బూడిదలో చేసిన హోమము

budidalo chesina homamu

Translation

Like pouring out an offering on ashes.

Meaning

This expression refers to a futile effort or a wasted act. In Vedic rituals, a 'Homam' (fire sacrifice) must be performed in a consecrated fire for it to be effective; performing it in cold ashes yields no result. It is used to describe tasks where the outcome is zero despite the effort put in.

Notes

A useless or unprofitable work.

Related Phrases

Rising off the ground and fencing in the air. If you loose your footing you will loose your power. ( Brown's Tel. Dict. )

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone attempts to do something without a solid foundation or ignores basic, practical realities. It highlights the foolishness of trying to achieve advanced results while neglecting the fundamental roots or necessary support systems. Similar to 'building castles in the air'.

Like a dog lying in the warm ashes. Keeping quiet for a while, but soon returning to mischief.

This expression is used to describe a person who settles into a comfortable or lazy situation and refuses to move or take up responsibilities. Just as a dog finds warmth in a pit of warm ashes and remains there stubbornly, it refers to someone who is stagnant and indifferent to their surroundings or progress.

The sin which a man commits goes with his body, the sin which his mother commits goes with the earth. This is interpreted to mean that if a man commits the sin of adultery, his crime may be expiated by a punishment equal to loss of life, but if a woman is guilty of the same offence, it clings to her descendants as long as the world endures.

This proverb highlights the depth of maternal influence and consequences. It suggests that while an individual's misdeeds might only affect their own physical being or lifespan, a mother's actions have far-reaching, generational effects that impact the lineage or the land itself. It is used to emphasize the heavy responsibility of a mother's conduct.

Like mixing unripe tamarinds with Gôgu greens. Gôgu or Gôngguṛa is the Hibiscus Cannabinus. A combination of evil persons.

This expression describes a situation where something unnecessary or redundant is done, particularly when one sour ingredient is added to another already sour base. It is used to mock actions that are repetitive or when someone tries to over-emphasize a point that is already clear.

The pregnancy gift goes to the ashes, and the housewife goes to others.

This proverb describes a situation of extreme misfortune or poor management where one's efforts and assets are completely wasted or lost. It specifically refers to a scenario where the customary gifts given during pregnancy (sudida) are squandered or ruined, and the mistress of the house is neglected or ends up serving others. It is used to highlight total domestic ruin or the irony of losing everything due to negligence.

Perfume thrown into ash.

A fruitless effort is one that does not achieve what one sets out for.

Ash is the medicine for a donkey's wound

This expression is used to describe a simple, crude, or inexpensive solution for an unworthy or trivial problem. It implies that a high-quality or expensive remedy is not needed for something of low value or for someone who doesn't appreciate it.

Like trying to get rice by pounding empty husk.

This proverb describes a futile or useless effort. Just as pounding empty grain husks (chaff) will never yield rice regardless of how much labor is put in, this expression is used when someone is wasting time on a task that has no possibility of a productive outcome.

When a donkey was bathed with sacred Bhogi water, it went and rolled in the ashes.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone is given a great opportunity, luxury, or reform, but they return to their old, crude, or bad habits. It highlights that inherent nature (Pravrutti) is difficult to change regardless of the honors bestowed upon them.

Making mustard seed into a ball. An impossible combination.

This expression is used to describe an impossible or extremely difficult task. Mustard seeds are small, round, and slippery; trying to pack them together into a solid ball without a binding agent is futile. It signifies attempts to unify people or things that naturally tend to disperse or remain individualistic.