పిల్లికి చెలగాటం, ఎలుకకు ప్రాణ సంకటం

This proverb emphasizes the importance of gratitude and reverence. It suggests that if one cannot show respect or devotion to their own mother (the primary giver of life), they should at least show it to the sacred Tulasi plant, which is considered a universal mother figure in culture. It is used to remind someone to maintain a sense of spirituality or basic respect even if they fail in their primary duties.

This refers to a situation when a powerful person/power attacks a weak person/power for self-glorification. It may be merely a (power)game for the powerful, but it will be a question of life and death for the weak.

This proverb describes a situation where one person's joy or celebration causes direct misery or hardship to another. It is used to highlight conflicting interests or cases where an action is selfishly celebrated without considering the pain it inflicts on those closest.

This expression is used to warn someone that they are engaging in a very dangerous or risky activity that could lead to severe consequences or self-destruction. It is typically used when someone is underestimating a serious threat.

This proverb emphasizes the value of freedom and self-reliance. It states that being independent is a heavenly experience, whereas being dependent on others or living under subjection is as painful and suffocating as a life-threatening crisis. It is used to encourage autonomy and highlight the misery of servitude.

This proverb describes a situation where one person's amusement or casual action causes extreme suffering or danger to another. It is used to highlight the power imbalance and lack of empathy in certain interactions, reminding people that what is 'just fun' for one might be a matter of survival or deep distress for another.

This proverb highlights that suspicion or doubt can be as agonizing and dangerous as a fatal illness. It is used to describe situations where a person's constant distrust or lack of faith in someone or something leads to extreme mental agony, ruins relationships, or creates unnecessary complications that feel like a matter of life and death.

This proverb emphasizes the essential quality that gives value or 'life' to certain things. It teaches that a word is only meaningful if it is true, a person's character is defined by their dignity and honor, and a document or letter only gains legal or formal validity through a signature.

This expression is used to describe a very large number of children in a single family. It refers to the mythological figure Kuchela (Sudama), a childhood friend of Lord Krishna, who was famously poor and lived with his wife and twenty-seven children.

This expression is the Telugu equivalent of 'Easier said than done'. It is used to point out that while it is easy to give advice or make promises, it is much harder to actually put those words into action or carry out the task.