పుణ్యానికి పెట్టే అమ్మా నీ మొగుడితో సమానంగా పెట్టుమన్నట్టు

punyaniki pette amma ni mogudito samananga pettumannattu

Translation

Like a beggar who said “O charitable lady, give me food like that which you give to your husband.” An absurd request.

Meaning

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone is receiving a favor or charity for free, but instead of being grateful, they start making excessive demands or expecting to be treated like a person of high importance. It highlights the audacity and lack of gratitude in demanding equal status or premium treatment when one is getting something for nothing.

Related Phrases

With many people death is equal to marriage. Applied to an honorable death in a good cause.

This proverb suggests that when a misfortune or hardship is shared by many, it becomes easier to bear. Just as a wedding is a communal celebration, facing a difficult situation as a group provides collective strength and comfort, making even a 'death-like' situation feel less burdensome.

Like asking the woman giving alms to give it for her husband too.

This expression is used to describe a person who, upon receiving a favor or charity, becomes greedy and asks for even more without any gratitude or sense of proportion. It highlights the behavior of taking undue advantage of someone's kindness or asking for double when one is already in a position of receiving help.

A slap in the face for knocking one's head against the wall.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone faces double trouble or a series of unfortunate events simultaneously. It conveys the idea of being hit by problems from multiple directions at once, leaving the person overwhelmed.

Misfortunes seldom come alone.

If you ask the sugar-cane to give you molasses will it do so? Strong measures must be used with stubborn folk.

This proverb is used to explain that processes take time and effort. You cannot get the final product (jaggery) directly from the source (sugarcane) without going through the necessary labor of crushing and boiling. It highlights that results require a systematic process and cannot be achieved through mere requests or shortcuts.

Like asking the woman giving alms to give it along with your husband.

This proverb describes a situation where someone makes an absurd or highly unreasonable additional demand when a favor is already being granted. It highlights extreme greed or lack of common sense when receiving help, suggesting that the requester doesn't know where to draw the line.

Born in Pubba, withered in Makha... Oh lady giving for free! Serve me as much as you serve your husband!

This expression describes the height of audacity or greed. It refers to a beggar who, instead of being grateful for a free meal, demands to be served the same portion or quality as the head of the household. It is used when someone receiving a favor starts making unreasonable or entitled demands.

There is no loss by rain, or poverty with a husband.

This proverb highlights that rain, even if it causes temporary inconvenience, ultimately brings prosperity and growth, making it never truly harmful. Similarly, in a traditional context, it suggests that as long as a woman has her husband's support and presence, she is not truly poor, emphasizing emotional and social security over material wealth.

The woman who serves/gives doesn't go to heaven just for that, and the woman who doesn't serve doesn't go to hell just for that.

This expression is used to highlight that charity or hospitality should be done out of genuine kindness rather than for spiritual rewards or out of fear of sin. It suggests that one's character and overall actions matter more than a single act of giving or refusing. It is often used to tell someone not to be too proud of their charity or too judgmental of others' lack thereof.

Like asking a mother who serves food for free to serve it along with your husband.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone is already receiving a generous favor or benefit for free, but they greedily or foolishly ask for even more, potentially offending the benefactor or pushing their luck too far. It highlights the lack of gratitude and the tendency to take kindness for granted.

Like asking a woman who gives charity to serve food equal to her husband's portion

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone is receiving something for free or as a favor, but instead of being grateful, they start demanding more or dictate how it should be given. It highlights the audacity of demanding high quality or large quantities when one is relying on another's charity.