powers at disposal' 29. a) Sond' bond, na- Without rhyme or reason. (Port' Tom netn sonr- Neither tune nor sound)' The same meaning is conveyed also by : cheese

b)

Ttall, mull nor tail.

b

31.

r

na-

(Port.

i

Cabo nern tabo)

- Neither

:

end

c) Ddhong na, bond, na - (Port. : PEs nem cabegal Neither feet nor head' Khel'Iea jersil'leacho tuka dd'henh na - (lit' You have no belchingof food you ate from me)-You 4re ungrateful' Ddhendd.olltea fatrar boisum naka - (lit' Do not sit on a shaky stone) .- Do not undertake an uncertain enterprise.

i

32. Paie dhormi, ddolle fapi-Feet are pious, eyes

are

sinners. i

33.

37,

eyes)'

Oi,shern

vitath ghanttun aila Correu seco e tneca.

38.

id,,

To apply water to

uor'no, tor gaichem mas khain- If this is not true, I shall eat cow's meat. (lit. Tying with 35. Khatea nokhateak iehich gantth hotitatthe same thread the one who ate and the one who did not). Using the same yardstick for the innocent and the guilty.

36, Gatatn gollo, shimptam motlo - Garden is grown by watering, the throat by singing, i.e. experience makes master'

34.

>

Dd.olleank udoh lanvfr - (lit.

To deceive with sweet words.

Moni ghanttunh

-

-

He ran over hill and dale. (Port.

To plot against some one'

:

l0_

I

i'

39' 40.

'il

Grahe mojer hofileat- The Fates are enragecl against me.

Had,d,ancho fianzro and bone.

uila; Jontr zala; Sirem zala-Skin

{

41. Dud,d,vah hoironn zalo He is penniless.

42. Hal,trim-laltitn rod,d,unh -To weep pitifully.

43' Aflem nashern, feleachem hanshem- Loss for oneself and fun for others.

44. Hantullnna sorso fao frosruncho - one should stretch the legs according to the bed, that is, expenses are to be made according to the resources: cut coat according to cloth.

45. Hatn hum mhonnche Tud,dctn- Instanraneously. (port. : num santo aftten-in a Holy Ghost Amen; em d,izend,o /azendo - ro sooner said than done). '+6, Horpo monni mukhe oiklo-He sold everything, nor

t

il \ il fl

tl

I

leaving even a bead.

17.

a)

Kongo khai rcv, henvalleak ghalun lofaitat- (lit. The snail was eating the sprouted paddy seeds, and the water snake was being beaten). paying for others' faults; the innocent paying for the sinner.

b\ Koruncho horun gelo, mojer oazlem oo nishlem _ He committed the fault, and I am paying for it.

48"

49.

I'

\'

./r

{ -)

Hoto nhoto zavn aila-To pretend being taken unawares by the delict of which one is author.

Tond'd'ache hume ghamen gras

I

je,shi-By

the sweat of your brow, you shall eat bread.

50. a) Tujetn tambd.dem humonn had,d,in-I will take our your red soup, i.e. blood - a threat; b) Tuiem bodtl /oddun humonn kadd,in- I will break your

l

V

head and shed blood.

I

it il

I

rIvfl

I il 51.

Ud.hant humeta - Sweating in the water: a phrase to say that one is too heppy to see a persou.

52. Hun ud,oh ghor lashna- Hot water does not burn the

L

house, that is, harsh words do not

kill

people.

53. a) Hea sonpsflrache iat iatintlo suttlo- To be free frorn the troubles of this world.

51. a) And.lleatn

bhitor hurd,d,o Raza a one-eyed man is king.

b) Paddea gavant

ierond.d,

- In the land of the blind

mhal.--In a barren land the

stramonium plant (datura) prevails.

55.

Kadd,i kadd.lear, pad,di oochot- If you steal a little stick, you may lose a cow, i. e., one can suffer a great loss for a theft of a small thing.

56, Kagtim zaf d,invh - To reply in rvriting.

