ఇంటిలో కొక్కును తెచ్చి పెట్టుకుంటే గోడలు తవ్వక మానుతుందా?

This expression is used to describe a situation where an untrustworthy or greedy person is placed in a position of authority over valuable resources. Just as a bandicoot would uncontrollably devour the grain it is supposed to be 'stored' with, a corrupt person will exploit the wealth or responsibility they are given for personal gain.

Used to describe a situation where someone goes on a great, significant journey or puts in immense effort, only to achieve something trivial, useless, or even negative. It highlights the disparity between the effort expended and the poor outcome achieved.

This proverb refers to a situation where a person from within a group or family assists an outsider in destroying their own community. It highlights how internal betrayal is the primary cause of a group's downfall, just as a wooden handle is necessary for an iron axe to chop down a tree.

This proverb suggests that if one chooses to compete or strive for something, it should be for a prize or goal that is truly valuable and worth the sacrifice or effort involved. It discourages wasting energy on trivial competitions.

This proverb is used to describe people whose inherent nature or bad habits cannot be changed even in favorable or restricted conditions. Just as a bandicoot will naturally dig through and destroy a grain storage pit (pathara) despite being surrounded by food, a person with a crooked nature will continue to do mischief or cause trouble regardless of where they are placed.

This proverb highlights the abundance of nature and the rewards of hard work in farming. A 'mana' and 'idumu' are traditional measures of volume, with an idumu being significantly larger. It means that if a farmer sows even a small measure of seeds into the earth, nature returns a much larger harvest into their home. It is used to encourage investment and labor.

This expression is used to describe someone who is stubborn, unresponsive, or completely devoid of emotion or reaction despite repeated efforts, criticism, or provocation. It implies that certain people or situations are as lifeless and unchanging as a wooden statue.

This expression is used to describe a state of extreme confusion, chaos, or being completely overwhelmed. It refers to a situation where someone is so disoriented that they cannot distinguish between different paths or directions, metaphorically suggesting that their world has been turned upside down or converged into a single point of confusion.

This is a traditional agricultural saying referring to the high yield of crops. It means that even a small amount of seed sown in the soil (mud) can result in a massive harvest stored at home. It is used to describe investments or efforts that yield exponentially great results.

This proverb warns against trusting a person with a known history of dishonesty or theft. It implies that if you enter into a partnership or trust someone who is habitually untrustworthy, you shouldn't be surprised when they eventually betray you or steal your belongings. It is used to describe situations where someone suffers a loss due to their own poor judgment in choosing associates.