This proverb means that those who are close to one another, or live together, share not only positive experiences but also difficult times and faults. An English equivalent would be ‘If you play with fire, you get burned’. They must accept both the pleasant and unpleasant aspects of living together or being in close relationship, just as one who is near a pot gets covered with ashes. It acknowledges the complexity of human relationships and the need for tolerance and understanding.