ProverbPedia

“Malayalam Proverb:
പുലി ഏകാദശി നോക്കിയാലും പാരണക്കു പശുതന്നെ”
— English Translation:
Even if a tiger observes the holy Ekadashi fast, it breaks the fast by slaughtering a cow. (Hypocritical pretenses of piety; a predator’s core nature remains lethal regardless of outward vows.)

“Malayalam Proverb:
പുകഞ്ഞകൊള്ളി പുറത്ത്”
— English Translation:
Cast the smoldering firebrand out of the house. (Expel a toxic, quarrelsome person from the community before their bitterness chokes everyone with smoke or sparks a blaze.)

“Malayalam Proverb:
പുല്ലിട്ടതീയും പുലയരെബാന്ധവും”
— English Translation:
A fire fed with straw and alliances with the fickle. (Flaring up into a bright, roaring blaze in an instant, only to die down and vanish just as quickly; lacking substance and endurance.)

“Malayalam Proverb:
പുഞ്ചപ്പാടത്തെ കുളം‌പോലെ”
— English Translation:
Like a deep pond in the middle of a wetland summer paddy field. (An indispensable reservoir of life and relief right in the heart of heavy toil.)

“Malayalam Proverb:
പുല്ലിൽ തൂകിയനെയ് (തവിടു) പോലെ”
— English Translation:
Like clarified butter (or rice bran) spilled onto wild grass. (Wasting precious, nourishing resources where they cannot be recovered or put to any useful purpose.)

“Malayalam Proverb:
പാലം കടക്കുവോളം നാരായണ, നാരായണ, പാലം കടന്നാൽ പിന്നെ കൂരായണ”
— English Translation:
Until the bridge is crossed, chanting "Narayana, Narayana"; once across, chanting "Koorayana!" (Lavishing sweet devotion and prayers while in desperate need, followed by mocking contempt and ingratitude the moment the crisis is passed.)

“Malayalam Proverb:
പിണംകണ്ട കഴുവെപോലെ”
— English Translation:
Like a vulture sighting a carcass. (Descending swiftly, greedily, and without pity upon someone else's misfortune to scavenge the remains.)

“Malayalam Proverb:
പാലവുംഇട്ടു, കൈവരിയും കെട്ടി, ഇനി എന്താണുകുറ്റം”
— English Translation:
Built the bridge and fitted the handrail too; what fault could possibly remain? (Having provided every conceivable facility, convenience, and safeguard, leaving no room for further complaint.)

“Malayalam Proverb:
പിണംചുട്ടാലും ഋണം ചുടാ”
— English Translation:
Even if the corpse is burned to ashes, the debt cannot be incinerated. (Financial obligations and moral liabilities outlive the individual, passing directly onto the heirs.)

“Malayalam Proverb:
പാലിനു പഞ്ചാര”
— English Translation:
Adding sugar to sweet milk. (Gilding the lily; enhancing something that is already delightful and excellent.)

“Malayalam Proverb:
പിന്നെയും ചങ്കരൻ തെങ്ങേൽ”
— English Translation:
Once again, Shankaran is up on the coconut palm! (Right back to square one; relapsing straight into the same old stubborn habits, blunders, or excuses despite all efforts to reform.)

“Malayalam Proverb:
പാലിൽപിഴെച്ചാൽ നീളെപിഴക്കും”
— English Translation:
If it goes wrong in the milk, it will be defective all the way through. (A flaw introduced at the foundational, embryonic stage corrupts every subsequent step of the enterprise.)

“Malayalam Proverb:
പിരകിലപറിച്ച പന്തിയിൽ”
— English Translation:
In a banquet row where the banana leaves have already been cleared away. (Arriving after the feast has concluded; missing the opportunity entirely and being left with bare ground.)

“Malayalam Proverb:
പാലുപകർന്നുനനെക്കിലുംകാഞ്ഞരം കാലെഭുജിപ്പാൻമധുരമായ് കാണുമോ”
— English Translation:
Even if nurtured with fresh milk at its roots, will the strychnine tree ever taste sweet when eaten? (Inherent bitterness and corrupt character cannot be reformed by luxury, indulgence, or kind treatment.)

“Malayalam Proverb:
പിറുക്കും കെറുക്കും ഒന്നു”
— English Translation:
Sullen muttering and deep resentment spring from the same root. (Petty whining and brooding malice are merely different outward faces of the exact same bitter discontent.)

“Malayalam Proverb:
പാൽപ്പായസംകുടിച്ചവനു പനങ്കാടിഎന്തിനാ”
— English Translation:
Why would one who has savored rich milk pudding ever crave sour palm-ferment? (Those accustomed to supreme quality and refined delights have no appetite for coarse, inferior substitutes.)