రోతలకు రోత ముదిమి

This proverb highlights that certain things are inherently unpleasant or undesirable. Stagnant well water loses its freshness and becomes unhealthy, just as goat's milk is often considered less desirable or 'smelly' compared to cow's milk in traditional contexts. It is used to describe things that have lost their quality over time or are naturally unappealing.

This proverb emphasizes the importance of dignity and responsibility. It suggests that living without self-respect or social honor is loathsome. Additionally, it highlights the traditional social expectation that a man must be capable of providing for and protecting his wife, failing which his existence is seen as futile or disgraceful.

Generally, people are attracted by the new (especially, fashions in dress and the like) and tend to dislike the old. It is similar to the saying in English: “familiarity breeds contempt.”

This expression refers to a situation where a mediator takes advantage of two quarreling parties for their own gain. It is based on a fable where a monkey, asked to settle a dispute between two cats over a piece of bread, eats the entire bread bit by bit while pretending to equalize the portions. It is used to warn against letting a cunning third party intervene in a dispute.

This proverb describes the human tendency to quickly get bored with old, familiar things and become easily fascinated by anything new. It is often used to comment on people who abandon traditions or long-term possessions in favor of the latest trends, or when someone loses interest in something they once valued.

This expression refers to things that are considered unhealthy or unpleasant. Stagnant water from an old, neglected well is unsafe to drink, and goat's milk was historically considered inferior or unpalatable compared to cow or buffalo milk in certain contexts. It is used to describe situations or choices that are equally undesirable.

This proverb is used to describe the physical deterioration that comes with extreme old age. It suggests that once youth and middle age are gone, the body shows three signs: white hair, white cataracts in the eyes, and pale or colorless skin/teeth. It is used to comment on the inevitable physical changes in the final stages of life.

This expression is used to describe a person's selfishness or double standards. It highlights a situation where someone takes the lion's share or the best part of something for themselves while offering only a small, insignificant portion to others.

This proverb highlights the loss of self-respect one faces when staying permanently at a spouse's home (typically referring to a son-in-law) without any financial independence or status. It is used to advise people to maintain their dignity and self-sufficiency rather than relying on their in-laws' hospitality after losing their own means.

This proverb is used to describe things or people that are extremely stubborn or difficult to deal with due to their age or maturity. Just as an old branch is hard to bend, an old tree trunk is hard to cut, and an old fish is difficult to catch or cook, this expression highlights that seasoned entities possess a resilience or rigidity that makes them unyielding.