"Adhjal gagri chalkat jay" is a Hindi proverb that means someone with little knowledge or a little bit of talent tends to show off and boast more than a truly knowledgeable person. The literal translation is that a half-filled pot (gagri) sloshes and spills more easily than a full one, just as a person with little knowledge is more inclined to make a fuss about what they do know. To explain the nature among the people, Sanskrit says ;
अल्पतोयश्चलत्कुम्भो ह्यल्पदुग्धाश्च धेनवः |
अल्पविद्यो महागर्वी कुरूपी बहुचेष्तितः||
Alpatoyashchalatkumbho hyalpadug dhaashcha dhenavah.
Alpavidyo mahaagarvee kuroopee bahucheshtitah.
Alpatoyashchalatkumbho = alpa + toyah + chat + kumbhh.
Alpa = Very little.
Toyah = water.
Chalat = moves
Kumbhah = a pitcher.
Hyalpadugdhaashcha = hi + alpa + dugdhaah + cha.
Hi = surely
Dugdhaa = milk producing.
Cha = and,
Dhenavah = cows.
Alpavidyo = uneducated or not adequately educated.
Mahaagarvee = very proud, arrogant
Kuroopee = ugly looking.
Bahucheshtitah = bahu + cheshtitah.
Bahu = much,
Cheshtitah = making guestures making efforts to attract others.
i.e. A pitcher filled with less water makes rumbling sound and begins to overflow on being transported, likewise, a cows that produce less milk also jump and dance a lot while being milked. A person with a bad reputation is very arrogant, and an ugly man or woman always makes various gestures and efforts to attract attention.
The above proverb highlights the fact that learned and virtuous persons always behave with dignity and kindness, whereas those who are uneducated and without any virtues,are arrogant and boastful, For this purpose the simile of a half-filled pitcher of water and other similes have been used.
