కుక్కదానం పట్టి అయినా కుటుంబాన్ని పోషించాలి.

kukkadanam patti ayina kutumbanni poshinchali.

Translation

One must support the family even if it means accepting the alms meant for a dog.

Meaning

This proverb emphasizes the supreme importance of family responsibility and survival. It suggests that no work or method of earning is too lowly or humiliating when the goal is to provide for one's family's basic needs. It highlights the duty of a provider to swallow their pride for the sake of their dependents.

Related Phrases

As if everything spun became cotton again.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where a lot of hard work or effort results in zero progress, or when things return to their original raw state despite the labor put in. It signifies wasted effort or a futile exercise where the end product is no better than the starting material.

When the dog which had eaten [ the food ] ran off, he caught hold of another dog and broke its leg. Making the innocent suffer for the guilty.

This proverb describes a situation where the actual culprit escapes, and an innocent person who happens to be nearby is punished for the crime. It is used to highlight injustice or a lapse in judgement where the wrong person is held accountable for someone else's mistake.

Lusting after vomited food.

This proverb is used to describe a person who returns to something they once rejected or discarded with disgust. It highlights a lack of self-respect or dignity when someone seeks out a thing, person, or position they previously deemed worthless or beneath them.

Don't send even your enemy near a dog which has vomited, or a bitch which has pupped.

This proverb highlights situations of extreme irritability and danger. A dog that has vomited is often sick and unpredictable, while a dog with newborns is fiercely protective and aggressive. It teaches that one should not put anyone—even a foe—into a situation where certain harm or irrational fury is expected.

Whether it is a wooden cat or a clay cat, the one that catches the mouse is the real cat.

This expression emphasizes pragmatism and results over appearance or origin. It suggests that the effectiveness or utility of a person or a tool is more important than its form, cost, or status. It is used to convey that the end result is what truly matters in evaluating a solution.

Touch-me-not plant

Literally referring to the Mimosa pudica plant, this expression is used to describe a person who is extremely sensitive, shy, or gets easily offended or hurt by even the slightest comment or touch.

A sharpened knife and a woman in captivity.

This expression describes items or individuals that are in their most effective or dangerous state. Just as a knife is most useful when sharpened (tari), a person (historically used in the context of a captive woman or 'kutthi' meaning a young woman/slave) is most vulnerable or completely under someone's control. In modern usage, it highlights the peak state of readiness or the absolute influence one holds over something.

Like devouring the one who does not protect.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone who is expected to provide help or protection instead causes harm or destruction. It refers to a betrayal of trust or a scenario where a person's lack of support leads to an even more predatory or damaging outcome.

Are you to devour the man who has protected you ?

This expression is used to convey a sense of loyalty and gratitude. It highlights that one should never harm or betray their benefactor or savior. It is often used to show a commitment to integrity even when facing temptation.

Save a thief from the gallows, and he will be the first to cut your throat.

Like pouring spindles into a corn measure. A noiseless operation.

This expression is used to describe an extremely noisy, chaotic, or restless situation. Just as putting metal spindles into a measuring vessel causes them to rattle and create constant noise/movement, it refers to people or things that cannot stay still or quiet.