ProverbPedia

“ തട്ടാൻ തൊട്ടാൽ പത്തിന്നെട്ടു (എട്ടാൽ ഒന്നു)”
English Translation:
If the goldsmith touches it, only eight parts in ten remain (or one part in eight is skimmed). (A traditional folk caution against the inevitable cut or commission shaved off whenever dealing with dishonest intermediaries.)

“ കടയ്ക്കൽ = മൂട്ടിൽ”
English Translation:
[Linguistic gloss from source text: “Kadakkal” signifies at the root, base, or trunk.]

“ മുള്ളിന്മേൽ ഇലവീണാലും ഇലമേൽ മുളളുവീണാലും നാശം ഇലെക്കു”
English Translation:
Whether the leaf falls upon the thorn or the thorn falls upon the leaf, the injury is always to the leaf. (The fragile and defenseless always bear the damage when clashing with sharp, ruthless power, regardless of who initiated the contact.)