57. Kalem kalim- From time to time.

58. Aplca ddolleantlem kand,d.onn dehhna, t'eleachea dd,olleantlem hushutt dekhta-(lit: He doesn't see a pounder in his own eye, but sees a straw in that of others). Finding iittle faults in others and ignoring his own big ones.

t V4, o argueiro no olho alheio e ndo vA a fuarse no sete frdprio-To see a straw in other's eye and not to see a (Port.

beam in his own.)

59.

Hatichea kanhnnah arso nalag-One does not need the mirror to see the hand's bangle, i. e, the evident needs no proof,

60. Taka

boro hontth asa- He has got a good throat, i. e.

good voice.

61.

Hanp korkorancho rnannus nhoe- I am not a man of long stories, i. e., beating about the bush.'

1262,

63.

went away Khat hhel'lcache porim tond'd horun gelo - He with shame' as if had eaten animal dung, i'e'' tlushed patth gheta - One Khateah as, nhateak moll, polltea hol is dirty' one who who eats is greedy, one who takes bath runs away is followed bY fortune

6+.

65.

was said as a Kheltah uloil'lem' ni'khrarohelew- What joke was taken as a serious matter' Kir kand,Ilam ghenrtk-To run away (Port"' dar ds de oila-iliogo).

Mel'laaahopaoholeankhelohitorsobhaloenkhelohito-

man's leg is eaten makes no clifference whether the dead by a fox or bY a vixen' who is born Zal'leachi hhoditr melea bogor oochna-One (Fort' z Quetn with a defecr, is not rid of it untii he dies. is born crooked is tofio nasce tard'e se enditeitA-one who straightened tate).

It

67,

68.

Khonklienpailrsisraila_Disguisingflatuswithcough,i.â‚Ź., he diverts it to when a talk is unpleasant to someone' a different subject'

poititlem - ( lit' All the advices Mholl'Ierc itkeim khottrar in vain' (Port' : fell on incurable wound ) - Advices were on ass' head, i'e', washing codda em cabega d,e asno-I-ye the unwashable)' asha, niiha- Hungei' thirst' desire and

Khirtila, trusha, sleep'

71.

no acquaintance Taka dnni maka lag bhag nn- I have with him.

72.

do not go Lojek anni peiek ghoildna- Shame and broth to ask when he together, i. e., gne should not feel shame is in need' I

i

fl

.13 73.

Moddem thoim rod,dnnem-Where weeping.

-"orp."

"

is, there is

7+.

Modd.em vhelem n osnfla-, tachi ghashnna_ When the ^rya. corpse is taken to theWeTtk person is forgotren.

75.

Tuje randnnint manddki pod,d,om- May frog fall in your hearth, i. e. a curse to say: no fire may burn in your hearth.

76.

Monichem rnonim, zonichen zonim-Let the inner things be in mind, bot the external ones be disclosed.

77.

Fo.Pllahmhal pod,d.lea-There ecanuts.

78.

79.

is great dernand for ar-

Mehlleam paianitn chomkota- He walks barefooted.

Mhojean dd'olleant to tnirim gharit so ddoileanh mifim

suit- He will put pepper into my eyes, i. e., will quarrel with me.

&).

!troncak sofon poddkm tachean haim sangvona-Thel dumb had a dream, but he could not express it.

81.

trrorn ailollun hanga lots of trouble.

82.

Iek tnhoreant

83.

Tuje tond'dichem d'wd muravne anni uroitas ? The miik you sucked has not yet curdled, and still -you dare to speak

favrom-I

reached here through

jevtat- They eat in the same plate.

!

84. Thoim vochunh mushut nhoe-lt is not at alr difficurt to go there.

85. Id'li mushut khavn ooch-you of rest.

86.

87,

i, 1.

Tujetn nannetut na Vharddik nhanvh

can go

after taking a bit

korin- I will ruin you.

-

To marry.

14-_ pretend to be unaware.

88.

Nenntear ghalunh

89.

Nibrabogor lohhond,d. pansna- Unless you beat hard the iron it is not soldered, i. e., obedience needs the use

-To

of fear.

Ravllha bhat, Dertllha nid,ra. (Iit. Rice in royal palace and sleep in the temple ) - Restful life.

He speaks to t h e 91. Mudiek tthih zod,d,lemshern korta purpose, like a jewel engraved in a ring.

