ఒంటి ఎద్దు సేద్యం - ఒరి కాలి నొప్పి

This proverb describes someone who sets ideal or impossible conditions before committing to a task. It highlights the tendency to blame external factors or demand perfect resources to justify one's willingness to work, implying that with such perfect comforts, anyone would be willing to do the job.

This proverb emphasizes the importance of resources and preparation over sheer skill or effort. It suggests that with the right tools or support (fertilizer/manure), even someone without much expertise (the fool) can achieve success in their task (farming).

This proverb is used to describe tasks or situations that require constant attention, effort, and resources. Just as a chronic illness needs continuous care and a garden requires daily maintenance to prevent it from withering, certain responsibilities or businesses demand unending vigilance to stay viable.

This proverb emphasizes that peace and health are foundational for success. If the woman of the house (the 'Aalu') is suffering or unhappy, the household cannot thrive. Similarly, if the ox used for plowing is weak or collapsed, the farming cannot move forward. It is used to highlight the importance of the well-being of those who anchor the home and profession.

This proverb highlights a recipe for complete ruin or waste. It suggests that if a father is a farmer and his son is a doctor, they might survive, but if they consume alcohol (or waste resources), everything they earn will be lost. It is often used to warn against addictive habits that destroy family legacies regardless of how hard the previous generation worked.

This is an agricultural proverb related to the lunar asterisms (Kartelu). It suggests that heavy rains during the Magha and Pubba periods are detrimental to crops. It implies that regardless of who is farming or how hard they work, the yield will be ruined (turned to dust/mud) if it rains excessively during this specific time of the season.

This proverb emphasizes the importance of treatment and happiness within a household and livelihood. It means that if a wife is unhappy or mistreated in a home, that family will face misfortune. Similarly, if a farmer ill-treats his oxen (making them suffer or 'cry'), his agriculture will not yield success. It is used to advise people to keep their family members happy and care for the animals/tools that provide their sustenance.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone who is causing harm or criticizing others does not understand the suffering they are inflicting. It highlights a lack of empathy from a tormentor towards their victim. It is often applied when someone makes a bad situation worse for another person without any regard for their feelings.

This proverb is used to emphasize that only the person who is actually experiencing a hardship or loss truly understands the pain of it. It is often said to people who offer superficial sympathy or advice without understanding the depth of another's struggle.

This proverb is used to describe things that are highly unreliable or unpredictable. Historically, subsistence farming depended entirely on the whims of rain, and friendship with soldiers (Turks) was seen as risky due to their unpredictable nature or shifting loyalties. It implies that certain ventures provide no security or stability.