Indian Antiquary Vol 62

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Charles E A W Oldham, S Krishnaswami Aiyangar, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarka
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 83

APRIL, 1933)
KASHMIRE PROVERBS
KASHMIRI PROVERBS.
BY PANDIT ANAND KOUL, ÉRINAGAR, KASHMIR. Preface.
PROVERBS convey useful lessons of prudence and morality They magnify the delights of virtue as well as paint in dark colours the consequences of evil. Their phraseology shows the impress of the mint of wisdom of immemorial antiquity. In short, they are "sense, shortnong and salt," as quaintly defined by Howell.
The Kashmiri is extremely fond of saws pragmatic and maxims sage. His language perhaps contains a greater number of them than that of any other Oriental. They mirror not merely his external conduct, daily life and environment, but also the disposition of his mind. In 1885, a large collection of proverbs and sayings, current in Kashmir, was made by the Rev. J. Hinton Knowles, which he explained from the rich and interesting folklore of the valley. He afterwards published them in the form of a book, which is very interesting, equally to the philologist, the ethnologist and the antiquarian. But there remained some proverbs which the Rev. Mr. Knowles could not find at the time of writing his book. These I have collected, and now publish with translations in English.
It is gratifying to note that these precious fruits of ancient wisdom, which by mere oral transmission and currency were being gradually lost, or were changing their complexion with the tide of time, are now being committed to print, and thus placed on permanent record.
Achiv khuta chi kuthi dúr. The knees are farther than the eyes. (Blood is thicker than water.) Ak duda biyi maji kyut ļok. An uninvited guest, and he wants a plateful [of food] for his mother (in addition
to feeding himself] ! (Brazenness.)
Ak hammami ta byák damami. One is the servant of the hot-bath &d the other is the assistant for heating it.
(Conspiracy.)
Àkhun adhib chu tadtan hanzay tsuci bágran. The school-master distributes the bread of the pupils.' (E.g., the king spends what
the people pay him in taxes, he having nothing of his own.)
All-khanan na koj; parzanin mimyuz. To one's own dear children breakfast is not given; [but) to the strangers (besides breakfast) tiffin is served. (I.e., & person most niggardly towards his own kith and kin, but entertaining strangers sumptuously.)
Attri-wana chu mushlay laran. Khana-wodna che të mbarey Idrán. From a perfumer's shop one gets a pleasant coent, From a blacksmith's shop one gets embers. (Cultivation of the society of good
people will make you good. He who plays with the cat must expect a scratching.)
Bad lani chi lukac o kanon sati razit hěkan. A big stone is kept firm by smaller stones. (E.g., a man of position must have
subordinates to assist him).