जिसकी ताकत उसकी भैंस

/d͡ʒɪskɪ taːkət ʊskiː bʱɛːs/proverb
might is right

उस गांव में तो जिसकी ताकत उसकी भैंस वाली बात चल रही है।

In that village, the law of 'might is right' is prevailing.


What It Really Means
A critique of power imbalances where the stronger party dictates outcomes, often disregarding fairness or justice.
Literal Meaning
Whose strength, their buffalo.
Literal Breakdown
जिसकी ताकतwhose strength+उसकी भैंसtheir buffalo
Mental Image
Imagine a scenario where a person's physical strength or ownership of a valuable asset (like a buffalo) allows them to claim resources without regard for others' rights. The buffalo symbolizes both wealth and the means to assert dominance.
When to Use
During a village meeting, a wealthy landowner forcibly takes over a disputed piece of land, ignoring legal claims. A bystander remarks, 'उस गांव में तो जिसकी ताकत उसकी भैंस वाली बात चल रही है।' (In that village, the law of 'might is right' is prevailing.)
Cultural Note
This proverb reflects traditional rural hierarchies where physical labor and livestock ownership were primary sources of power. It persists in modern contexts to highlight systemic inequalities where power (economic, political, or social) trumps fairness.
informal

A situation where power or strength determines who gets what, often ignoring fairness or justice.

उसके पास पैसे हैं इसलिए उसने जमीन हथिया ली, यही तो उसी ताकत उसकी भैंस वाली कहावत है।

He grabbed the land because he had money—this is exactly the 'might is right' scenario.

कंपनी में वही बोस है जो सबसे ज्यादा ताकतवर है, बाकी सब उसकी बात मानते हैं। वही तो उसी ताकत उसकी भैंस वाली बात है।

In the company, only the most powerful boss's word matters—the rest follow. That's the 'might is right' principle in action.

Often used to criticize situations where power dynamics override ethical or legal considerations.

Related Phrases

जिसकी लाठी उसकी भैंसproverb
A variant of the same proverb, emphasizing physical strength (lathi = stick) over other forms of power.

Pro Tip

Cultural Context

This proverb is deeply rooted in agrarian societies where physical labor and livestock ownership were primary indicators of wealth and power. Today, it metaphorically applies to any context where power dynamics dictate outcomes.

Gold Rule

When to Use

Use this proverb when describing situations where the stronger party (physically, financially, or politically) dominates, often at the expense of fairness. Avoid using it in formal legal or ethical discussions where objectivity is required.

Word Origin

This proverb originates from rural Hindi-speaking regions, where livestock (like buffaloes) symbolize strength and ownership. The phrase reflects a traditional belief that physical or economic power dictates control over resources.

Usage Notes

Commonly used in informal discussions to describe power imbalances in social, political, or workplace contexts. Often carries a critical or resigned tone.

Word Breakdown

जिसकी
whose
relative pronoun
+
ताकत
strength/power
noun
+
उसकी
his/her/its
possessive pronoun
+
भैंस
buffalo (symbolizing ownership or control)
noun
हिन्दी-अंग्रेज़ी शब्दकोश