Promesforan anckam sonvsalant niah ghaleat - God has placed us in the vrorld as a ballast in a ship, i. e. man has no worth in himself.

93.

94-.

95.

a) Tami bholaioo ?; b) Pronnanoim asosh?

(lit.

Do you

enjoy health ? ) - How are you ?

Tujem paie dhonni ghetleim tor mojean utroi zavov na Even though I wash your feet, I cannot pay you, i. e.

I arn extremely grateful to you.

Mozo pao khoinchean add, poddta mhonn foll,eta- He is watching where my foot fails, i.e. looking for my faults or mistakes.

Dhoni mclo panchkutt zaon poddlotn- On the death of the owner, his possessions became as if public property.

(Port. : Fato dos /ranceses - linen of Frenchmen, i. e. to which everybody claims his right).

97.

it

I

1'

kod,de fao lagl'o na - (lit. His foot did not touch where he went). He did not succeed in his business or pretension.

a\ Gel'lie

b) Hat pao laglo na - No success.

Pard,ichea rtella su,nne mutunk gelery.

- (lit. The d o g went to urinate at the moment oi hunting). To be absent at a very important moment, or on the best occasion.

{ I

i

a#

115

99.

I i:

100.

t t

Gorrsiank boro fiar fav na, rto, Gorvi boraea The proud has no good end.

Dil"lea ghetloleun pasann mukhe even rocks.

101' al

Paos silld'harim heavily.

to

-

fara fartna-

d,or,ta- Gifrs can mert

ghordarirn

fod,d,ta-rt rains

b)iDuddtnekhimfavs fod.dra-It rains cars and (Port. Chooe a cdntaros-(lit. It rains by pitchffs).

lo2'

Hiech t'ar:l,im hanga portun ietam-(lit. I am returning by these very footsteps). Returning irnmediately,

103. Maka pavti na -l

lo4.

r

I

i'

I I

Ganrtak zalo fallo, kwil,kornniache baitek zaro r,tar.roTaxation started in the village, and the scribe,s wife got already a bracelet: the tax coilectors deal underhand.

To tell lies, make baseless assertion.

106. Uloit

bolot gelear vatt favrta- bn" does not feel distance, when walks engrossed in conversation.

107, und'ir nulla ghalun ped,d. band,irear kama noie-(fit. It is of no use constructing base for a tree by keeping uw " in it). Healing the surface of wound keeping trre rot

I i

have no time.

105. Fottki vikunk ailash-(Iit. you are come to sell alum).

t F

dogs"

108'

:

inside, that is, externally sound but corrupt inside. .A'fnneah d,ekhta toishench pereak dekhunchem - Love your neighbour as you love yourself.

109. Mojea fottar pae dite--,(lit. He put his feer on stomach). He deprived me of subsistence.

110.

Moje lagim tuvem fottilo hadd.&nn do'o,ra? kept with me any bundle of money p

-

my

Have you

tu111.a\Prusttirpattlo;b)Praiecheabhararfavlo-Inthe primelof i iif e. (Port' : Na flor d'a id'acle - lit' In the flower of age'

ll2.

Tache purto dusro cl't

113. Dd,oltean## rotn

nd-

He has no equal'

gel'ear magir kitem ? -

is lost, what is the use of iife

LtL. Hana

If precious

sight

?

tumchew paianchi rosrernu-

I

am dust of your

feet.

115.

It Tupant rontti pod.d.li- (iit. Bread fell into butter). soup was a good business' (Port' : Caiu a sofa no rnel' fell into honeY).

116. Chori

sabistt

zalea- Theft rvas dtscovered'

s;al had,d,unchi-(lit. After looking at tree, its bark should be renroved)' A person should be given work or punishrnent according to its condition'

tI7. a) Ruhh pollevn.

b) Fotla potol)n ruhhachi vani tthaim fod'd.ta- The fruit shows the kind of the tree'

118.

Aplea songita so/so hor mell'lo

-She

got a husband like

hersel{.

119.

Dea moiet sontosta- God is pieased rvith me'

_ 120, Satfanch tnonim ilhorwm naha minds). I)on'tvacillate"

(|it.

