సకల శబ్దాది గోత్రాణాం, పుల్లమ్మ పుత్రాణాం

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 expression describes someone who claims to be an expert in everything but lacks true focus or mastery in a specific trade. It refers to a person who tries to perform multiple roles (like a village head or accountant—Karanum) such as supervising livestock, managing communications, and bookkeeping, often used to mock someone who meddles in every task without doing any properly.

This proverb is used to mock someone who possesses great theoretical knowledge or wisdom but lacks common sense or basic practical discipline. It highlights the irony of a learned person behaving in an uncivilized, improper, or uneducated manner despite their high status or education.

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 relationship where two parties know each other's secrets, habits, and history intimately because they spend all their time together. It is used to suggest that one cannot hide anything from a close associate or that those who work closely together have a deep, mutual understanding of each other's affairs.

This expression is used to highlight that charity or hospitality should be done out of genuine kindness rather than for spiritual rewards or out of fear of sin. It suggests that one's character and overall actions matter more than a single act of giving or refusing. It is often used to tell someone not to be too proud of their charity or too judgmental of others' lack thereof.

This proverb is used to describe predators or exploiters who wait for the right moment to strike. Just as a wolf studies the habits and backgrounds of both the sheep and the shepherds to find a weakness, cunning people observe their targets and their protectors to find an opportunity to take advantage of them. It highlights that an enemy's interest in your details is usually for malicious purposes.

This expression refers to grief or sorrow that is artificial, short-lived, or disproportionate to the actual loss. In traditional contexts, it suggests that the mourning for an adopted child might not be as deep or lasting as the mourning for a biological child. It is used to describe someone who is overacting or pretending to be deeply affected by a situation that doesn't truly concern them or shouldn't cause such intense sorrow.

This proverb describes a situation where someone commits a small, insignificant offense or takes a trivial gain that results in a disproportionately large amount of conflict or enmity with an entire group of people. It is used to caution against actions where the 'cost' of social backlash far outweighs the 'benefit' of the act.

This proverb highlights that execution, presentation, or final delivery is often more recognized or appreciated than the hard work behind the scenes. In a practical sense, it means that even if someone does all the labor (cooking), the person who manages the final distribution or interaction (serving) often gets the credit or gratitude. It is used to describe situations where the person at the final stage of a process holds more influence.