గొడ్డువాడు గొడ్డుకు ఏడిస్తే, గొడారివాడు తోలుకు ఏడ్చినాడు

godduvadu godduku ediste, godarivadu toluku edchinadu

Translation

When the owner cried for the cow [he had lost,] the shoe- maker cried for the hide.

Meaning

This proverb describes a situation where one person is mourning a great loss while another person is only interested in how they can selfishly profit from that tragedy. It highlights the contrast between genuine grief and cold-hearted opportunism.

Notes

It is an ill wind that blows nobody good.

Related Phrases

You are teazing me and crying for cakes and your back is crying for a whipping. Said by a father.

This proverb describes a situation where someone is being overly demanding or spoiled due to excessive affection, while the reality of their situation or their behavior is actually inviting punishment. It is used to caution against over-indulging children or individuals who do not realize that their stubbornness will lead to negative consequences.

After the whole of the cattle had been stolen from the shed, the barren buffalo became as valuable as Mahâ Lakshmi ( the goddess of fortune ).

This proverb describes a situation where someone tries to hide a loss or find false consolation by valuing something worthless only after their valuable assets are gone. It is used when someone suddenly appreciates a useless item or person simply because they have nothing better left, or when making excuses for a failure.

When thieves drive away a whole shed full of cattle, even a barren buffalo is considered Goddess Lakshmi.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone who has lost everything suddenly realizes the value of the little that remains. It highlights how people ignore or undervalue their possessions when they have plenty, but start treating even the most useless or insignificant remnant as a precious treasure once a disaster strikes.

The man who lost the oil cried, and the cocoanut man cried bitterly. A bullock laden with pots of oil belonging to one man and unpeeled cocoanuts belonging to another rolled over. The pots broke, but the cocoanuts were none the worse. The first man cried quietly, but the second was loud in his lamentations. Making a fuss about nothing.

This proverb describes a situation where someone with a minor or insignificant loss (or no loss at all) makes a much bigger scene than the person who suffered a genuine, significant loss. It is used to mock those who overreact or feign distress for attention when they have little at stake compared to others.

Like having leather at a cobbler's place.

This expression describes a situation where something is available in abundance but is often in a state of disorder or not put to proper use for oneself. It refers to a person who has plenty of resources related to their profession but lacks the finished product for their own personal use, or more generally, someone who possesses resources but cannot manage them effectively.

When the children cried for food, the grandmother cried for a husband. Wishing for something quite unsuitable to one's age.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone is being incredibly selfish or insensitive, focusing on their own inappropriate or secondary desires while others around them are suffering from a basic, urgent crisis.

* Chi l'ha per natura, fin alla fossa dura.

When the belly cried for food, the hair cried for flowers.

This proverb describes a situation where there is a stark contrast between basic needs and superficial desires. It is used when someone asks for luxuries or trivial things while another person is struggling for basic survival or facing a serious crisis.

When the father cried for his child, the sexton cried for his money.

This proverb describes a situation where different people have completely different priorities based on their self-interest. While one person is suffering a deep emotional loss (the death of a child), another person involved is only concerned with their own petty material gain or professional fee (the cost of the burial). It is used to highlight human selfishness or the lack of empathy in business transactions during tragic times.

Crows bewail the dead sheep and then eat them.

When the legitimate child cried for bran ( the poorest food ) the illegitimate child asked for an ornament.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone with no legitimate claim or status demands luxuries or expensive items, while those who are actually entitled or in need are struggling for basic necessities. It highlights the audacity of making unreasonable or extravagant demands when the basic needs of others are not being met.

An unreasonable request at an inopportun time.

A tanner's bargain is a profit for the cattle.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where a bargain or deal is so poor or delayed that it ends up benefiting the subject rather than the parties involved. In the context of a cobbler (godari) bargaining for a dying animal, if the negotiation takes too long, the animal might die naturally or be spared, resulting in no deal. It refers to unproductive negotiations or stingy behavior that results in a loss of opportunity.