ఏతాము ఎంత వంగినా తిరిగి లేచేదానికే కదా

This expression is used to describe someone who is extremely lazy or lacks initiative. It refers to a person who, when given a large task (circling the village), performs the smallest, most effortless version of it (circling the grinding stone inside the house) and claims they are finished.

This proverb describes investments or expenses that yield no return. Just as whitewash stays on the wall and cannot be reclaimed, money spent on fleeting pleasures or unproductive people is lost forever. It is used to warn someone about wasting resources on things that provide no long-term value or recovery.

This traditional proverb suggests that a woman's reputation or household duties suffer if she is constantly wandering away from home, whereas a man's livelihood or success suffers if he remains idle at home and does not go out to work or explore opportunities.

This proverb highlights how different lifestyles require different behaviors to maintain integrity. For a householder (Samsari), constant travel or wandering leads to the neglect of family and responsibilities, leading to ruin. Conversely, a monk (Sanyasi) is expected to wander and preach; if he settles in one place for too long, he may develop worldly attachments or laziness, which ruins his spiritual path.

This expression is used when a situation takes an unexpected or dramatic turn for the worse. It describes a scenario where things did not go according to plan and instead became complicated or problematic.

This expression is used to describe a person who does not understand instructions properly or takes an unnecessarily long and round-about way to do a simple task. It highlights inefficiency or foolishness in following directions.

This proverb warns against excessive submissiveness or trying to be overly humble with someone who is already yielding. It implies that being too accommodating or sycophantic can lead to unnecessary trouble or physical/metaphorical injury. It is used to advise people to maintain their dignity and boundaries.

This expression is used to describe an awkward or burdensome situation where one has to constantly look after or accompany someone who is already grown up or a task that has become too large to handle easily. It often refers to the social and protective responsibility a parent feels for a daughter of marriageable age in traditional contexts, implying a sense of constant vigilance or a lingering responsibility that one cannot easily set aside.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone takes a long, complicated, or roundabout way to do something that could have been done very simply and directly. It highlights unnecessary complexity or lack of efficiency.

This proverb suggests that success begins at home. If a person cannot manage their own domestic affairs or earn the respect of their family, they are unlikely to succeed in public life or handle community matters effectively.