కోర్టు కెక్కిన వాళ్ళు ఒకడు ఆవు కొమ్మును పట్టుకుంటే, ఇంకొకడు తోక పట్టుకుంటే, మధ్యలో వకీలు పొదుగు దగ్గర కూర్చున్నాడట.

kortu kekkina vallu okadu avu kommunu pattukunte, inkokadu toka pattukunte, madhyalo vakilu podugu daggara kurchunnadata.

Translation

When two people go to court, one holds the cow by the horns and the other by the tail, while the lawyer sits at the udder.

Meaning

This proverb highlights the exploitative nature of legal battles. While two parties fight each other (symbolized by holding the front and back of the cow), the lawyer is the one who ultimately benefits by milking the situation (taking their money/fees). It is used to advise people to settle disputes amicably rather than going to court.

Related Phrases

A pearl if touched, gold if held.

This expression is used to describe someone or something of exceptional quality, value, or purity. It is often used as a compliment for a well-behaved child, a virtuous person, or a piece of work that is flawless and precious.

One is Aggiramudu (Fire-Rama), and the other is Mairavanudu.

This expression is used to describe two people who are equally troublesome, dangerous, or difficult to deal with. It implies that both individuals are formidable in their own way, usually in a negative or mischievous sense, making them a destructive pair.

If it comes for free, he said he has another person of his own.

This proverb is used to describe human greed. It refers to a person who, upon finding something available for free, immediately tries to claim more for their family or associates, rather than being satisfied with what is given. It is used to mock people who exploit generosity or freebies.

Like catching a fox's tail to reach heaven.

This expression is used to describe a person who experiences sudden, unexpected good luck or success through a minor or unlikely connection. It mocks the idea that a trivial action could lead to a monumental achievement, or describes someone who believes they have achieved greatness through sheer luck rather than merit.

If one person pulls the trunk, another pulls the branch.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where multiple people are working at cross-purposes or interfering with each other's work. It highlights a lack of coordination where one person's actions are countered or complicated by another's unnecessary involvement, leading to inefficiency or failure.

When brought in as a cook, she sat on top of the house.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone who was hired or brought in to do a humble job ends up dominating the household or overstepping their boundaries. It refers to people who take undue advantage of the position given to them and start controlling the benefactor.

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.

Like Vasudeva going and holding the feet of a donkey

This expression refers to a situation where a person of high stature or capability is forced by desperate circumstances to seek help from someone much inferior or unworthy. It originates from the story of Krishna's birth, where his father Vasudeva, in a moment of extreme crisis, had to humble himself to ensure safety. It is used to describe doing whatever is necessary, even if it feels demeaning, to overcome a difficult obstacle.

When people go to court, if one person holds the cow's horns and the other holds the tail, the lawyer sits at the udder.

This proverb serves as a warning against litigation. It suggests that while two parties fight over a property (the cow) and waste their energy and resources holding onto it, the only person who truly benefits from the dispute is the lawyer, who extracts the profit (the milk) from both sides in the form of fees.

One is a whale, and the other is a leviathan.

This expression is used to compare two individuals who are both formidable or cunning, suggesting that if one is powerful, the other is even more so. It implies a competition between two equally strong or deceptive personalities.