Don't have many

tzI. a\ Doilantle maslleh tod,d,i satt horitas& - (iit.

By stand-

ingontheland,youarecalculatingthepriceofthefish in !h" sea). Presently it is said Doriant dsa 'naso,

molftartapiso_(lit,Thefishisintheseaandthefooi

estimatesitsprice).oneshouldnotassumeasrealwhat is onlY Possible.

h

r I t i

' b) Anshun ntokh marita ooiindto-

f".

bird before being shot.

I

k

-17

Taking possession of

122. sorv hahit sovistor

t

sangli

glven.

],

nirjiv

- A

detailed account w a s

Animate and inanimate beings.

3

723.

Sojio

t;

124.

Sherah ooll podduttt''d'i- Let the seer overflow, i.e. to to the brim.

725.

Shit ashil'leah morunh puro one rvho has got shame.

I$

b

ffi FI

726. Simuro- (lit' noseless).

I27.

I [,

r I

-

fill

That is enough to die for

Shameless

(lit'

He

fell down from horseback, but cut the ears of little The rveaker pays for the stronger's fault'

ass.)

Ghod'd.eavelo pod,d'lo, singurache

kan katorle

-

128. Shisttil'leak anni disttil'leak gantth fodd'li- What

one

expected and rvhat one s?w were same.

I

t

-

l2g. Zo kori sobhri, taka tnhamori-", @r

one

abundance. i

F

130. a) Sukruti, d,ukruti dogoy gele bhagirti, doganlcoi zali iekich goty-The virtuous and' the vicious went for pilgrimage, and both attained salvation.

t I

b) Khateak nokhateak iekich gantth kortash- (lit. You use same measure for one who ate and for one whcl did not). The ineocent and the guilty were given the satne

I

t I

treatment.

t

I

Varstora sorshem talca sup dita-(lit. Changing accord' ing to the direction of wind). Changing according [o the

131.

l'

c.ircumstances.

Suria twm kodde sor, homQ uiert korin

732.

l+

-

Oh sun, be away,

18-.

I will light

the world. This is said of a person who thinks very high of his or her own beauty.

133. Takak ievn gadd,go liponv noie-(\it. buttermilk, you should not hide the pot). disguise his request.

If

yornggfc

ask

One shou.ld not L

134. Dev mozo tallo polta-God moistens my throat, that is,

I

God feeds me.

135.

Tereak gelo, merum taka mell'lem-Having gone'to search wild vegetable, he found a deer, i.e. to get what one did not expect.

136. Till'bhor chukna- He does not err even for a ."."*f*

.# I

1

t\

grain, i.e. is extrernely accurate.

I37. Tonrld,ad,d,e

roicharun khata-He eats rvhatever rnouth wants, i.e. eats whatever he like-s.

\ I

vad,d,pi gloeta rup-(Iit. With butter from the butter-pot, one rvho serves it take's pride for him).

To gain honour at the cost of others. (Port. Do pdo do tneu compad,re grande f,ttia ao tneu afilhad.o-For my god-child a big slice of the bread of his father).

l

138. Mattvichern tut'

139. Baint fator gelun tthdb polleta-(lit. Finding out the depth of well, by throwing a stone into it). .Asking a

'

140.

I t 'I

-tt I

ili li

question so that the answer may reveal the mind.

kollta--(lit. By saying just va it is sufficient to understand virkem\. A clever person does not require long explanation. (Port. A bom entend,ed,or poacas palavras - For a clever rnan f e w words are Va mhollear varkenr,

enough).

141. Tujea fiottant oollta- (lit. Colics in the sromach). To have anger in the heart.

Ji

19

142. Kovonn.korsnnacha nod,hri oittall,- No caste shall hate the other, beca,use chonr: ,rsornancha hoil 'iek rnell-all the four castes make one group, (and so follow-one law)' 143. Va rta korn d'is failo- Spent the day idly'

I44.

