సంసారం గుట్టు, రోగం రట్టు

This proverb advises that health issues should be disclosed openly to get the right treatment and support, whereas family matters or domestic conflicts should be kept private to maintain dignity and harmony. It is used when someone is being too secretive about their health or too open about their private family disputes.

This proverb suggests that health issues should be disclosed to others (especially doctors) to get help or a cure, but family problems or internal household matters should be kept private to maintain dignity and prevent gossip.

This expression highlights that a person's good character (Nalasaramu) and their family/domestic life (Samsaramu) are the two pillars of a respectable existence. It is used to emphasize that one's reputation depends equally on individual integrity and how they manage their household.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone is entrusted with something they cannot resist consuming or misusing. Just as a cat will immediately eat the prawns tied to its neck, a person placed in a position of temptation will inevitably succumb to it. It signifies a lack of trust or a foolish decision in delegating responsibility.

This expression is used to describe a person who appears strong, stubborn, or confident on the outside (the 'head') but lacks true substance, knowledge, or wealth on the inside (the 'stomach'). It can also refer to someone who is arrogant despite having no actual resources or merit.

This proverb emphasizes discretion in personal/family affairs and transparency in health. It suggests that family problems or private matters should be kept within the house to maintain dignity, whereas an illness should be disclosed openly so that one can receive advice, support, and proper treatment.

This expression describes items or individuals that are in their most effective or dangerous state. Just as a knife is most useful when sharpened (tari), a person (historically used in the context of a captive woman or 'kutthi' meaning a young woman/slave) is most vulnerable or completely under someone's control. In modern usage, it highlights the peak state of readiness or the absolute influence one holds over something.

This expression is used to point out that people who lack serious responsibilities or professional commitments often waste their time on frivolous activities, jokes, or playfulness. It implies that a busy person with a household to manage wouldn't have the luxury of such idle talk.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone gives a completely irrelevant, illogical, or absurd excuse. It highlights a disconnect between a cause and its effect, often used to mock someone who is lying poorly or trying to justify an impossible scenario.

This proverb describes the difficult relationships a woman may face in her marital home. It suggests that while the mother-in-law constantly nags or demands like a moneylender (mitti), the sister-in-law (specifically the husband's brother's wife) can be sharp, cutting, or hostile like a knife. It is used to express the domestic challenges and lack of peace in a joint family setting.