నామము నియమము చేటు

This proverb suggests that external displays of piety or religious symbols do not necessarily change one's internal character or worldly desires. It is used to point out hypocrisy or to emphasize that true change must be internal rather than superficial.

This proverb highlights that outward displays of piety or religious symbols do not necessarily change one's internal character or base desires. It is used to point out hypocrisy or the futility of using external rituals to mask internal flaws.

This expression serves as a warning against managing or meddling with public or religious funds/property. In a traditional context, it implies that handling temple administration (Manayam) often leads to false accusations, spiritual downfall, or great difficulty in maintaining absolute honesty, thus suggesting it is better to avoid such positions of public trust where integrity is easily questioned.

This expression highlights the helplessness of common people when the person in supreme power becomes corrupt or unjust. It is used to describe situations where institutional failure at the top level leaves subordinates or citizens with no recourse for grievance.

This is a traditional agricultural proverb. It means that if it rains during the 'Arudra Karti' (a specific solar mansion period in June), it is so auspicious for farming that the harvest will be plentiful across vast distances (amadas). It highlights the critical importance of timely monsoon rains for a successful agricultural cycle.

This expression is used when an action taken with good intentions or for the sake of discipline/piety backfires and leads to unexpected trouble or loss. It signifies a situation where following a ritual or a rule strictly results in one's own undoing.

This proverb highlights the transitory or unreliable nature of certain things. Just as the castor oil plant is too small and thin to provide substantial or lasting shade, a son-in-law's primary allegiance is to his own family, making his presence in the natal family's affairs temporary or unreliable in the long run. It is used to caution against over-dependence on people or things that lack depth or permanence.

This expression refers to the inevitable coexistence of opposites. Just as light is always accompanied by shadow, life in a community or village involves both support and interference, or pros and cons. It is used to describe how certain things are inseparable or how one must accept the bad with the good.

This expression suggests that intense desire or lust does not care for timing, circumstances, or appropriateness. It is used to describe a state where a person's impulses override their judgment of when and where it is suitable to act.

In Telugu culture, the maternal uncle (menamama) holds a position of great responsibility and affection, often seen as a protective surrogate for the mother. This proverb emphasizes that even in the absence of a mother, a maternal uncle can provide the necessary support, guidance, and security to a child.