సాలెజాండ్ర సభామధ్యే సాతానిః పండితాయతే | ఉల్లీవనసమూహేషు జోరీగః కోకిలాయతే ||

This proverb is used to emphasize that an object's or person's inherent nature cannot be changed just because of outward similarities or pretension. Just as an onion's smell prevents it from being a jasmine, and a crow's appearance doesn't make it a melodic cuckoo, intrinsic traits define true character.

This is a humorous or sarcastic expression used when someone performs a task or a ritual incompletely, or when they try to pass off a simple action as a significant achievement. It is often used to mock someone who performs only the easiest part of a job while ignoring the essential or difficult parts.

This proverb describes a situation where an incompetent or unqualified person is placed in a position of leadership or praise simply because no one else is available or because the environment is of low quality. Just as a horsefly might be mistaken for a melodic cuckoo in a smelly onion garden, an outsider or misfit might lead a group where they don't truly belong or where standards are low.

This expression describes a situation where a weak or insignificant person stays close to a powerful and dangerous person to act tough or harass others, relying on the tiger's presence for protection. It is used to mock someone who derives their confidence solely from their association with a powerful figure.

This expression is used to describe a situation where a child of a highly learned or intelligent person turns out to be unintelligent or foolish. It highlights the irony that talent or wisdom is not always inherited.

This expression describes a person who is a total misfit or an impostor in a particular setting. It refers to someone who lacks the necessary knowledge or qualifications to be in a specific group, such as an uneducated person trying to participate in a scholarly debate or an ordinary person pretending to be an expert.

This is a humorous proverb based on a linguistic misunderstanding. In Telugu, 'కని' (Kani) means 'having seen/found', but it also sounds like 'కాని' (but). Furthermore, the listener confused the word 'Hanuman' with the 'Satani' (the person reading the text). It is used to mock people who misinterpret words due to ignorance or who listen to a discourse without paying proper attention to the subject, focusing instead on irrelevant or phonetically similar words.

This proverb describes a hypocrite or a person who changes their behavior based on self-interest. It refers to someone who behaves like a common worker (uppara) when it comes to serving or eating food to get their fill, but puts on the facade of a learned scholar (pandita) when in a public assembly to gain respect.

This expression refers to someone who stands out as superior, talented, or graceful while surrounded by ordinary or inferior people. It is used to describe a person of quality in an environment where others lack that same refinement or skill.

This expression is used to describe a situation where a weak or insignificant person stays close to a powerful person to feel important, or to describe a constant, annoying presence that bothers someone much more powerful than themselves.