మున్నూరు రూపాయలిచ్చియైనా ముసలిదానిని కొనాల.

munnuru rupayalichchiyaina musalidanini konala.

Translation

One should buy an old woman even by paying three hundred rupees.

Meaning

This proverb emphasizes the immense value of experience and wisdom. In older times, 300 rupees was considered a very large sum, but the saying suggests that the guidance and counsel of an experienced elder are worth more than any price, as they help navigate life's challenges effectively.

Related Phrases

Even if the cow grows old, will the taste of its milk decrease?

This proverb is used to convey that the value of an expert's skill, the wisdom of an elder, or the quality of a core asset does not diminish just because of age. It emphasizes that intrinsic value and talent remain constant regardless of the passage of time.

An old woman who couldn't cope caught a thief and cried out.

This proverb describes a situation where someone who is already suffering or weak gets into even more trouble by taking on a burden or challenge they cannot handle, and then laments their fate. It is used to mock someone who unnecessarily invites trouble and then complains about the consequences.

A daughter-in-law who begs for a household of three hundred aunts.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where a person is overwhelmed by too many superiors, advisors, or authorities. When there are too many people giving orders or interference from many sides (metaphorically 300 mother-in-laws), the person at the bottom (the daughter-in-law) is reduced to a state of helplessness or poverty of spirit, unable to satisfy anyone.

An old man is fond of a young widow

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.

The drumstick tree has three hundred diseases.

This proverb is used to describe something that, despite having many benefits, is extremely fragile or plagued with numerous problems. Just as the drumstick tree is highly nutritious but prone to pests and easily broken, this expression refers to people or situations that require constant care and are always riddled with some issue or the other.

Three quarters worth of cloth and thirty rupees for the stitching.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where the maintenance or incidental costs of an item far exceed the actual value of the item itself. It highlights poor financial decisions or disproportionate spending on trivial things.

Even if you buy an ox for a thousand rupees, you still need a goad.

This proverb emphasizes that regardless of how expensive, high-quality, or capable a resource or person is, they still require guidance, discipline, or supervision to perform effectively. It is used to suggest that authority or a tool of control is necessary even for the best of assets.

There is no such thing as an old buffalo or an old Yenadi (tribesman).

This proverb is used to describe individuals who maintain their strength, productivity, or work capacity regardless of their age. It implies that certain beings remain robust and useful until the very end, suggesting that age is just a number for those with a strong constitution or work ethic.

After practising fencing for three months he thrust through the old woman in the corner. Learning to no advantage.

This proverb is used to mock someone who, despite extensive training or preparation, achieves a useless or cowardly result. It highlights the irony of misusing one's skills to harm the weak instead of accomplishing something significant.

Giving to an old woman and giving to a childless widow is the same.

This expression is used to describe an investment or a favor that yields no return or future benefit. In a traditional social context, it implies that providing for those who cannot reproduce or contribute back to the lineage is a dead-end expenditure.