నాయనకు పెండ్లి సంబరము, అమ్మకు సవతి సంకటము

nayanaku pendli sambaramu, ammaku savati sankatamu

Translation

The father celebrates the marriage, while the mother suffers the hardship of a co-wife.

Meaning

This proverb describes a situation where one person's joy or celebration causes direct misery or hardship to another. It is used to highlight conflicting interests or cases where an action is selfishly celebrated without considering the pain it inflicts on those closest.

Related Phrases

A game for the cat, a danger to life for the mouse

What is a trivial amusement or a sport for one person might be a matter of life and death or a serious struggle for another. It is used to describe situations where someone's casual actions cause severe distress or harm to someone else.

For the cat, fanciful play and for the mouse, mortal fear.

This refers to a situation when a powerful person/power attacks a weak person/power for self-glorification. It may be merely a (power)game for the powerful, but it will be a question of life and death for the weak.

Malayalam for friendship, Sambar for a relationship.

This expression is used to highlight situations where there is no logical connection between the components mentioned, or where someone makes a completely irrelevant or mismatched choice. It often mocks a lack of compatibility or a nonsensical pairing in social or business dealings.

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.

Handcuffs for the co-wife, weddings for me.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where one person rejoices or seeks personal gain from the misfortune or imprisonment of their rival or enemy. It highlights a lack of empathy and the presence of malicious joy (schadenfreude) in competitive relationships.

For the one who arrived, a warm welcome; for the one who didn't, many complaints.

This proverb describes a common human tendency where a person who is present is treated with respect or given tasks, while those who are absent or failed to show up are criticized or spoken of with long, complaining tones (ragalu). It is used to highlight how people often grumble about those who aren't there to defend themselves or how presence dictates treatment.

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

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.

[ The son ] is glad that his father has taken a second wife, but he little knows what quarrels there will be between her and his mother.

This proverb describes a situation where someone is blindly excited about a change or development because of a superficial or one-sided benefit, completely ignoring the hardship or suffering it will cause to others close to them. It is used to point out a lack of empathy or failure to see the bigger picture.

While planning for a son's marriage, one must also keep the maintenance of grandchildren in mind.

This expression highlights the importance of long-term thinking and foresight. It suggests that when making a major decision or commitment, one should not just look at the immediate event, but also prepare for the future responsibilities and consequences that will inevitably follow.