Muclcle khel'leache ventte bapddunche - One rvho ate fardels should return the ropes, that is' favour received should be rePaid-

h

I

145. (Jngtthy dakhoileat hat gilltat- If you show the finger ' your hand will be swallolved, i'e' abuse of trust' I+6, (Jnnem prtnnem, vo ogllem unnetn- Little more or less'

r47. Volien ,.toli geli, kholien kholi geli-Both capital and profit were lost. (Lat. Olcum et operam perdere - To lose time and trouble).

l48.Venttolasoloitortachovollvochna-(|it.Eventhough

l.

the rope is burnt, its wind or twist remains)' Bad character is hardly reformed' (Pert' Qu1* malas maflhas hd' ' tard'e las ferd'erti -Bad habits die hard)' I4g. Haka rtollok pallok asd-He is rvell known' 150. Tuier uso korn asarn-I am resting on you

i51.

Promespor tuier uz honp

- May God favour you'

152, Purr:ozanint, ambott d,dak kheli, Ienkrvanche dant shin' nshinnetot-(Iit.AncestorsateSourgrape'descendants' teeth tingle). (Lat' Patres comed'erant upam acerbam' d'entes f'liorum obstupescarzf)' unpunished.

No

bad

'act remains

153. Zollim thollim, *ellim mollim-ln sea and land' and everYwhere.

154. Zhanktarn zhanktam ganvkar zalo-(hL By shouting persistentlY, he acquired the village rights)' By persis-

20-. tence you attain your pretension' (Port' Quem porfi'a tnala caga-By insisting you hunt the game)'

155. Jiben d,hod,it'- Chatter'box156. ,Jil'lea pash iek bhashe mel'lem

borem

- In a way it- is

better to die then to live. rukhaild,e hano ra,vna-I do not stand under.a crt-roked tree, i.e. I do not do bad acts' Tu.ka chorbi manild,lea - (lit. You ha ve acquired too much fat). You have become too rich' Tache gantthi r%po na- He hasn't got a pie in the pocket'

I57. Vankea 158.

159.

160.

161.

pavta_ (lit. one who has got mouth can reach Ceylon). (Port. Quem tem boca oai a Roma One who has got mouth can go to Rome)' A clever person succeeds in anY thing' a) Kanbhoirem korunk-To turn a'deaf ear. (Port.

Tond,d' ashil,lo Lanke

Orelha

d,e

mercador

- Merchant's

ear

)'

b) Aik naiklem kortd-Pretending not to hear' 162. Iek biknnan chablear sosraqt biknnanr ieta - One bug's biteispaidforbythousandbugs,ttratis'foroneperson's fault many suffer.

163.Mojerobhall'ievnfod'dlem-Anunexpectedandunthought thing haPPened to me' Ady ont na-Ithis no beginning nor end'

164.

165. Taha od,heaston na-He NAo

tem

sobra que

cair

has no food nor clothes. (Port. morto-Not even a place to die)'

166.

Ad.d'kushi zartn getrem- Still-born child'

167.

A.ind.ite

giltunh- To make mouth water. ( Port. Crescer (igud na boca - To grow water in the mouth )'

t-

168.

Mojetn utor alott zaina- My word is irnmutable.

169. Aflem Pelem sarhkem d,ehhunchem-One must treat others' affairs as his own.

l7O. Attno rahhun

d.horm horancho oneself and then others.

I7I.

Bhad,d,em had,dunk

- First one should help

- To revenge.

172. Tum mhonntash ten- oi.shem )or zaitor tuje d,ant bhangaran banclin- In case your words come true your teeth with gold.

I

shall set

I73.'

Bhavbond,hien chol,tal

I74.

(Jnneah challovn d,unnenn ghenvch.em- By pro'okirLg an inferior person, you receive double harm.

175.

trtraha ollenv dollenv

176. Dhocld.i

hacld,un

- They live like brorhers.

naha-Don't trouble me.

- With hat in hand, i.e. respectfully,

humbiy.

17.7

t-

,

Dhanvtea pollteak tich khoroslz - One who runs away and the one who runs after him get equally tirecl.

- To risk life;

178.

Jiv

179.

Dehh dekhot choilam, na tnhonn muhhir roeta-By cliverting the sight, he denies having seen.

180.

mojem d,ennem ghen - (lit. debt standing still). (Port. A p6 quedo No action being taken.

181.

