కూడు ఉంటే కోటి ఉన్నట్లు

This proverb highlights that no matter how many skills, educational degrees, or talents a person possesses, the ultimate goal of all their efforts is to earn a livelihood and satisfy their basic need for food. It is used to remind people that every profession or skill has the same fundamental purpose: survival.

All professions are only so many means of livelihood.

This proverb highlights the societal tendency to overlook the flaws of a wealthy person and attribute great qualities to them solely because of their riches. It implies that wealth can mask many shortcomings and command respect regardless of a person's true character.

This proverb highlights double standards and hypocrisy in judgment. It describes a situation where the same mistake is viewed differently depending on who committed it. If someone in a superior position (like a mother-in-law) makes a mistake, it is dismissed as insignificant, but if a subordinate (like a daughter-in-law) makes the same mistake, it is exaggerated and treated as a major offense.

The purpose, by and large, of acquisition of diverse special skills is only to make a living.

This proverb emphasizes the importance of frugality and saving during times of abundance. It suggests that if one manages resources wisely when they are plenty (harvest time), they will not face hardship or hunger during lean periods. It is used to advise someone to plan for the future and avoid wasteful spending.

This proverb refers to people who are ungrateful or those who, when helped, try to take advantage of or harm their benefactor. It describes a situation where showing kindness to an unworthy or untrustworthy person results in them endangering your own resources or well-being.

This proverb emphasizes the importance of basic sustenance and contentment. It suggests that if a person has enough resources to afford a meal or basic livelihood, they should feel as satisfied and secure as a person who possesses immense wealth. It is often used to counsel someone to be grateful for their basic needs being met.

This proverb highlights double standards and hypocrisy in judging actions. It refers to how people often exaggerate the mistakes of others (the daughter-in-law) while minimizing or making excuses for their own or their favorites' mistakes (the mother-in-law).

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone tries to gain from two different options but ends up losing both due to indecision, poor planning, or greed. It is similar to the English idiom 'falling between two stools.'

This expression is used to describe a situation where something pure or useful becomes completely ruined, defiled, or unusable because of the interference of an unworthy or undesirable person. In traditional contexts, if a dog touched a cooking pot, the entire meal was considered polluted and had to be discarded.