కరిమింగిన వెలగపండు

This expression is used to describe a dilemma or a 'catch-22' situation where one is trapped between two equally difficult or dangerous alternatives. It is the Telugu equivalent of the English idiom 'between a rock and a hard place.'

This expression is used when a person of good character or noble nature is forced to endure insults, harsh words, or an unpleasant situation. It highlights the contrast between the person's inherent goodness and the bitterness they are currently experiencing.

This expression is used to describe something that appears intact on the outside but is completely hollow or empty on the inside. It originates from the folk belief that when an elephant swallows a wood apple, the fruit remains whole through the digestive process, but the pulp inside disappears mysteriously. It is often used to refer to sudden losses, empty promises, or wealth that vanishes without a trace.

This proverb highlights certainty and inevitability. It refers to the Uttara rain/monsoon season, where it is believed that if it thunders, rain is guaranteed to fall. Similarly, it suggests that certain consequences or natural events are irreversible and bound to happen once initiated.

This expression refers to the timing of a significant event, particularly marriage or entering a new home. It suggests that the success or failure of a venture is often attributed to the 'auspiciousness' of the exact moment someone first stepped in or when the ritual began. It is used when discussing the destiny or luck associated with a new beginning.

This proverb is used to describe situations where an outcome is inevitable. Just as a thundering cloud usually leads to rain and a snake chasing someone will likely bite, certain actions or warnings have definite consequences that cannot be ignored or escaped.

This expression refers to a situation where something appears whole on the outside but is actually empty or hollow on the inside. It is based on the folk belief that when an elephant swallows a wood apple (Velaga Pandu), the fruit remains intact visually, but the pulp inside is mysteriously consumed or evaporated by the time it is excreted. It is used to describe empty promises, hollow assets, or things that have lost their essence while maintaining their form.

It is swallowed whole, and is said to be found afterwards empty though unbroken. Said of a person in an influential position who does not benefit others.

This is an agricultural and traditional proverb. It implies that certain natural events are inevitable. When thunder occurs during the Uttara Karti (a specific solar mansion in the Hindu calendar), heavy rainfall is guaranteed. Similarly, if a cobra is provoked and chases someone, it will surely bite. It is used to describe situations that are certain to happen or consequences that cannot be avoided.

This proverb highlights that certain arrival events, such as the birth of a child or the purchase/arrival of livestock, are seen as significant markers of fate. It is used to describe how the timing of these events is often associated with the subsequent prosperity or misfortunes that befall a family, suggesting that the 'auspiciousness' of their arrival time influences the household's future.

This proverb refers to a situation where something appears whole on the outside but is completely empty or hollow inside. It originates from the myth that when an elephant eats a wood-apple (Velagapandu), the pulp is digested through the shell, leaving the fruit looking intact but empty when it passes through. It is used to describe wasted efforts, lost opportunities, or things that have lost their internal substance despite outward appearances.