వారవనిత ధనికు చేరదీయగగోరు

This expression emphasizes the value of self-reliance and the satisfaction derived from one's own honest labor. It suggests that a small amount earned or produced through one's own effort is more gratifying and honorable than a large amount obtained through other means or dependency.

This proverb describes the irony of human nature where, instead of detaching from worldly pleasures and material possessions with old age, one's cravings and attachments often become more intense. It is used to comment on someone who becomes increasingly greedy or obsessed with worldly affairs in their later years.

This expression means that a person's negative traits or villainous nature are often only exposed or defined by the specific harmful actions they take against others. It is also used to suggest that certain events or outcomes are inextricably linked to specific actions or causes; without the catalyst (the captivity of Sita), the consequence (the downfall and recognition of Ravana as a villain) would not have occurred.

This proverb is used to mock people who take things too literally or misunderstand context by focusing only on the phonetics of a word. 'Kadiyala' is a common Telugu surname, but the listener confuses it with the jewelry 'Kadiyalu' (bracelets), showing a lack of common sense or social awareness.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone introduces an unnecessary or troublesome innovation to a simple, existing habit, ultimately making it more complicated or ruining it. It refers to a story where people used to drink comfortably, but a metalsmith (brazier) made a vessel that required tilting in an awkward way, spoiling the ease of the act.

* Unns vir nullus vir. † Xelw kexira vniptis, dákntulós te dákntulon. ‡ Candae pilos, equino paulatim oportet evallere.

This expression describes someone who has suffered through prolonged, excruciating illness or hardship for a long time before finally passing away or reaching a state of absolute misery. It is used to emphasize a journey of continuous suffering where death or the final outcome feels like a tragic end to a painful process.

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 is used when a desired outcome occurs naturally or coincidentally through someone else's actions or suggestions. It describes a situation where what you wanted to happen is exactly what was offered to you, often used when an excuse or a suggestion perfectly aligns with one's hidden intentions.

This proverb suggests that certain things in life cannot be forced or coerced. Just as a woman's affection must be genuine and voluntary to be meaningful, a poem must flow naturally from the heart of a poet rather than being manufactured or forced. It is used to emphasize that beauty, art, and love are only authentic when they occur spontaneously and willingly.

This expression refers to 'Taravani' (the water drained from cooked rice and fermented overnight), personifying it as a nourishing mother. In Telugu culture, it signifies the humble yet highly nutritious food that sustained poor or rural families, emphasizing simplicity, health, and gratitude for basic sustenance.