డబ్బుకు లోకం దాసోహం

dabbuku lokam dasoham

Translation

The world is a slave to money.

Meaning

In the commercial world of ours, all become slaves/worshippers of money. The proverb cautions against the excessive power of money over human psychology and tries to advise people to consider other values in life as well.

Related Phrases

A person without courage is of no use even with money.

This proverb highlights that courage and self-confidence are more valuable than material wealth. It is used to describe a situation where a person, despite having financial resources, cannot achieve anything or defend themselves because they lack the necessary boldness or character.

To the eyes of a person with jaundice, the whole world appears yellow.

This expression is used to describe a person who is biased or prejudiced. Just as a jaundice patient sees everything through a yellow tint regardless of the actual color, a person with a particular mindset or flaw projects their own views and biases onto everything and everyone else they see.

Husband's world is her world; son's world is the afterlife.

This traditional proverb highlights the different roles family members play in a woman's life according to historical social norms. It suggests that while a husband is a woman's primary companion and focus during her lifetime, a son is seen as the one who ensures her spiritual salvation and peace in the afterlife through the performance of last rites and rituals.

There is a link between money and life.

This expression is used to describe a person who is extremely stingy or miserly. It suggests that for such individuals, parting with their money is as painful or difficult as losing their life. It highlights a deep, inseparable attachment to wealth.

[One who can tell] a hundred lies, [one who can tell] a thousand lies. Ten times as bad.

This proverb is used to convey that no matter how many difficulties or challenges (poverty/troubles) one faces, there are always ways to overcome them. It emphasizes human ingenuity and the availability of endless solutions to any number of problems. It is often used to encourage creative problem-solving in desperate situations.

A link between money and life.

This expression highlights that money and life are deeply interconnected. It is used to describe situations where financial stability is essential for survival, or conversely, when one risks their life for financial gain. It implies that people value their wealth as much as their life, or that wealth is the 'lifeblood' of one's existence.

Why should the naked fear the world?

This expression is used to describe someone who has nothing left to lose and therefore acts without fear of social consequences, shame, or judgment. Similar to the English proverb 'A beggar can never be bankrupt,' it suggests that once a person is at their absolute lowest or has shed all pretenses, they become immune to the typical fears of society.

The hand that comes for a small coin (dabbu) will also come for a gold coin (varaha).

This proverb is used to warn that a person who starts with small dishonest acts or petty thefts will eventually gain the audacity to commit much larger crimes. It highlights how bad habits or greed escalate over time if not checked early.

The hand which touches a Dabb, will touch a pagoda. A man who is dishonest in trifles will not be scrupulous in greater matters. He that will steal an egg will steal an ox.

This expression means that if someone develops a habit of stealing or greedily taking small amounts of money, they will eventually progress to committing much larger thefts. It is used as a warning that bad habits or petty crimes, if left unchecked, will inevitably lead to more serious consequences and greater greed.

A man without money is not even worth a dubbu.

In this context, 'Dubbu' refers to a low-denomination copper coin used in the past. The proverb means that a person without financial means is often disregarded by society and treated as worthless or useless. It highlights the harsh reality of how social status is frequently tied to wealth.