వాద భ్రష్టుడు, వైద్య శ్రేష్టుడు

This proverb highlights that everything has its own specific value depending on its placement or context. Just as a thorny cactus makes an impenetrable boundary and fertile black soil produces the best crops, individuals or tools are most effective when utilized in the roles they are naturally suited for.

This expression emphasizes that maintaining one's integrity and moral standards is more important than financial or material success. It suggests that while losing money or property is a temporary setback, losing one's reputation or character (becoming 'bhrashtu') is a permanent failure. It is used to encourage ethical behavior even in difficult times.

This is a traditional saying used to point out contradictions in rules of ritual purity. It suggests that silk is considered perpetually 'pure' regardless of what touches it, often used as a metaphor to describe people who think they are above the rules or situations where status outweighs social stigma.

This expression is used as a piece of advice to avoid association with people of bad character. It suggests that interacting with malicious or evil-minded individuals will only lead to trouble, so maintaining physical and social distance is the best form of self-protection.

This is a witty play on words in Telugu. While 'daanam' usually means charity or donation, here it is paired with 'nidaanam' (patience/composure). The expression suggests that being patient and composed is a greater virtue than any act of giving material wealth. It is used to advise someone to stay calm and patient in difficult situations.

This proverb highlights the value of experience, reliability, and time-tested quality. Just as old wood burns better and aged water is settled, long-standing friendships are the most trustworthy and classic books contain timeless wisdom.

This proverb suggests that when bad people fight or disagree with each other, it results in a favorable outcome for good people. Their internal conflicts prevent them from uniting to cause harm to others, or their mutual destruction clears the path for the righteous to prosper.

This expression describes a situation where a person loses out on two different options or benefits by trying to straddle both or failing at a transition. It refers to someone who gives up their worldly life but fails to attain spiritual enlightenment, ending up with neither worldly comforts nor divine grace. It is used when someone's indecision or poor planning leads to a total loss of all possibilities.

This proverb suggests that for every predator, nature or fate provides a victim. It implies that a deceiver will always find someone naive or foolish enough to be deceived, often used to comment on how scammers always find targets.

This proverb emphasizes the power of fate and individual character. It suggests that when someone is destined for success or is truly fortunate, external attempts to harm them will fail. Conversely, if someone is morally corrupt or determined to ruin themselves, no amount of external help or advice can save them. It is used to describe situations where luck or inherent nature overrides outside influence.