ఒకని ఆలి ఒకని కన్నతల్లి.

okani ali okani kannatalli.

Translation

One's wife is another's mother.

Meaning

This proverb emphasizes respect and moral conduct towards women. It suggests that every woman should be treated with the same respect one gives to their own mother, highlighting that a woman who is a wife to someone is essentially a mother figure to others in society.

Related Phrases

The Myrobalan fruit is like one's own mother

This expression refers to the medicinal value of the Haritaki (Karakkaya) fruit in Ayurveda. It implies that just as a mother cares for her child's well-being and health without fail, this medicinal nut protects and heals the body from various ailments. It is used to emphasize the importance of traditional medicine and natural remedies.

Even a ruler's daughter must be someone's wife.

This proverb highlights the traditional social reality that regardless of a woman's high birth, status, or wealth, she eventually leaves her parental home to become a wife. It is often used to signify that certain life transitions or social roles are universal and inevitable, regardless of one's background.

One day a feast, one day medicine

This expression warns about the consequences of overindulgence. It implies that if you feast excessively today, you will have to take medicine for health issues tomorrow. It is used to advise moderation in eating and lifestyle habits.

Even a king's daughter is someone's wife.

This proverb highlights that regardless of one's high birth, status, or background, certain social roles and responsibilities are universal. It is often used to remind people that no one is exempt from basic duties or the necessity of following social order, particularly in the context of marriage and family.

Tears for the birth mother, envy for the stepmother.

This proverb contrasts true empathy with jealousy. It implies that while a birth mother (or a true well-wisher) feels genuine sorrow for one's struggles, a stepmother (or a rival) feels envious of one's success or status. It is used to describe situations where some people are saddened by your pain while others are spiteful of your happiness.

The one who feeds the stomach is the biological mother.

This proverb emphasizes that providing nourishment and care is the ultimate act of motherhood. It suggests that a person's true benefactor or caretaker deserves the same respect and status as one's own mother, highlighting that love and provision are the foundations of a parental bond.

The village where one lives is like one's own mother.

This proverb emphasizes the deep emotional connection and debt of gratitude one owes to their birthplace or hometown. Just as a mother nurtures and protects her child, the place where one grows up provides sustenance, identity, and a sense of belonging. It is used to encourage patriotism, loyalty to one's roots, or to remind someone never to forget their origins.

In bad times, even a pigeon pea plant will not bear fruit

This proverb describes a period of misfortune where even the simplest or most reliable tasks fail to yield results. It is used to express that when luck is against someone, even their best efforts and usually dependable resources will let them down.

When the biological mother's stomach was burning (with hunger), the stepmother's butt was burning.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone who is truly suffering or in need is ignored, while someone else makes a frivolous or exaggerated complaint to gain attention or compete. It highlights the contrast between genuine distress and fake or disproportionate grievances.

Mother Gruel / Mother Fermented Rice Water

This expression refers to 'Taravani' (the water drained from cooked rice and fermented overnight), personifying it as a nourishing mother. In Telugu culture, it signifies the humble yet highly nutritious food that sustained poor or rural families, emphasizing simplicity, health, and gratitude for basic sustenance.