జీతములేని నౌకరు, కోపములేని దొర.

jitamuleni naukaru, kopamuleni dora.

Translation

[Where] the servant [is] without pay the master [must be] without anger.

Meaning

This proverb highlights a situation that is ideal but often unrealistic or ineffective. It suggests that a servant working for free and a boss who never gets angry are both rarities that may lack the necessary discipline or structure required for a formal relationship. It can also imply that certain roles require specific traits to be functional.

Related Phrases

A poem without sweet diction is like a bride without grace.

This expression highlights the importance of aesthetic beauty and eloquence in art. Just as a bride's charm is incomplete without grace and elegance (vilasamu), a literary work or poem (kavyam) is considered lifeless or unappealing if it lacks melodic, sweet, and well-chosen words (manjulalapamu). It is used to emphasize that form and style are as essential as content.

There is no place without an end, and no beginning without a source.

This philosophical expression emphasizes the cycle of life and the law of causality. It suggests that everything that exists has a boundary or conclusion, and every event or start has a fundamental root or origin. It is often used to describe the interconnectedness of time, existence, and the universe.

A king without courage, a minister without judgment.

This proverb describes a failing or ineffective leadership system. It highlights that a leader who lacks the bravery to take risks or stand firm, paired with an advisor who lacks strategic thinking or foresight, will inevitably lead to the downfall of a kingdom or an organization.

A mean-spirited servant is in no danger [ of losing his life. ]

This proverb suggests that a person who lacks self-respect or a sense of honor is rarely disappointed or deceived because they do not have high standards or expectations to be betrayed. It is often used to criticize someone who lacks the courage to stand up for themselves, implying that while they might stay safe, they lack dignity.

A bell without sound, a crop without grain.

This expression refers to something that lacks its core essence or purpose. Just as a bell is useless if it cannot ring and a crop is worthless if it doesn't yield grain, any object or person that does not fulfill their fundamental function is considered ineffective or hollow. It is used to describe wasted effort or decorative things that have no practical value.

A farm without a tree, a village without a relative

This proverb highlights the feeling of isolation and lack of support. Just as a farm without a tree offers no shade or respite for a farmer, a village where one has no relatives or friends offers no emotional support or belonging. It is used to describe situations where one feels lonely or lacks a support system in a particular place.

There is no house without a pillar, and no house without a quarrel.

This proverb is used to convey that disagreements and minor arguments are a natural, inevitable part of family life. Just as a physical structure needs pillars (pagadamu) for support, human relationships naturally involve friction (jagadamu). It suggests that one should not be overly distressed by small domestic disputes as they are universal.

A village without discipline is like a lake without an embankment.

This proverb highlights the importance of rules, leadership, and discipline in a community. Just as a lake without a boundary or embankment cannot hold water and will eventually go dry or cause destruction, a village or society without moral or legal constraints will fall into chaos and ruin.

A prostitute without eloquence is like a calculation without multiplication.

This proverb highlights that certain professions or tasks require specific core skills to be effective. Just as a mathematical problem cannot be solved without multiplication (logic/process), a person in a social or persuasive role is ineffective without the art of speech (eloquence). It is used to describe situations where a fundamental element is missing, rendering the whole effort useless.

A spinning wheel without cotton rolls is like a struggle without a husband.

This proverb highlights the futility or lack of purpose in certain situations. Just as a spinning wheel (raatamu) is useless without cotton slivers (eekulu) to spin, a domestic conflict or struggle (poratamu) in a household lacks traditional resolution or foundation in the absence of the husband (the head of the household in the historical context of the saying). It is used to describe a situation that is incomplete, ineffective, or leading nowhere.