కోడికి కులాసం లేదు, కోమటికి విశ్వాసం లేదు.

kodiki kulasam ledu, komatiki vishvasam ledu.

Translation

A fowl has no happiness and a Kômaṭi has no feeling. The Kômaṭis are a class of shopkeepers.

Meaning

This proverb describes the inherent nature of certain entities. It suggests that a hen is always busy scratching the ground for food (never resting), and traditionally implies that in business, a merchant prioritizes profit over personal loyalty or trust. It is used to describe situations where constant restlessness or self-interest is expected.

Related Phrases

The faith of a Kômaṭi. Faithlessness.

This expression refers to a double-edged or unreliable trust. It is used to describe a situation where someone's loyalty or commitment is solely dependent on their own profit or benefit, suggesting that their allegiance may shift as soon as the circumstances are no longer advantageous to them.

The trust of a delicate woman is like friendship with snakes.

This traditional expression suggests that some people's loyalty or trust can be unpredictable and dangerous. It is used to caution someone about placing complete faith in individuals who might be fickle or potentially harmful, drawing a comparison to the inherent danger of befriending venomous snakes.

There is no light like the eye, and there is no support like the earth.

This proverb highlights the fundamental necessities of life. It signifies that our eyes are the primary source of vision (enlightenment) and that the earth/soil is the ultimate foundation for all living beings, providing food and stability.

There is no place without an end, and no beginning without an origin.

This philosophical expression emphasizes the cyclical and interconnected nature of existence. It suggests that everything that exists occupies space and must eventually conclude, and every start has a preceding cause or source. It is used to describe the continuity of life, the laws of nature, or the inevitability of consequences based on origins.

A job without a salary is like a poem without emotion.

This proverb highlights that certain things are meaningless or futile without their core essential element. Just as a poem is dry and unappealing without 'rasa' (emotion/aesthetic flavor), a job or service is useless if it does not provide 'grasam' (sustenance/livelihood). It is used to describe a situation that lacks its primary purpose or reward.

Neither a string nor a top.

This expression is used to describe someone who lacks any ties, responsibilities, or assets. It often refers to a person who is roaming aimlessly without any sense of direction or accountability, or to a situation that is completely disorganized and lacks a proper basis.

A job without fodder (sustenance) is like a life without a mustache.

This proverb highlights that a job or position that doesn't provide enough income for basic survival is useless and lacks dignity. In traditional context, a mustache was seen as a symbol of pride and honor for a man; similarly, a job's primary purpose is to provide livelihood, and without that, it holds no value or respect.

There is no god greater than the husband.

A traditional Telugu proverb emphasizing the sanctity of marriage in ancient Indian culture. It suggests that for a devoted wife, her husband is the supreme deity. It is used to describe total devotion, loyalty, and respect within a marriage, though in modern contexts, it is often cited when discussing traditional values or historical social norms.

A heron is not bound to one pond, a merchant is not bound to one village.

This proverb describes the nature of opportunism or necessity. Just as a heron moves from one pond to another in search of fish, a businessman or merchant moves from village to village to find the best market. It is used to suggest that people who seek specific goals or profits will go wherever the opportunities are best, rather than staying in one fixed place.

There is no sin in times of danger/adversity.

This proverb suggests that in life-threatening or extreme crisis situations, standard moral rules or rigid religious restrictions may be overlooked for survival. It is similar to the concept of 'Necessity knows no law.' It is used to justify an unconventional action taken during an emergency that would otherwise be considered wrong.