లంకలో విభీషణుడు, అడవిలో శూర్పణఖ

This proverb is used to describe someone who is exceptionally quiet, shy, or gentle. Just as a deer in the forest remains silent and avoids confrontation, it refers to a person who minds their own business and does not create trouble or noise.

This proverb is traditionally used to caution men against being overly influenced or swayed by their wife's advice, suggesting that it leads to being lost or helpless, similar to being stranded in a wilderness. It is often used in a humorous or cautionary context regarding domestic decision-making.

This proverb is used to describe a person who pretends to be weak, lazy, or incapable when asked to do work at home or in the village, but becomes extremely active, energetic, and agile when it concerns their own interests or outside activities. It highlights the hypocrisy of selective effort.

This expression is used to describe something that is wasted or goes unappreciated. Just as moonlight in an uninhabited forest has no one to admire it, and rain falling into the vast salt-water ocean adds no value, an action or resource spent where it isn't needed or recognized is considered a waste.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone is searching frantically for something that they already possess or that is right with them. It highlights human absent-mindedness or the irony of looking far and wide for something that is close at hand.

This expression is used to describe things that are naturally abundant or easily available in their respective habitats. It implies that certain resources are so plentiful in specific places that one never needs to worry about their scarcity there. It is often used metaphorically to suggest that a person or place has an inexhaustible supply of a particular quality or resource.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where a person who is supposed to be a subordinate or an inferior ends up deceiving, outsmarting, or disrespecting a superior or an elder. It is often used when someone's cleverness or trickery is used against those who trusted them or held a higher status.

This is a traditional agricultural and astrological proverb based on the lunar mansions (Nakshatras). It advises against building houses during Vishakha due to heavy rainfall risks, and warns that seeds sown during Pubba will likely rot or be destroyed by excessive rains, emphasizing the importance of timing in farming and construction.

This expression refers to a situation that never seems to end or a problem that persists indefinitely. It is derived from the epic Ramayana, suggesting that Ravana's funeral pyre burns forever while Vibhishana rules the kingdom. It is used to describe eternal grief, a never-ending dispute, or a fire/problem that cannot be extinguished.

This is a traditional folk saying used to warn that people who appear dark or quiet might harbor deep-seated cunning or hidden malice. It is often used to suggest that one should be cautious of the hidden intentions of certain individuals, though it is considered a stereotypical or superstitious observation in modern contexts.