అగస్త్య భ్రాత

This expression is used to describe a situation where one person stands out significantly from the rest, but even their small tools or specific eccentricities are equally formidable or noteworthy. It highlights exceptional skill, importance, or the unique weight of a person's character compared to a large group.

* Besser freundlich versagen, als unwilling gewähren.

This proverb is used to describe someone who gives a completely irrelevant, absurd, or ignorant answer to a question. It highlights the vast disconnect between a person's lack of knowledge and the topic being discussed, as Agastya is a mythological sage and Hanumayamma is a common local name.

This expression emphasizes that maintaining one's integrity and moral standards is more important than financial or material success. It suggests that while losing money or property is a temporary setback, losing one's reputation or character (becoming 'bhrashtu') is a permanent failure. It is used to encourage ethical behavior even in difficult times.

This is a traditional saying used to point out contradictions in rules of ritual purity. It suggests that silk is considered perpetually 'pure' regardless of what touches it, often used as a metaphor to describe people who think they are above the rules or situations where status outweighs social stigma.

This proverb suggests that a doctor who loses or avoids arguments is often a better healer. It implies that a physician's skill lies in their practice and results rather than in their rhetorical or debating abilities. It is used to describe professionals who prioritize their craft over winning verbal disputes.

This proverb is used when the reality of a situation or a person is finally revealed, often leading to disappointment. It describes a scenario where one person's true nature is exposed after they have achieved their goal, causing the other person to lose their false positive impressions or high expectations.

This expression is used to describe a story, explanation, or document that is unnecessarily long, tedious, or excessively detailed. It compares a small or simple matter to the epic Mahabharata, implying that someone is stretching a simple point into a never-ending saga.

This expression describes a situation where a person loses out on two different options or benefits by trying to straddle both or failing at a transition. It refers to someone who gives up their worldly life but fails to attain spiritual enlightenment, ending up with neither worldly comforts nor divine grace. It is used when someone's indecision or poor planning leads to a total loss of all possibilities.

This proverb suggests that the charms, delusions, or manipulative tactics of women can be so captivating that they blind a person to reality. It is typically used to warn someone about being misled by physical attraction or superficial beauty, implying that such influences can cloud one's judgment like a magician's trick.

This proverb is used to explain that mere physical growth or imitation does not bring inherent quality, dignity, or true stature. Just as a buffalo cannot become a royal elephant simply by becoming large, a person cannot gain respect or talent just by mimicking the appearance of greatness without having the actual substance or character.