బోయవాడికొకడే ప్రభువా, బోగందానికొకడే మగడా

boyavadikokade prabhuva, bogandanikokade magada

Translation

Is there only one lord for a hunter, or only one husband for a courtesan?

Meaning

This proverb is used to indicate that certain people or entities cannot be expected to remain loyal to just one master or partner. It suggests that for some, loyalty is flexible or divided among many, often used in a cynical or realistic context regarding politics or professional allegiances.

Related Phrases

One flower for every house, one garland for the God.

This expression emphasizes the power of collective effort and unity. It suggests that while an individual's contribution might seem small or insignificant (like a single flower), when everyone contributes together, it results in something grand and magnificent (like a beautiful garland for God). It is used to encourage community participation or teamwork.

One word for a person, one lash for an animal.

This proverb is used to emphasize that a sensible person should understand and act upon a verbal instruction or warning given once, whereas an animal requires physical force (a lash) to be controlled. It is often said to someone who doesn't listen despite repeated advice.

The word of the people is the ruler's fortress.

This proverb highlights the power of democracy and public opinion. It means that a leader's true strength and security lie in the support and will of the people they govern, rather than in physical walls or weapons. It is used to emphasize that a ruler must listen to their subjects to remain successful.

While one person was crying because his house was on fire, another was crying because his body was burning.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where two people are experiencing different levels of distress, or when someone brings up a personal grievance that seems trivial or misplaced in the context of a much larger disaster. It highlights the irony of individual suffering and the lack of mutual understanding during a crisis.

Only the man who has deep affection/infatuation is a true husband.

This proverb emphasizes that a man's worth as a husband is defined by the love, care, and attraction he shows toward his wife, rather than just his title or authority. It is used to suggest that emotional devotion is the hallmark of a good spouse.

He that ate prospered, and he that prospered became a Ma- hârâja.

This proverb emphasizes that health is the greatest wealth. It means that a person who can eat well (is healthy and has sufficient resources) is the one who can endure or live long, and such a healthy person is as happy and powerful as a king. It is often used to highlight the importance of nutrition and physical well-being over material riches.

When one is crying because his house is on fire, another is crying because his body is burning.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where two people are experiencing suffering, but their problems are of completely different scales or natures, making it impossible for them to console each other. It can also refer to a situation where someone is bothered by a trivial personal matter while another person is facing a major catastrophe, highlighting a lack of shared perspective or misplaced priorities during a crisis.

One who hides behind a pillar, one who goes away, and one who never returns once gone.

This is a riddle describing the three main functions of a human being: The pillar-hider is the body (which stays in one place), the one who goes is the breath (inhaling and exhaling), and the one who never returns once gone is the life force or soul (Atma). It is used in philosophical or spiritual contexts to reflect on the transient nature of life.

One who hides behind a pillar, one who goes like that, and one who goes and never returns.

This is a traditional riddle (podupu katha) describing the process of a human birth and death. It refers to the father (pillar), the child (coming into the world), and the soul or life breath (which never returns once it leaves). It is used to describe the cycle of life and the transience of human existence.

A husband for appearances only, not for providing happiness.

This proverb is used to describe a situation or person that looks competent or sufficient on the outside but fails to fulfill their primary responsibilities or provide the expected benefits. In a literal sense, it refers to a spouse who maintains the social status of marriage but fails to provide emotional, physical, or financial support. Metaphorically, it is used for any object or person that is decorative but useless in practice.