FuI feilclunk gelear, d,uildol,l ailent, - By trying to remove

F.

dhare dinvh

Ubea

faian

to venture life.

I will collect my - On still foot).

eye-cataract, the rvhole eye was poured out.

182.

*_

/

Ambott khae tachea gol,lead,de d,d,hae- One who eats sour thing, burns his throat. lGuiltV conscience pricks the mind).

I

oo- He fainted.

183.

Dd'olleand'de kallern zalem

184.

Konnache gondihecho hanrt nhoe-

I do not o\'ve anything

to anybody. taha gantth poddta with each other.

185. Haka 185.

Goem hitle ganv asat? (city of) Goa ?

-

-The two things are consistent

Haw rnany leagues from here to

187. Nahh kat#n nitnbio ghanslo-(lit. Nose was cut and rubbed with sour lime). (Port. Sobre cotnud,o aparceadoWas hurt and hurniliated). To add.insult to injury.o

188. Tuzo goind'd,o hano zannam-(Port. Entrad'as e saidasEntrances and exits). I know your ins and outs.

I 89.

a) Hacha ghoddo bhoil.o- (lit. His horse is full). It is the end of his life. b) Tachem nimit parslern -Idem'

190.

Gollun mel'Iun iienrsh-To live in unity and harmony.

191.

Mozo granth

192,

Chihc d,d,olle ghurmenv

193.

Ghodd,e vhele, host

koritat- They tell tales about

di-Let

me'.

me sleep a bit.

haddilio- He took horses and returned bones, that is, one took very good things and returned defective ones.

194. Hunttint (vo hurar) inglle hadd'ta - He ca rries live embers in the lap, i.e. is in a losing business.

195. Mel'lea ghod'd,eah hottuh*Giving medicine to a

horse

after he is dead, i.e. trying to remedy a situation r,vhich already out of hand.

is

196, Kcviaohi zap aihilea bogor formann dinrs noie-No decision shorald be given unless the party is heard.

t-t a

_23 197. Khem lottih voila sas&-The real fact

is different frorn

what is seen.

198.

,Mojea golleak hond,d,i l,aitash ? - Are you putting rope on my neck ? , i.e. pressing to repay a debt.

199. Ti bail, kutrlara

gelea

-That women has gone to

her

parents'home.

200.

Surio hurup

zala- Sun is in clouds.

2OI. Lagoegin r:och-Go soon.

202. Tachi lal'|, suhli- His saliva is dried

up, i.e. w4s shocked

with a bad news.

203. Konishtt, modhirn, utorm-The worst, the reasonable, the

.

best

204. Maie Bapache hatichern

hhatlo, anni svorg thankitlo mhol. lear hama ieta?

- By eating from the hands of parents you cannot attain heaven, i.e. with heart on earth, heaven

W t t

F I

I

bi gaiul, 205. Andllo nolli padd,o hhae - The blind man threshed cannot

corn, and the ox ate it.

206,

Tumche rnonichem sang-Tell what you think.

2O7. Mozo kontticho

nr.onni

i

F",,

u5

ry I

t/ F

- My dear one.

2OB. Malheacho hens legin, paianchem nakhutt porientr-From, the hair of head to the nail of foot.

209. h

Hanrsem hel'letn

itkein doria gelem-All that I did turned

useless.

2lO, Nichint nath hordclear

2Il.

hat

- To be carefree.

Ninashe geloi tor had,d,in-Even if you go. the world, I shall bring you back.

212. Nirt pavlo - He reached [:

the,

on time.

to the end of

244 213. Haka boro paisol asa- To be swift in r.valking.

214. Moji .fallty kortolo honn ma- There is no one to after

look

nre.

2t5.

Ponth hrowvilo- He walked the path, i.e., spent the life.

2t6.

Hi';rit

porvod,d,i

porvfiun ailea-This custom has always

been followed,

217. Mojer potong ghalunk ailash-You my hands (like a butterfly in fire).

2I8.

Ddolleachen patetn hal. an eye.,

219.

Paros fod,d,ta, vot podd,ta, mahddo

have come to die in

poilentr-In the twinkling of

makddik vhard,d,ih zata Rain or shine, all the same the monkeys wed, i.e. whatever be the vicissitudes, life goes.on..

