పెట్టినమ్మ పుణ్యానపోదు, పెట్టనమ్మ పాపాన పోదు.

This proverb is used to describe a persistent problem, an unwanted guest, or a stubborn situation that refuses to go away despite several attempts to get rid of it. It refers to a nuisance that has overstayed its welcome.

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 proverb is used to describe a rare or highly unlikely event occurring due to someone's good fortune or virtuous speech. It suggests that when something auspicious happens, even the impossible (like a branch in the west blooming) becomes possible. It is often used to comment on unexpected positive outcomes or the power of kind words.

This expression describes a situation where everything is perfectly prepared and ready for immediate use without any effort from the newcomer. It is often used to describe someone who marries into a well-established, wealthy household where all comforts are already available, or a situation where one steps into a role where all the hard work has already been completed by others.

This is a historical caste-based proverb used to suggest that certain inherent traits, habits, or reputations cannot be altered or hidden regardless of how much effort one puts into cleaning or changing themselves. It reflects the social prejudices of the time regarding intrinsic nature.

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 proverb describes a person who neither does a good deed themselves nor allows others to do it. It is used to criticize dog-in-the-manger behavior where someone obstructs progress or charity despite having no intention of contributing themselves.

Said by a beggar of one from whom he generally received alms.

In Telugu culture, eating on a banana leaf or a stitched leaf plate (vistari) is traditional. This expression highlights the virtue of hospitality; it means that even a small act of providing a plate or assistance to someone in need of food earns one great spiritual merit (punyam), similar to the act of providing the actual meal itself.

This proverb describes a social irony where resources or gifts tend to flow towards those who are already wealthy or powerful, rather than to those in need. It highlights that everyone seeks to please the rich, while the poor are often ignored or even forced to give up what little they have to those above them.

This proverb highlights human psychology and bias based on self-interest. It refers to a person who praises those who have given them something (even something small like a vegetable creeper or a palm leaf) while being critical or intolerant of those who have plenty but have not shared anything with them yet. It is used to describe how people's perceptions of others are often colored by the benefits they receive.