మొదటి పెండ్లి అవసరము, రెండో పెండ్లి అవివేకము, మూడో పెండ్లి అపస్మారకము

modati pendli avasaramu, rendo pendli avivekamu, mudo pendli apasmarakamu

Translation

The first marriage is a necessity, the second marriage is a folly, and the third marriage is madness.

Meaning

This proverb comments on the social and practical aspects of remarriage. It suggests that while the first marriage is a fundamental part of life and duty, a second marriage often stems from a lack of judgment or poor decision-making, and pursuing a third marriage is seen as a sign of complete loss of sense or desperation. It is used to caution people against repeatedly seeking marriage after failures.

Related Phrases

Your marriage is rubbish, come to my marriage and betel.

This expression describes a person who is extremely selfish and dismissive of others' priorities. It refers to someone who ignores the importance of another person's significant event (like their own wedding) while demanding they attend and participate in his own affairs.

They said your wedding is ruined, so come to my wedding to collect the ritual betel leaves (tamboolam).

This expression is used to describe a person who is extremely insensitive or selfish. It refers to a situation where someone ignores another person's tragedy or loss and instead asks them for help or participation in their own celebration. It highlights a complete lack of empathy.

He said, 'Your wedding is ruined anyway, so come and hold the torches for my wedding.'

This expression is used to describe a person who is extremely selfish and lacks empathy. It refers to someone who, instead of comforting or helping a person in a crisis, tries to exploit that person's misfortune for their own personal gain or service.

The day after the marriage the goddess of misfortune appeared in the face of the bridegroom. The bridegroom looked a poor creature when stripped of all his finery.

This expression is used to describe someone who looks unusually gloomy, dull, or miserable during a time that is supposed to be joyful or celebratory. 'Peddamma' (Jyestha Devi) symbolizes misfortune or lethargy, contrasting with the expected happiness of a newlywed.

For the wedding party, it's a festive bustle; for the one with muddy feet, it's a heavy burden hanging on.

This proverb highlights how different people perceive the same situation based on their personal circumstances. While a wedding is a joyous celebration for the family, the laborer or the person tasked with hard work (the one with muddy feet) only experiences the exhaustion and the weight of the tasks. It is used to describe situations where one person's celebration is another person's struggle.

Glad that father is getting remarried, but worried about the strife of a stepmother for mother.

This expression describes a bittersweet or conflicting situation where one aspect brings joy but another aspect brings significant trouble or pain. It is used when a benefit to one person causes hardship for another close to them, creating a dilemma where one cannot fully celebrate.

When asked how his marriage is half-finished, he said, 'I am ready as the groom, only the bride is needed for the other half.'

This humorous proverb is used to describe someone who claims to be halfway through a task when they have actually done nothing but be available. It mocks people who show excessive confidence or claim progress despite lacking the most essential components or cooperation of others to complete a task.

Like saying, 'May your wedding be ruined, but come and hold a torch at mine.'

This expression describes a person's extreme selfishness and lack of empathy. It refers to someone who curses or wishes ill upon others, yet shamelessly expects those same people to help them or serve them in their own endeavors.

Can there be a marriage without flour and a procession ?

This proverb highlights that certain essential elements or preparations are indispensable for an event to take place. Just as ritual flour drawings (prolu) are fundamental to a traditional wedding ceremony, certain core requirements must be met before claiming a task is complete or starting an endeavor.

Indispensable accompaniments.

When an elderly bridegroom was jokingly asked to say something funny, he replied " All the married ladies who have come to the marriage are my old wives." A person making himself ridiculous.

This proverb is used to describe someone who lacks common sense or humility, and instead of taking a compliment or a suggestion gracefully, they respond with an absurd, arrogant, or inappropriate remark. It mocks a person who, despite being in an awkward or late-stage situation (like an old man getting married), acts with unearned overconfidence or makes foolish claims that embarrass themselves.