రాజు మెచ్చింది మాట, మొగుడు మెచ్చింది రంభ.

raju mechchindi mata, mogudu mechchindi rambha.

Translation

What the king likes is the law, and who the husband likes is Rambha.

Meaning

This proverb highlights the subjectivity of beauty and authority. It means that power determines what is right, and personal affection determines what is beautiful. Just as a king's word is final regardless of logic, a person's preference defines their standard of beauty or excellence, regardless of objective reality.

Related Phrases

Asked for bread, given a stone.

This expression is used when someone requests help or a specific favor but receives something useless, harmful, or completely contrary to their needs. It highlights a situation of disappointment where a genuine plea is met with indifference or hostility.

What the world admires is great; what a miser admires is a pile of trash.

This proverb highlights that societal recognition comes from generosity and noble actions. While the general public values greatness and virtue, a miserly person only values hoarding wealth or useless things (heaps), which have no real social value. It is used to contrast the difference between true greatness and selfish accumulation.

The pig likes mud - the lady likes rose-water

This proverb highlights how different individuals have different tastes and standards based on their nature or upbringing. It is used to explain that what is delightful to one person might be repulsive or trivial to another, emphasizing that everyone has their own unique preferences.

A pig likes mud; will it ever like rose water?

This proverb is used to describe people with low tastes or vulgar habits who cannot appreciate refined, noble, or high-quality things. It suggests that one's inherent nature dictates their preferences, and a person accustomed to 'dirt' or negativity will never understand the value of something 'pure' or superior.

That's the word, which pleases the king; she is Rambhâ, who is loved by her husband.

This proverb highlights the subjectivity of taste and authority. It means that power and personal affection define value. If a king approves of something, it becomes the rule or truth; similarly, if a man loves his wife, she is as beautiful as a celestial nymph (Rambha) to him, regardless of others' opinions.

The vat likes the salt-dough

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone or something is only satisfied by or suited for something of poor quality or specific low-tier standards. It implies that a person's tastes or preferences are limited to what they are accustomed to, often used in a slightly mocking way to suggest that someone with low standards will be happy with mediocre things.

The person with skin sores (or a weak constitution) craves pickles.

This proverb describes a situation where someone likes or chooses things that are actually harmful to their condition. It is used to mock people who have poor taste or those who stubbornly pursue things that worsen their existing problems.

Eat to please yourself, behave to please others

This proverb suggests that personal choices like food should be according to one's own taste, but social behavior and conduct should be respectable and acceptable to society. It emphasizes the balance between personal freedom and social responsibility.

The over liberal man is ruined ; when a man dies, his debts go with him.

This proverb highlights two harsh realities of life: people only appreciate those who are generous or provide help, and once a person dies, their debts and obligations often perish with them, making it impossible to recover what was owed. It is used to describe the nature of gratitude and the finality of death regarding liabilities.

The courtesan liked by the king became the queen of the kingdom.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone gains power, status, or authority not because of their merit or qualifications, but simply because they are favored by someone in a high position. It highlights how personal favoritism can elevate an undeserving person to a significant role.