స్మశాన వైరాగ్యం ఒంటిపచ్చి ఆరినదాకే

In one’s life, health is more essential than material wealth and so it should not be neglected.

This proverb highlights that certain entities suffer significant loss or cause significant loss even with a small deprivation. For a cattle (pasaram), missing one meal affects its strength and milk yield immediately; for a Brahmin (traditionally dependent on ritual meals), missing one meal is considered a great loss of merit or hospitality. It is used to describe situations where even a small lapse can result in a substantial measurable deficit.

This expression emphasizes that life itself is the greatest wealth one can possess. It is used to provide perspective during financial loss or hardship, suggesting that as long as one is alive and healthy, they have the opportunity to rebuild and succeed.

This expression highlights the defining characteristics of two great Telugu poets and their contributions to art. Kshetrayya is famous for his 'Sringara Padalu' (romantic lyrics) which are so immersive that they lack 'Vairagyam' (ascetic detachment). Conversely, Siddhendra Yogi, the creator of Kuchipudi's Bhamakalapam, uses romance only as a medium for 'Bhakti' (devotion), meaning his work is purely spiritual and lacks worldly eroticism.

This expression refers to a state of total renunciation or disillusionment with worldly desires. It implies that when a person reaches a peak level of detachment (vairagya), they no longer view others through the lens of lust or social labels, treating everyone with the same respect or neutrality as they would their own mother. It is often used to describe someone who has completely lost interest in material or carnal pleasures.

This proverb highlights the traditional Indian perspective on food and health. It suggests that eating twice a day is a comfortable, pleasurable life for a common person (Bhoga), while restricting oneself to a single meal is a practice of self-control and spiritual focus (Yoga/Upavasa). It is often used to emphasize moderation and the benefits of fasting or controlled eating.

This expression describes 'temporary detachment' or fleeting moments of renunciation. It refers to how people suddenly feel spiritual or philosophical when facing extreme pain (childbirth), hearing holy scriptures (puranas), or witnessing death (funeral), only to return to their worldly habits and attachments shortly after the intensity of the moment passes.

The chamber of sickness is the chapel of devotion. Vows made in storms are forgotten in calms.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone's efforts lead to the exact opposite of the intended noble result. It refers to people who pretend to seek spiritual enlightenment or discipline but end up focusing on worldly or base desires instead.

This expression describes people with a malicious or opportunistic nature who look for weaknesses, flaws, or vulnerabilities in others to exploit them. Just as a fly ignores healthy skin and seeks out a sore to aggravate it, certain people ignore a person's virtues and focus solely on their mistakes or misfortunes to cause more trouble.

This expression refers to temporary or short-lived philosophical detachment or wisdom. 'Vallakati Vairagyam' refers to the fleeting feeling of renouncing worldly desires one feels at a funeral, while 'Puritali Vairagyam' refers to a woman's temporary vow never to have another child during the pain of labor. It is used to describe people who make sudden, serious resolutions during times of distress but quickly forget them once life returns to normal.