కుత్తుకలబంటి తామరతూండ్లు

Just as a lotus flower rises or adjusts its position based on the depth of the water it grows in, noble or great people demonstrate their excellence and virtues in proportion to the challenges or situations they face. It suggests that true character adapts and shines through regardless of the depth of the circumstances.

This proverb is used to criticize hypocrisy or the tendency to treat one's own people with neglect or minimal effort while going to great lengths and providing luxuries to impress outsiders or strangers. It highlights the irony of being frugal or indifferent at home while being extravagant and attentive elsewhere.

This proverb is used to describe things that are persistent or situations that lose their initial charm quickly. It suggests that just as the aloe vera plant stays green and fleshy for a long time without drying up easily, the 'honeymoon period' or the special treatment a new daughter-in-law receives is very brief before she is expected to handle all household responsibilities.

A daughter-in-law is never a stranger.

This expression highlights a person's limited or superficial skill set. It describes someone who knows how to do basic, rudimentary tasks (like patching a hole) but lacks the expertise or finesse required for delicate, decorative, or highly specialized work. It is used to point out that knowing the basics of a craft does not make one a master of its intricate details.

This proverb is used to describe how a person's status, character, or achievements are often reflective of their environment, upbringing, or the resources available to them. It is frequently cited from Vemana's poems to suggest that one's greatness is proportionate to their inner depth and the company they keep.

This proverb emphasizes the need for protection and privacy for certain delicate or valuable things. Just as buttermilk can spoil if left exposed and a baby is vulnerable to the elements or 'evil eye,' some matters or assets should be kept discreetly to ensure their well-being.

This expression describes a situation where a mother is extremely soft-hearted, tender, and easily moved (like wax that melts), while her child is stubborn, unyielding, or emotionally hard (like a stone). It is used to highlight the stark contrast in temperaments between a sensitive parent and an insensitive or difficult child.

This proverb highlights the depth of maternal love and care. Even if a father is as grand, wealthy, or strong as a mountain (Veligonda), a mother—even if she is poor or fragile like a small basket of cotton—is considered more valuable and beneficial to a child because of her nurturing nature and constant presence.

This proverb is used to illustrate relative scale and consequences. If a giant or a very strong person/entity is struggling or overwhelmed by a situation, a small or weak person would be completely submerged or destroyed by it. It highlights that if a great obstacle affects the mighty, it will surely be insurmountable for the small.

This proverb describes a chain of delegation or a hierarchy of dependency where everyone tries to pass their burden to someone else below them. It is used to mock people who, despite being in a low or serving position themselves, try to act superior by hiring or ordering someone even lower to do their work.