220. Utrak, Jrihlo -He was not true to his word.

221. Tisrea pru'shantra bhitor tankam. soirik'asa-They

are

relations of third degree.

222. - Chovten, frushzntr clekh forientr , salv the fourth generation.

223. a) Hem

tuka

.iil,o-He

f urui- This is convenient for

lived

till

he

you.

b)IHem m,ahalnopwrvi-This is nor ccnveuient for me.

22+. Utoil'leru ator ruz horin- I shall keep my word.

225. Hanvew uloil'lern tem tuha saina' I said does

-What

please you.

226.

Moje mcniru sonkd,d,em

not

pold,larn- I am confused,

227,' Tujern sontanlnisontan z(rnv-Your whole generation

destroyed.

228, Sotean mhonn-'Say again.

be \

229. Sotrashi iivam frannacho ishtt'zaloi tor, sonkhirn sata-However intimate

d.ekhun

he

will not like you to hurt his interest.

-25

d,d,ai7 ontorta your friend be,

230.

Hent. sote hi mi.te P

23L

Tollthachi sartlli horn, whoron-I shall carry him under the shadorv of my palms.

-

Is this true or not P

232. Prcmespor gorviank tolla ghalun, linnank krupa

d,ita

-

God humiliates the proud and gives grace to the humble,.

233. Tan

bhuk nivoi nant drink.

-

He is given neither to eat nor

t<>

234, Tantiantlem por - Posthumous child.

235. Tukatuk d,ileim tor zat noghew-I rvan't change the caste, even if you offer me as much goid as my weight.

236, Ramarsinn vanor hitem korunche - Without Rama rvhat monkeys can do ! , i.e. what disciples can do without master

!

237. Fula voroon pavlli

pihta To sell string along with flowers, i.e. put up for sale the best things on surface and place the bad ones below.

218. Ubantichi khobor - Markei news..

239, Bhair r,thod,cl vel,l aila - It is very late.

2+0. Nwloit rnpilo -- He kept quiet.

241. Utnangonn wangonn -Taking bride to father's

house and

bringing to that of father-in.law.

242, Angak zall, utthtat vo pett'taf - Burning with anger.

243, Tanche kens zhaddim l,apn rajea bhair ghal,in - After their hair being hung on a bush, they rvill be expelled from the country.

244. Zhoim thoim 4

voch

-

Go wherever you want,

,T

26-

i{ '

I'l

'-.il

1i ''u

";iil The Jesuit fathers could not have exhausted the study of the Konkani language ; and the present attempt cannot exhaust the study of the work they have left. Still the foregoing around 250 proverbs and idioms, collected from their vocabrtlaries, afford an idea of the highly developed lexical and syntactic texture of the ianguage of this territorj. Definitely, the Portuguese Janguage was too poor, regarding both lexicon and grammar, to translate the rvell fiied Konkani constructions.

And, ii such is the impression; that is caused by the linguistic

il{ ''f,I

records elaborated by the European priests, one can imagine the standard of the idiom used by the logal learned class.

Besidcs the valuable linguistic and literary contents, these idioms and proverbs also offer a glimpse of the then social pattern, in which the. sociologist and the social philosopher can study some of the uses and customs, ways and manners, superstitioris, beliefs and traditions, administrative and legal frames, and the general character and mentality of the Goan people.

It is therefore desirable that one or more'of our scholarly boys or girls should be positively and sincerely encouraged to take up the task; and this is to be done before it is late for many reasons: the manuseripts oI the precious vocabularies cannot last long; the knowledge of the Portugoese language in Goa is

on the verge of ertinction ; and the Portugoese language of the vocabularies is quite archaic so that a great number of their words are not recorded by dictionaries, at least with the same orthography and meaning, and this circumstance will pose a practical difficulty to a fresh learner of Portuguese rvithout help of an old teacher. if

P.S. In my previous two articies oi this series it is stated that the missionary activity in the field of Konkani study lasted from 1550 to 1680. But my present view is that

from 1560 to

1660.

it shoul,l

have been roughly a period

of

100 years,

that

is,

il