కూటిపేద తోడు పోగొట్టుకుంటాడు

This proverb is used to express hope and faith during times of hardship. It suggests that even when a higher power or fate brings a great misfortune, it will also provide the necessary support or a way to survive. It is often used to console someone who has faced a significant loss, implying that they will not be completely abandoned.

This proverb is used to describe a person's foolishness or lack of logic when they search for something in a place where it couldn't possibly be. It highlights the absurdity of looking for a solution or a lost object in a completely unrelated or impossible location.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where two people with similar bad habits, eccentricities, or useless traits become companions. It implies that people of the same (often negative) nature naturally gravitate towards each other, similar to the English expression 'Birds of a feather flock together,' but with a more mocking or derogatory tone.

This proverb is equivalent to the English saying 'Physician, heal thyself.' It implies that a person should fix their own faults or problems before attempting to advise or fix others. It is used to point out hypocrisy or the irony of someone offering help when they themselves are in need of the same assistance.

This proverb describes a situation where someone with a minor or insignificant loss (or no loss at all) makes a much bigger scene than the person who suffered a genuine, significant loss. It is used to mock those who overreact or feign distress for attention when they have little at stake compared to others.

This proverb suggests that when a person commits a mistake or a sin with full awareness (premeditated), they must face its consequences or undergo a specific form of penance to clear it. It is used to emphasize that one cannot escape the accountability of deliberate actions and must endure the resulting hardship to find resolution.

This proverb describes a situation where someone loses a secure, legitimate, or valuable asset because they were foolishly relying on something unreliable, temporary, or deceptive. It is used to caution against abandoning what is certain for the sake of an empty promise.

This expression is used to describe a situation where the person who is affected by a problem or has a personal need is the one who must take the initiative to address it. It implies that others will not bother to help or act unless they are the ones feeling the discomfort or desire.

Let him that itches scratch himself. (French.)*

This proverb highlights the folly of prioritizing caste-based pride or prejudices over one's own survival and basic needs. It warns that while a person might sacrifice their livelihood (koodu) to uphold caste rigidity, the caste community as an entity will not provide for them when they are hungry. It is used to advise people to prioritize practical necessities and humanity over social divisions.

This proverb describes a situation where someone loses their reliable, existing support or assets while chasing after an uncertain, grander promise or an unreliable person in power. It emphasizes the folly of abandoning a sure thing for a risky gamble.