ఇహం పరం లేదమ్మా, ఇచ్చినచోటే ఉండమ్మా

This proverb is based on agricultural observations regarding the 'Chitta' nakshatram (a specific period in the lunar calendar). It suggests that rainfall during this time is highly unpredictable and localized, falling in one spot while leaving a nearby area dry. It is used metaphorically to describe situations that are inconsistent, whimsical, or depend entirely on the unpredictable will of a person or nature.

This expression is used when a long-standing responsibility, burden, or major task is finally completed, leading to a sense of relief. It implies that once a major hurdle is crossed, the associated anxiety and stress naturally disappear.

This expression refers to a situation where a person or a place has fallen from a position of great prestige, prosperity, or high status to a very low or common state. It highlights the contrast between past glory (sandalwood) and current struggle or mediocrity (firewood).

This proverb highlights the irony and unfairness in certain transactions or interpersonal dynamics. The person who gives or lends something is often timid, weak, or hesitant (like a fly) when asking for it back, while the person who received it becomes aggressive, demanding, or fierce (like a tiger) when it is time to return the favor or the item.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone is extremely slow, sluggish, or stuck in one place. Just as castor oil makes a surface sticky and difficult to move on, it refers to a person who lacks speed or progress in their actions.

This proverb emphasizes maintaining one's dignity and self-respect. It suggests that if a person has lived a life of status, prosperity, or high standards (represented by flowers), they should not stoop to a lowly or desperate position (represented by firewood) in the same community. It is often used to advise people to protect their reputation and not settle for less than what they have earned.

This proverb suggests that prosperity or happiness (moonlight) usually visits those who have already experienced hard work or success (sunlight). It implies that opportunities and good fortune favor those who are already in a position of strength or have put in the effort.

This expression is used to mock someone who makes a dramatic scene or an empty threat out of laziness or a lack of will to face responsibilities. It highlights a situation where someone chooses an easy, albeit extreme, way out rather than putting in the effort to sustain their life or solve their problems.

This expression is used to highlight the transient and worthless nature of worldly life (Iham) compared to the eternal and precious nature of the spiritual or after-life (Param). It suggests that material pursuits are like soil/mud, whereas spiritual merit is as valuable as gold.

This proverb describes a social irony where resources or gifts tend to flow towards those who are already wealthy or powerful, rather than to those in need. It highlights that everyone seeks to please the rich, while the poor are often ignored or even forced to give up what little they have to those above them.