పీనుగకు చేసిన జాతర

This proverb is used to express that doing a favor for someone who is inherently jealous or hostile (often referring to rival family members or 'palivaru') is a waste of effort. Just as decorating a corpse is useless because it cannot appreciate or return the gesture, helping an ungrateful or malicious rival will never result in gratitude or a positive outcome.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where the expenses or taxes associated with an event are so high that they exceed the value or benefit of the event itself. It highlights a scenario where every person, regardless of age or status, is charged excessively, making the endeavor unaffordable or illogical.

This expression is used to highlight that ordinary greatness cannot be compared to divine or absolute righteousness. It implies that while a king acts based on power or politics, Rama's actions were governed by 'Dharma' (morality). It is used when comparing two things where one is clearly superior in quality or character.

This proverb highlights tasks that are futile and result in no appreciation or lasting benefit. Just as decorating a corpse is useless because the body is lifeless, working for a royal palace (or a fickle authority) often goes unrewarded and unrecognized, regardless of the effort put in. It is used to describe thankless jobs or wasted labor.

This proverb highlights the feelings of guilt and shame. Just as a person who owes money avoids the lender out of embarrassment, a person who has done something wrong lacks the courage or confidence to face others directly. It is used to describe the loss of dignity or boldness resulting from wrong actions or financial burdens.

This expression refers to a futile or meaningless action. It describes an effort that is wasted because the recipient or the situation cannot benefit from it, just as makeup or jewelry is useless on a dead body.

This expression is used to describe a person who is extremely greedy or has a huge appetite when it comes to consuming resources or food, but becomes completely useless, lazy, or inactive when it is time to do any work.

This expression refers to a wasted effort or a pointless celebration. Just as organizing a grand festival or carnival for a dead person is useless and provides no benefit to the subject, it describes actions taken or resources spent where they are completely unappreciated or ineffective.

A vain ceremony.

This proverb describes efforts or investments that yield no results or benefits. Just as staying awake (vigil) for a dead body serves no purpose and feeding a barren cow results in no milk, it is used to describe wasted labor or futile actions.

This expression is used to describe an action or expenditure that is completely useless or wasted. Just as ornaments and makeup on a dead body do not bring it back to life or serve any practical purpose, certain efforts in life yield no results or benefits.

A foolish undertaking. He paints the dead.