సొమ్ముల ఆశ పాపం తెచ్చింది, చెడు ఆలోచన చేటు తెచ్చింది

This proverb refers to a person who, by joining or helping an enemy or an external force, inadvertently or intentionally causes the destruction of their own family, community, or group. Since the wooden wedge (kusi) helps the iron axe head stay firm to cut down trees, it symbolizes someone aiding in the downfall of their own origin.

This proverb highlights that societal recognition comes from generosity and noble actions. While the general public values greatness and virtue, a miserly person only values hoarding wealth or useless things (heaps), which have no real social value. It is used to contrast the difference between true greatness and selfish accumulation.

This expression is used to mock someone who undertakes a long, arduous journey or puts in significant effort, only to return with something useless, non-existent, or disappointing. Since donkeys do not lay eggs, it highlights the absurdity and futility of the person's claim or achievement after a grand endeavor.

This expression is used to describe making something private, hidden, or obscure suddenly public or highly visible. It often refers to exposing secrets or bringing a minor internal issue into broad daylight for everyone to see, often implying that the exposure was unnecessary or made the situation more complicated.

This proverb highlights the subjectivity of beauty and authority. It means that power determines what is right, and personal affection determines what is beautiful. Just as a king's word is final regardless of logic, a person's preference defines their standard of beauty or excellence, regardless of objective reality.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone performs a task that is vastly different in scale or nature from what was actually requested, usually due to a lack of understanding or excessive, misdirected effort. It highlights the mismatch between the instruction and the execution.

This expression is used to describe a person who, despite having access to something incredibly beautiful, divine, or valuable, chooses something mundane, cheap, or useless instead. Rambha represents the pinnacle of celestial beauty, while a spinning wheel (raatnamu) represents a common, laborious tool. It highlights poor judgment or a lack of taste.

This expression highlights the material expectations and value placed on relatives based on the assets or dowry they bring into a family. It implies that such individuals are often given more respect or importance because of their financial contribution. It is used to describe the transactional nature of some familial relationships.

This proverb is used to describe someone who goes on a long, arduous journey or undertakes a significant task, only to return with something trivial, worthless, or useless. It highlights the irony of putting in great effort for a meaningless result.

Great labour and small results.

This expression is used to describe a person or a situation that brings trouble, danger, or destruction along with them. Just as carrying live embers in a cloth is dangerous and will eventually burn the person carrying it, inviting a troublemaker or initiating a risky plan will lead to self-destruction.