Pashto Proverbs
پشتو متلونه

S. S. Thorburn

From "Bannu: Our Afghan Frontier"

Topic: Cowardice
ډارن

In this group, the man is held up to scorn who cries out before he is hurt; who, like Falstaff, waxes brave after the fight is over; who uses his strength to crush his own kith and kin; and who, though armed to the teeth, yet calls out he is defenceless. The term of abuse more likely than perhaps any other to be answered by a Pathan with a blow is "Na Mard", "Coward", literally "un-manly", and "impotent".

• He had burnt his mouth with the porridge, and was making death gasps.
  خوله ئي په اوګره سوي وه او زګروي ئي د ځان کندن کاوه
  Said of one who makes a fuss about nothing, or thinks himself, when slightly indisposed, at death's door.
• When cowards obtained horses, they rode them first against their own villages.
  چه نامردو اسونه وکړل، اول ئي په خپل کلي وترپؤل
  That is, when such men have means, they injure their own people instead of the enemy.
• When the fight grew cold, the slave grew hot.
  چه جنګ سوړ شه، مريي تود شو
• Cowards cause harm to brave men.
  نامردان د ميړو لاري وهي
  Thus a coward in a village may, through some wrong deed, bring down a fine on the whole community.
• A dog when surrounded turns tail, a man fights.
  سپي چه هسار شي غل کوي، ميړه چه هسار شي توره کوي
  Here the dog means a coward.
• Though an army be numerous, it is nothing without a head.
  لښکر که ډير وي، بې سره هېر وي
• When the friendless man passes beyond the deep place, what is his fear?
  خوار چې له ژورې تېر شي، بيا ئي څه ډار دې؟
• Since you have changed colour at a tale, don't go to the fight.
  چه رنګ دې په قصه زيړ شه، تورو ته مه ځه
• The fox said he would rather suffer one hundred hungers, than meet a dog's face.
  تروړئي ويل چه سل قحطئي به په ځان تيرې کړم او د سپي مخ به ونه ګورم
• Though you swoop down on chickens, O Kite! you have not thereby become a hawk.
  که غوټې کړې په چرګوړو، په دې به باز نه شې جوړ ټپوسه
• Neither the master was aware, nor the dog barking, yet the thief ran away at nothing.
  نه څيښتن خبريده او نه سپي غپيده، هسې غل  و تښتيده
  Means, a guilty conscience does make cowards of us all.
• Who today is disgraced, tomorrow will be lost.
  چې نن سپک شي، سبا ورک شي
• The owner is alive, his property is inherited.
  څيښتن حيات، مال ئي ميراث
  That is, though the rightful proprietor was alive, another enjoyed his estate as if he were dead. Such cases do occur.
• With a sword under his arm, he wants a club.
  توره ئي په څنګ کښۍ، کوتک غواړي
• Neither has a brave man a fault; Nor a coward ignominy.
  نه ده ميړه تور شته، نه د نامرد پيغور شته
  The latter being what he is, cannot feel any shame.
• The fakeer's ass died, and each village cur claimed it.
  خر د فقير مړ شو، او پرې ويران د کلي سپي شول
  The base will fight amongst themselves for what none of them has any right to do so.
• Fear and shame are father and son
  ډار و شرم ځوئ او پلار دي
  If a man is a coward, he will soon be disgraced.
• Lark! at the first throw thou hast gone ?
  خراړي له يوه ګزاره لاړې
  This is said of a faint hearted man whom a small difficulty frightens. The lark is regarded as a particularly timid bird.