తినడానికి దారి లేదు కానీ, తనవారికి తద్దినాలట

tinadaniki dari ledu kani, tanavariki taddinalata

Translation

There is no way to get food to eat, but he wants to perform funeral rites for his kin.

Meaning

This proverb describes a situation where a person lacks the basic resources for their own survival but attempts to perform expensive or grand tasks to impress others or fulfill social obligations. It is used to mock someone who ignores their primary responsibilities while pretending to be charitable or traditional.

Related Phrases

The death anniversary ritual performed by a prostitute's son for his father.

This proverb is used to describe a situation or task that is impossible to perform because the essential information is missing. Since a prostitute's son may not know his biological father, he cannot perform the specific ritual ('Taddinam'). It refers to futile efforts or tasks that lack a logical starting point.

Like a bastard performing his father's annual ceremonies.

This expression is used to describe an act that is fundamentally hypocritical, logically inconsistent, or performed by someone who has no legitimate right or genuine respect for the tradition they are following. It refers to doing something just for outward appearance while the very identity or situation of the person contradicts the act itself.

Like crying and getting a death anniversary performed.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone performs a task or fulfills an obligation with great reluctance, lack of interest, or while complaining, rather than doing it willingly or happily. It implies that the person is doing something just for the sake of finishing it, often ruining the spirit of the activity.

No way to afford food, but pearls for matchmakers.

This proverb is used to describe someone who lacks basic necessities or is in poverty, yet indulges in extravagant or unnecessary expenses to maintain a false status or vanity. It highlights the irony of poor financial priorities.

There is no food to eat, but Champaca oil for the mustache.

This proverb is used to describe a person who lacks basic necessities or is in poverty, yet indulges in unnecessary luxuries or maintains a false sense of pride and status. It highlights the irony of someone prioritizing vanity over survival.

More than a monthly memorial, less than an annual death anniversary ritual.

This expression is used to describe something or someone that is mediocre, caught in the middle, or not quite fitting into any specific category. It refers to a situation that is more than a small event but not significant enough to be a major one, often implying that it is neither here nor there.

Poverty has too many words, a funeral ceremony has too many curries.

This proverb is used to criticize people who talk excessively to cover up their lack of substance or resources. Just as a feast of many curries at a funeral ceremony is seen as wasteful or inappropriate, unnecessary talk from a person who cannot provide results is viewed as a sign of incompetence or pretense.

Like serving one's own people on leaves and others in plates.

Traditionally, eating on a leaf was considered superior or more respectful than a plate. This expression describes showing favoritism or partiality, where someone treats their close relatives or favorites with special care while neglecting or being formal/distant with others.

A copper coin for the person who left, a gold coin for the one who brought them together.

This proverb is used to highlight unfair or disproportionate rewards. It describes a situation where the person who actually did the work or was involved gets a very small amount (Agani), while the mediator or the one who arranged the deal gets a much larger reward (Tankam). It is often applied to middlemen taking excessive commissions.

Like losing both the meal at home and the meal for the journey.

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone tries to gain from two different options but ends up losing both due to indecision, poor planning, or greed. It is similar to the English idiom 'falling between two stools.'