మేక ఆకులు మేయగానే ఉపవాసమగునా?

This is a clever play on words or a 'podupu katha' (riddle). In Telugu, 'aku' can mean both a botanical leaf and a spoke or component of a wheel. While goats are known to eat almost any plant leaf, they cannot eat the wooden 'leaves' (spokes) of a cart or a spinning wheel. It is used to highlight wit or to describe something that seems impossible until a clever distinction is made.

This proverb is used to signify that certain attributes or qualities are essential to define a person's character or identity. Just as a mustache was traditionally seen as a mark of masculinity and dignity for a man, specific virtues or traits are what give value to an individual's personality.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone tries to satisfy a large need or perform a major task with a completely insufficient or petty action. Licking a ladle doesn't provide enough food to constitute a meal, yet it technically breaks a fast, resulting in the person losing the merit of the fast without gaining the satisfaction of eating.

This expression signifies that nothing in the universe happens without divine will or a supreme cause. It is used to convey that even the smallest events are pre-ordained or governed by a higher power. It is similar to the English saying, 'Not a leaf moves without God's will.'

This proverb is used to explain that certain things cannot be forced and require their own natural time to happen. Just as a raw fruit cannot be forced to ripen instantly through physical force or aggression, results in life often require patience and the right conditions rather than coercion.

This expression is used to highlight that merely being in a difficult or secluded environment doesn't imply a noble sacrifice or a meaningful penance (Vanavasam). It suggests that the purpose and spirit behind an action matter more than the physical location or surroundings. It is often used to critique people who pretend to be ascetic or heroic without having the actual depth or commitment.

The proverb refers to action taken after something harmful has already happened. It is always desirable to take proper precautions to avoid any undesirable developments rather than regretting after the event. Prevention, they say, is better than cure.

This proverb is used to explain that some things cannot be rushed or forced. Just as a fruit must mature naturally to be sweet, certain results, skills, or changes in behavior require time and internal readiness rather than external pressure or force.

This proverb is used to convey that an individual's inherent nature or character cannot be changed through external efforts or superficial modifications. Just as boiling neem leaves will never make them taste sweet like jaggery, a person with a fundamentally bad or stubborn disposition will not change their core traits easily.

This proverb is used to describe hypocrisy or false piety. Just as a crane stands still with its eyes closed not for prayer, but to patiently wait for a fish to hunt, some people act virtuous or religious only to hide their true selfish intentions or to wait for an opportunity to exploit others.