బండెడు ధనమిచ్చినా, బావమరిది లేని చుట్టరికం పనికిరాదు

This proverb describes a situation where someone who has absolutely nothing looks down upon or considers someone else poor, even if that person has slightly more than them. It highlights the irony of people in desperate or inferior positions judging others who are marginally better off or in the same boat.

This proverb emphasizes that even with divine help or luck, practical means and human effort are necessary to achieve a result. It is used to point out that one must follow the natural order or use the required tools/intermediaries to complete a task, rather than relying solely on miracles or high-level permissions.

This proverb is used to describe a person who boasts or brags excessively about their wealth, status, or abilities, but in reality, possesses very little or lives in poverty. It highlights the contrast between high-sounding words and a lowly reality.

This proverb highlights practical inconveniences. Relatives living in the same village may become a burden due to frequent social expectations or lack of privacy, while a farm plot located at the entrance of a village is prone to damage by passing cattle and trespassers. It is used to advise that some things which seem convenient on the surface can be problematic in reality.

This proverb is used to describe a person who occupies a position where they enjoy benefits and influence without having any actual responsibilities or accountability. It highlights how being closely associated with people in power or those in lucrative, albeit unconventional, professions can lead to an easy life of perks and protection.

This is a traditional proverb emphasizing social conformity and the importance of adhering to structural or communal norms. It suggests that just as a building's rafter (vaasam) must align perfectly with the main beam (paaru) to remain stable, marriages and social relations should stay within traditional boundaries to maintain social order.

This proverb is used to describe a situation of extreme inefficiency or futility. It suggests that just as meager wages are insufficient to provide even a basic meal, a person with a low or stubborn character (leki) is impossible to manage or reform. It is often used to remark on someone who is both unproductive and unmanageable.

This expression is used to describe a situation where two beneficial or relevant events happen simultaneously or overlap perfectly. It refers to a scenario where one trip or action serves two purposes—visiting a relative (kinship) and attending a social/religious gathering (perantam) at the same time, thereby saving effort and making the most of the occasion.

This traditional proverb reflects historical family dynamics in joint households. It suggests that a daughter-in-law's life is easier and freer from social restrictions or additional household responsibilities when there are fewer male siblings-in-law to cater to or be wary of, implying that a smaller family circle leads to more peace for the bride.

This proverb highlights the unique and close bond shared between a man and his brother-in-law (specifically his wife's brother or sister's husband) in Telugu culture. It suggests that this relationship is often characterized by friendship, mutual support, and a lack of the formal tensions sometimes found in other familial ties.