మతి లేని మాట, శ్రుతి లేని పాట

This proverb highlights the essential role of a mother in a child's life. Just as onions are considered a fundamental base that adds flavor and completeness to a dish, a mother's presence is vital for a child's well-being and upbringing. It is used to describe how a home or a child's life feels incomplete or lacks essential care without a mother.

This proverb emphasizes the importance of elders in a family. Just as a monastery requires experienced spiritual masters (Siddhas) to maintain discipline and guidance, a household needs the wisdom and experience of elders to function properly and maintain traditions.

This expression refers to something that lacks its core essence or purpose. Just as a bell is useless if it cannot ring and a crop is worthless if it doesn't yield grain, any object or person that does not fulfill their fundamental function is considered ineffective or hollow. It is used to describe wasted effort or decorative things that have no practical value.

For a true worship of gods, it is not the external paraphernalia that is as important as devotion.

This expression is used to describe something that lacks sense, logic, or harmony. Just as a song without a proper scale (shruti) is unpleasant to hear, words spoken without thought or intelligence are useless and irritating. It is often used to dismiss nonsensical arguments or irrelevant chatter.

This expression is used to describe something that is incomplete or lacks its most essential and defining element. Just as Karna is a pivotal, soul-stirring character in the epic Mahabharata, and dry ginger (shonthi) is the indispensable core ingredient of a traditional herbal tonic (kashayam), a project or a gathering feels hollow without its key participant or component.

This expression highlights that just as a song is unpleasant to hear without the proper tune or pitch (shruti), a conversation or proposal is useless and ineffective without the agreement or willingness of the listener. It is used to emphasize that forcing an opinion or singing out of tune both result in a lack of harmony.

This expression highlights the cultural importance of proverbs in Telugu language and conversation. Just as a home feels empty and unwelcoming without hospitality or a meal for guests, a speech or conversation lacks depth, wisdom, and flavor if it doesn't incorporate proverbs.

This expression is used to describe something that lacks structure, logic, or a clear purpose. It refers to a situation, story, or task that is disorganized, incoherent, and makes no sense from the start to the end.

This expression is used when something exceeds its proper limits or boundaries, leading to negative or undesirable consequences. Similar to 'going overboard' or 'crossing the line,' it suggests that while a certain action was initially acceptable, its excessive nature has ruined the outcome.