Indian Antiquary Vol 51

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 236

228
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
DECEMBER, 1922
6. 0: ywe go sa-laung : ywe hnin hpon :-or-0 : ywè sa-laung : ywe hnin peik ya myi A crooked mouthed cooking-pot should be covered with a crooked lid ; or, one should close a crooked mouthed cooking-pot with a crooked lid. The meaning may be given in the following ways Pay him out in his own coin ;'or' Treat him as he treats yon: 'or. A vicious person cannot be friendly with a good man; ' or 'One should adapt one's self to circum. stances.'
7. Mo: kon hma htun cha.-To use the plough when the rains are over. The meaning is - It is not much use doing a thing when it is too late.' It may suggest the English proverbs ; To hoist the sail while the gale lasts ; ' and 'Time and tide wait for no man.
8. Pyin lun: hpin chun :-If anything is repaired too much its shape will he spoilt. The meaning is :-Don't try to improve on the shape of a pot that is perfect or it will he made ngeless ; ' or 'If too great care is bestowed on a thing it will be spoilt."
9. Myet-si-gan : tă-hse mă kyauk : A blind-man is not afraid of ghosts.
10. Taw milaung taw-gyoung let-hkū-maung-hkat.-When the jungle is on fire a wild-cat will show fight. Meaning :- When there is no escape a wild-cat will attack in self. defence;'or. When a man is in a tight place he will show fight, docile though he may be.'
11. Text not legible. A tiger rushed headlong at a stone in his fury and split up his head : i.e., If you want to fight with a man who is stronger than yourself you will be the sufferer.'
12. Text not legible. When the thin crust of a hill falls Nga Mvat Min's pepper garden will be destroyed. That is, 'When a hill-side slips down, Myat Min's pepper cultivation, if it is there, is sure to be destroyed. Otherwise, When great things fall the little ones will follow.'
13. Kyu-bin hkok kyū-ngot hmya mă kyan ze hnin.-When cutting down the Kyu-reed do not let so much as a stump remain. Meaning : 'When you come into power remove your enemies entirely, or they will get you into trouble.'
14. Text not legible. Pearls from one and the same bed will be similar, i.e., 'A chip of the old block;'or, One knows the character of a nan from his family ;'or, 'A man is known by the company he keeps.'
15. Taung-deik kyā yauk anauk ka ne dwet, Myin : mö pyö-et, shi-lo-ya shi ze. - Lilies grow on the tops of mountains; the sun rises from the west : Mount Meru has split up : let it be whatever you wish!' In other words, 'Do not contradict those in authority nor offend them as there is nothing to be gained thereby. Listen to them and acquiesce in everything they say, and, when your turn comes to obtain some advantage make the best of the opportunity.'
I give here the note made by Rao Bahadur B. A. Gupte in his own words as follows: This proverb records a tradition. "Once upon a time a Burmese king said to his amaccho (page) Look here, amaccho ! By my glory and power, does the sun not rise in the west ? Do not lilies grow on top of the hill instead of in the lake? Did not the great Mount Meru (centre of the universe) split up when I ascended the throne ?' In answer to such questions, the page replied: Yes Sire! Sire! the sun rose from the west ; lilies grew on the hill top, and Mount Meru split up. It is moreover about to fall into pieces. He was obliged to say 40. As if he did not, he would have been punished. From this story oomes the proverb, which is interpreted to mean: 'I shall not go against any person in power nor shall I contradict him for fear of offending him. It is a custom in Burma for the Burmese not to contradiot the man in power, but, as a rule, silently, to pay attention to him."