కోతిచావు - కోమటి అంకు
kotichavu - komati anku
Death of a monkey - Mourning of a merchant
This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone pretends to be deeply saddened or concerned about a loss, but their grief is insincere or motivated by selfish reasons. Historically, a merchant might mourn a monkey not for the animal itself, but for the business loss if the monkey was a performer or attracted customers.
Related Phrases
కోమటి విశ్వాసము
komati vishvasamu
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.
చావుకు చావు ఉన్నదా?
chavuku chavu unnada?
Does death have a death?
This expression is used to signify that something is eternal, inevitable, or that a particular cycle or entity cannot be destroyed. It often implies that a fundamental reality or a recurring problem cannot be ended or killed off simply.
కోమటి నిజము
komati nijamu
A Kômaṭi's truth.
This expression refers to a 'truth' that is ambiguous, non-committal, or deceptive. It is used to describe a situation where someone gives a diplomatic or evasive answer that seems honest but hides the actual facts to avoid trouble or profit-seeking, much like the stereotypical cleverness attributed to traditional traders.
ఉల్లి తిన్న కోమటి ఊరకున్నట్లు
ulli tinna komati urakunnatlu
Like the merchant who stayed silent after eating onions
This expression describes a situation where someone remains silent or acts as if nothing happened because they are trying to hide a mistake or a guilty secret. In the proverb, a merchant (traditionally avoiding onions for religious/social reasons) eats one and stays quiet to avoid the smell giving him away.
కోమటి సాక్ష్యం
komati sakshyam
A merchant's testimony
This expression is used to describe a statement or evidence that is intentionally vague, non-committal, or deceptive. Just as a merchant might avoid taking a firm side to protect their business interests, 'Komati Sakshyam' refers to a testimony where the speaker avoids giving a direct answer or tries to please both parties without revealing the truth.
కోమటి సాక్ష్యము
komati sakshyamu
A Kômaṭi's evidence. A story is told of a Kômaṭi who, when asked to identify a horse about which a Mussalman and Hindu were quarrelling, said the forepart of it looked like the Mussalman's horse and the hindpart like the Hindu's.
This expression refers to a statement or testimony that is ambiguous, non-committal, or clever enough to avoid taking a definitive side. It is used to describe a situation where someone speaks in a way that protects their own interests while technically answering a question, often leaving the listener in confusion.
కోమటి ఇల్లు కాలినట్టు
komati illu kalinattu
Like the burning of a Kômaṭi's house. A heavy loss.
This expression is used to describe a situation where someone experiences a significant loss or problem but chooses to remain silent or suffers in secret without crying out for help, usually to avoid revealing their hidden wealth or secrets. It implies a quiet or concealed catastrophe.
అరే గడ్డితినే కోమటీ అంటే, యేమోయి బెల్లంతినే సాయెబూ అన్నాడట; అట్లా అంటివేమి కోమటీ అంటే, అతనికి అది వాడుక నాకు యిదివాడుక అన్నాడట.
are gadditine komati ante, yemoyi bellantine sayebu annadata; atla antivemi komati ante, ataniki adi vaduka naku yidivaduka annadata.
"Hollow! grass-eating Kômati," said [ a Mussulman ], "Well! molasses-eating Śāhib," replied [ the shopkeeper ]: "How is it you speak in this way?" asked [ a bystander ], "He is accustomed to that and I to this," said [ the Kômati.] i. e. He meant to say that the Mussulman was accustomed to grass and he to molasses.
This proverb highlights that one's speech and behavior reflect their own character rather than the character of the person they are addressing. It suggests that even if someone insults you with low-class language, you should maintain your dignity and respond with courtesy, as your words define who you are.
కోతి చస్తే గోడ అవతల పారేసినట్లు
koti chaste goda avatala paresinatlu
Like throwing a monkey's carcass over the wall after it dies.
This expression describes a situation where someone performs a task in a very careless, hasty, or irresponsible manner just to get it over with, without any regard for the consequences or quality. It implies doing something purely as a formality or to shirk responsibility quickly.
కోతి చావు, కోమటి రంకు.
koti chavu, komati ranku.
A monkey's death, a Kômaṭi's adultery. Both are concealed from the eye of the world.
This proverb describes things that are never openly admitted or rarely seen in public. Just as one rarely sees a monkey's dead body (as they are said to hide away when dying) or a merchant's scandal (due to their discreet and cautious nature), some things remain hidden from the eyes of the world.