పని ముద్దా, పాటు ముద్దా?

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 highlights the human tendency to cherish secondary outcomes or subsequent generations more than the original source. Just as a moneylender might value the accumulating interest over the original capital, grandparents often feel a deeper, more indulgent affection for their grandchildren than they did for their own children.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone experiences frequent interruptions or obstacles right at the beginning of every small step or action. It refers to a person who keeps starting over or hesitating constantly, making no real progress.

This expression highlights how people favor those who align with their personal interests or bring them status. In a traditional household, a daughter-in-law's position is strengthened by her son, while a mother-in-law often favors her son-in-law as he is a guest and a reflection of her daughter's well-being.

This expression describes a state of extreme poverty or a hand-to-mouth existence. It refers to someone who has just enough to satisfy their basic immediate needs—a single meal and a tiny lamp for light—but possesses no savings, security, or surplus for the future.

Just because someone is close to you or related to you, it doesn't mean their harmful actions or nature won't hurt you. This expression is used to warn that one should maintain boundaries even with loved ones, as fire remains fire regardless of ownership.

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 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 is used to describe human nature where individuals are often self-centered, prioritizing their own comfort, affection, or benefits over others'. It suggests that people are naturally more interested in their own well-being than in reciprocating or acknowledging the needs of those around them.

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.