మన్ను ఎరువైతే పుట్టకొద్దీ పంట

This expression is used to describe a situation where a project, idea, or life stage is ruined or faces major obstacles right at its inception or even before it has had a chance to begin properly. It signifies early misfortune or premature failure.

This expression is used to highlight poor planning or a bad start to an endeavor. If basic necessities or the primary goal cannot be met at the very beginning (the wedding feast), it is unrealistic to expect future success or growth (children). It is often used to criticize someone who fails at the initial, most important stage of a project.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone makes elaborate plans or preparations for something that has not yet happened or may never happen. It is similar to the English expression 'Counting your chickens before they hatch.'

Don't reckon your eggs before they are laid. ( Latin. )*

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone is being extremely selfish or insensitive to a major crisis. It highlights a person pursuing their own petty or inappropriate desires while those around them are suffering from basic, urgent needs.

This expression is used to describe something that has existed since the very beginning or has been a tradition since time immemorial. It signifies that a practice or an event is as old as the foundation of the place or community itself.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone is forced to settle for a mediocre or low-quality option right from the beginning without ever exploring better alternatives. It highlights the frustration of being stuck with something unsatisfactory for a long time.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone performs a deed with the intention of gaining religious merit (punyam), but the act inadvertently causes harm or results in a mess. It is often applied when an attempt to do good backfires or when a seemingly pious person's actions are actually riddled with flaws.

This proverb is used to describe deep-rooted character traits, habits, or flaws that are inherited or innate. It suggests that a person's fundamental nature cannot be changed or cured simply by performing rituals, offering food (like Pongal), or superficial remedies.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone performs a supposedly good deed or religious act, but the unintended negative consequences, sins, or flaws associated with it far outweigh the benefits. It highlights hypocrisy or the futility of an action that brings more harm than good.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone makes elaborate preparations or celebrations for something that has not happened yet or whose outcome is uncertain. It is similar to the English proverb 'Don't count your chickens before they hatch'.