దరిద్రుడి పెళ్ళికి వడగళ్ళ వాన.

daridrudi pelliki vadagalla vana.

Translation

For the wedding of an impecunious (a poor) man, a hailstorm.

Meaning

This refers to the bad luck of an unfortunate person. When one is in misery, additional troubles come upon one and make one’s life more miserable.

Related Phrases

Shani (Lord of misfortune) sleeps too much, while the poor man is always hungry.

This expression highlights ironical or unfortunate traits that exacerbate a person's problems. It suggests that just as laziness (excessive sleep) is attributed to Shani, hunger is the constant companion of the poor. It is used to describe situations where people have excessive needs or habits that prevent them from overcoming their difficulties.

A poor man has many children.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where person who is already struggling with limited resources or misfortune ends up with more burdens or responsibilities that further complicate their life. It highlights the irony of how difficulties often seem to multiply for those who can least afford them.

When an unfortunate person went to wash his head, it started hailing.

This proverb is used to describe a person with extreme bad luck. It implies that whenever an unlucky person tries to do something simple or good for themselves, unexpected obstacles or disasters arise to spoil it.

Like going to a wedding while carrying water (neeyi) in one's armpit.

This expression is used to describe a person who carries unnecessary baggage or clings to something burdensome while going to an important or celebratory event. It highlights the absurdity of holding onto something that hinders one's enjoyment or ease during a significant occasion.

No matter which river bank an unfortunate person goes to, they only catch thorny fish.

This proverb describes a person plagued by persistent bad luck. It suggests that for someone truly unfortunate, their misery or lack of success follows them wherever they go, regardless of the opportunities or resources available at a new location.

When the poor man was about to anoint his head, it began to hail. Difficulties always attend an unfortunate person. He who is born to misfortune stumbles as he goes, and though he fall on his back will fracture his nose. (German.)

This proverb describes a streak of extreme bad luck. It is used when a person who is already suffering or in a poor state attempts to improve their situation or do a simple task, only to be met with an even bigger, unexpected disaster that makes things worse.

Like a person who has been poor for three generations coming to beg.

This proverb is used to describe someone who, despite having long-standing experience in a state of lack or misfortune, still manages to be clumsy, greedy, or inefficient when an opportunity finally arises. It often refers to someone who doesn't know how to handle a situation even after being in it for a very long time, or someone whose deep-rooted habits make them over-eager in a way that is counterproductive.

Like the moon rising for the mother-in-law's wedding

This expression is used to describe an event or an action that is completely unnecessary, redundant, or occurs at a highly inappropriate and absurd time. Since the 'mother-in-law' is already married (otherwise she wouldn't be a mother-in-law), having a wedding for her is nonsensical, and the moon rising for it adds an extra layer of mock-grandeur to something useless.

A poor man has many children

This proverb is used to comment on how those with the least resources often face the most additional burdens or responsibilities. Historically, it reflects the observation that poverty and large families often went together, but in a modern context, it is used more broadly to describe a situation where someone who is already struggling is further overwhelmed by more problems.

A poor man's wife is a sister-in-law to the whole village.

This proverb illustrates how people in power or those with higher social status often take liberties with or lack respect for those who are vulnerable or lack protection. It suggests that when someone is poor or weak, everyone feels entitled to treat them with over-familiarity or disregard their dignity.