6. Birds: Kashmiri Proverbs

کاو چھزیٚاکھ ستی سابنہ

کاوس کرہنیار ژالہ نہ زانہہ

Kaav chhejyakh satti saabni

Kaavas krehniyar challi ne zanh

Crow was washed by seven soaps,

The blackness didn't wither away.

Usage:

Used to denote that inherent qualities doesn't wither away no matter how much you try.

کاون ہچھیاو ککوی سُند پکُن

پنُن پکُن گوس مُشتھی

Kaavan hechyaav kakui sund pakun,

Panun pakun gos mushthie.

Crow learnt the gait of Partridge,

It forgot its own gait.

Usage:

Used to denote a person or community that imitates another people and in the process lose their originality. Blind imitation is dangerous thing.

کاو شیے وُہُر

کاوٕ بچہ شیٹھ وُہُر

Kaav shey wohur,

Kaave bachhe sheth wohur.

Crow six years old,

Crow's chick sixty years old.

Usage:

Used to denote parent-child duo when child speaks like a grown up (which is not liked in this part of the society).

برؠگس ونیاکھ تونت چھے ۂج

دوپنکھ نتہ کُس تان چُھم سؠود

Bragas wanyaakh toant chhey haejj,

Dopnakh natte kus taan chhum syodd.

Heron was told its beak is crooked,

Replied, "which other part (of his body) is straight"?

Usage:

Used to denote a person who has vices all over his character.

کۄکِٕر تچھان تہ پوٕٗت ہیچھان

Kokir tachhan ti pooit he haan

Hen scratches (the ground) and chicks learn it.

Usage:

Used to denote that the kids learn mostly from parents and that the parents should be careful of their conduct in front of their kids.

 بۆمسِنی زانہ ستُٕت سٕنٚز دِگ 

Bomsini zaani satuit sinz digg

Only earthworm knows the (pain from) pecking of hoopoe.

Usage:

Only the wearer knows where the shoe pinches.

یکُر مٲرِتھ اتھن پھکھ

Yakur maerith athan phakh.

Stench on hands after killing a Streaked Laughingthrush.

Usage:

Doing an act that bears no fruit and inversely hurts the person doing the deed.

گرٕ گرٕ چھا آسان ژرٕ ماز

Garri garri chha aasaan charri maaz

Sparrow meat is not available everyday.

Usage:

Good opportunities or special things don’t come every day. So when a person gets some good opportunity or thing, he is encouraged by this proverb to proceed with it.

ہٲر کھؠوان گٕس کٲر تھاوان تھٔز

Haaer khewaab giess, kaaer thavaan theizz.

Mynah eats the excreta (but) keeps neck high.

Usage:

Used for someone whose actions are disgraceful, but attitude is arrogant.

گانٹھ کیاہ زانہِ بچہ دود، ہانٹھ کیاہ زانہِ پۄترہ دود

Gaanth kyah zaani bachhe dod, haanth kya zaani potreh dod.

Eagle doesn't know the pain of (losing chick), barren woman doesn't know the pain of losing child.

گِل تہِ چھے کانچھان دانے

Gil ti chhey kaanchaan daanye

Even Gil desires the paddy.

Usage:

The Gil, a small, shy waterfowl, rarely leaves the paddy fields. It is timid by nature and hard to spot, spending most of its life hidden among the rice stalks. Although the Gil does not feed on the paddy itself, but on the insects that thrive there, the bird’s very survival depends on the presence of healthy paddy fields.

Thus, when we say “Even the Gil desires the paddy,” it means that the paddy crop sustains not only humans but also other creatures who depend on it in indirect ways. The proverb highlights the interconnectedness of life, how one thing’s prosperity ensures the well-being of many others.

ہارِ طوطس ونُن

Haari toatas wanun

To speak to mynah and parrot.

Usage:

It's not a proverb but a phrase. It's used when a person feels the listener is inattentive.

کاون ینہِ وۄل

Kaawan yeniwoal

The marriage procession of crows.

Usage:

A badly arranged event.

Full rhyme sung by kids goes like this:

کاون ینہِ وۄل

مُرادن مۄل

دِہام نۓ رسہ ہٲن

کڈۓ مُلہ اۄل

Kaawan yeniwoal,

Muraadan moal.

Dihaam nai rasse haaen,

Kadai mulle oal.

The marriage procession of crows,

It's father of my desires.

If you don't give me a little gravy,

I will uproot your best.

کۄکِٕر دپان مؠے کیاہ راہ

بتکھ ٹھوٗلن دیتُم پھاہ

Kokir dapaan mey kya rah!

Batakh thoolan dyutum fah.

The hen says what fault have I done!

I have incubated the duck eggs.

Usage:

Uses by parents when they are disappointed of their children.

ژرِ چِھہ کٔنڈ تھرِ پیٹھی راحت

Charri chhi kendi tharri pethie raahat.

A sparrow find comfort on the thorn-bush only.

Meaning/Usage:

Even though a thorn-bush is harsh and prickly, the sparrow prefers to rest there. It feels safe and at home despite the apparent discomfort.

Mostly used by women about their betrothal home when they are at parental home.