పలకమ్మ పున్నానికి పడమటి కొమ్మ పూస్తుంది

This expression is used to describe someone who is firm, reliable, and strong. A tamarind branch is known for its extreme flexibility and strength (it doesn't break easily), whereas a drumstick branch is very brittle and snaps quickly. It is used to compliment someone's resilience or to indicate that a task or person is more formidable than they appear.

This proverb highlights the irony and unfairness in certain transactions or interpersonal dynamics. The person who gives or lends something is often timid, weak, or hesitant (like a fly) when asking for it back, while the person who received it becomes aggressive, demanding, or fierce (like a tiger) when it is time to return the favor or the item.

This is an agricultural proverb indicating the timing of harvests. It suggests that by the time of Kartika Purnima (a full moon day in the lunar month of Kartika), the monsoon crops are ready for harvest or reaching their final stage. It is used to describe the seasonal cycle and the predictability of agricultural yields based on the lunar calendar.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where a person is coaxed or dared into speaking, but once they start, they speak excessively or reveal too much. It suggests that once a silence is broken or a person is provoked to talk, there is no stopping the flow of words or the resulting consequences.

This proverb refers to a person who is strictly business-minded and focuses only on profit without showing any generosity or performing deeds for spiritual merit. It is used to describe someone who treats every interaction as a commercial transaction and never offers anything for free or out of kindness.

This expression is used to highlight that charity or hospitality should be done out of genuine kindness rather than for spiritual rewards or out of fear of sin. It suggests that one's character and overall actions matter more than a single act of giving or refusing. It is often used to tell someone not to be too proud of their charity or too judgmental of others' lack thereof.

This proverb is used to mock people who pretend to be extremely generous or religious while performing rituals with insignificant or disproportionate offerings. It highlights hypocrisy or 'penny-pinching' behavior when one claims to be doing something grand but the actual contribution is negligible compared to the scale of the claim.

This expression is used to describe a situation where an accessory, a side issue, or a minor detail overshadows the main person or subject. It is often applied when someone wears ornaments or clothes that are disproportionately large for their stature, or when the overhead costs of a project exceed the actual value of the project itself.

This proverb is used to describe someone who is stubborn or persistent in their stance. Tamarind branches are strong and flexible, making them hard to break, whereas drumstick branches are brittle and break easily. It implies that the person has taken a firm hold of a situation or opinion and will not let go or be easily defeated.

This proverb emphasizes that it is difficult to change one's habits, learn new skills, or be productive in a specific way once they have reached a certain age or stage in life. It is equivalent to the English proverb 'You can't teach an old dog new tricks.' It suggests that discipline and learning should happen while one is young and flexible.