ముద్ద ముద్దకూ బిస్మిల్లా

This expression is used to describe someone who pauses or restarts a process unnecessarily at every small step, or asks for permission/guidance far too frequently. It refers to the redundancy of repeating a starting ritual (Bismillah) for every bite of a meal instead of saying it once at the beginning.

This proverb is used to emphasize impartiality and equality in family relationships. It points out that a grandfather shares the same biological bond with all his grandchildren, regardless of whether they are born to his son or his daughter, suggesting that one should not show favoritism based on lineage.

This proverb describes a situation where an elderly person becomes overly attached to or obsessed with someone or something unsuitable or inappropriate for their age. It is often used to criticize elderly men who pursue younger women, or more broadly, to point out the irony of developing new, intense cravings at a late stage in life when they should be focused on other matters.

This proverb describes how people find value and companionship in lesser things when the most desired or ideal thing is missing. In a house without children, a cow calf is treated with love like a child. In a house with no assets or livestock at all, even a buffalo calf is considered a great treasure. It is used to highlight how one's circumstances define the value of what they possess.

This expression is used to describe a mismatch or a situation where two incompatible things are brought together. Just as hot water melts butter and destroys its form, some associations or environments are inherently destructive to a person's nature or well-being. It is often used to warn against entering into relationships or situations that are fundamentally unsuitable.

When a person is suffering, the other person is pleased. It shows the extreme inhumanness of certain people. Even if one cannot help others in their difficulties, at least they should not derive pleasure out of them. (If in the interrogative mudda, it signifies that one doesn’t care for another’s pain. Even that attitude is undesirable.)

This expression is used to question whether someone values the end result and productivity (pani) or if they are more concerned with the effort and hardship (paatu) involved. It is often used to remind someone that the outcome is what matters most, or to ask if they are willing to endure the struggle to get the reward.

This expression is used to describe an impossible or extremely difficult task involving bringing together people or things that have a tendency to scatter or remain individualistic. Just as tiny, round mustard seeds roll away and cannot be easily formed into a solid ball, it refers to the difficulty of achieving unity or consensus among a group of disjointed entities.

This expression means that it is much easier to teach, influence, or mold something young, fresh, or new than something that is old and set in its ways. It is often used to describe how children learn faster than adults or how a new mind is more receptive to new ideas than an experienced one with preconceived notions.

This expression is used to describe an impossible or extremely difficult task. Mustard seeds are small, round, and slippery; trying to pack them together into a solid ball without a binding agent is futile. It signifies attempts to unify people or things that naturally tend to disperse or remain individualistic.