పొంగే పాలు, వెలిగే దీపం ఆరరాదు

This is a popular Telugu proverb (sameta) equivalent to 'Make hay while the sun shines'. It advises people to make use of opportunities while they are available and to complete tasks while the favorable conditions last.

This proverb highlights the importance of context and necessity. It suggests that the value of something (like help, knowledge, or resources) is only realized when there is a problem or a deficiency to address. It is often used to explain that greatness or solutions are only recognized in the presence of challenges.

This expression is used to describe an action that is untimely, inappropriate, or creates a nuisance. Just as playing a loud drum in the middle of the night disturbs others and is out of place, it refers to doing something at the wrong time or in the wrong context.

This expression is used to describe a situation where a student, protégé, or child surpasses their teacher, mentor, or parent in fame, skill, or status. Even though the source (the lamp) was small, the outcome (the torch) is much more powerful and bright.

This expression is used to describe a situation where something small, insignificant, or inferior is compared to or placed in front of something vastly superior and brilliant. It highlights how the smaller object's light is completely overshadowed and made redundant by the larger one's brilliance.

This expression is used to suggest that if a person remains silent when asked a question or confronted with a proposal, it can be interpreted as their tacit approval or partial agreement. It implies that silence serves as a substitute for a 'yes' when no objection is voiced.

This expression highlights the importance of a woman (wife/mother) in maintaining the harmony, prosperity, and happiness of a family. Just as a lamp dispels darkness, a virtuous woman is seen as the light that guides and sustains the household.

This expression describes the seasonal transition in the Telugu states. It signifies that by the time of the Diwali festival, the winter season is just beginning to set in, and the cold is mild or minimal, metaphorically compared to the small heat or size of a lamp's flicker.

Even a small lamp can give a wide glow. Physical size does not always lead to insignificant actions. It is the largeness of purpose that makes the act big.

This expression is used to describe a situation where excessive efforts, resources, or emotions are wasted and do not benefit the person involved. Just as milk that overflows from a pot is lost to the stove rather than being consumed, wasted potential or unnecessary extravagance yields no useful result.