కుక్క తోక పట్టుకుని గోదావరి ఈదవచ్చునా?

kukka toka pattukuni godavari idavachchuna?

Translation

Could you swim over the Gôdâvari, by catching hold of a dog's tail? Reliance upon mean persons for great things. Trust not to a broken staff.

Meaning

This proverb describes a situation where someone relies on a weak or unreliable person/method to achieve a massive task. Just as a dog is not a strong enough swimmer to pull a human across a vast river like the Godavari, choosing an incompetent mentor or a flawed strategy will lead to certain failure.

Related Phrases

Like a fox coming to straighten a dog's tail.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where an unqualified person tries to fix something they don't understand, or when someone uses a deceptive or useless method to solve a problem. It implies that the intervention is both unnecessary and likely motivated by trickery, as a fox cannot truly 'fix' a dog's nature.

Can one cross the Godavari river by holding onto a dog's tail?

This proverb highlights the folly of relying on weak or incompetent means to achieve a monumental or difficult task. Just as a dog is not strong enough to pull a human across a vast river, choosing the wrong person or tool for a major responsibility will inevitably lead to failure.

When someone pulls the leg, hanging onto the eaves of the roof.

This proverb describes a person who is extremely stubborn or desperate to stay in a position or relationship even when they are being forcefully removed or rejected. It signifies a tenacious, often annoying, refusal to let go despite clear opposition.

Can you go hunting by catching a mad dog?

This proverb is used to illustrate that you cannot achieve a successful or noble outcome by relying on incompetent, unreliable, or unstable people. Just as a rabid or mad dog is unpredictable and cannot be trained for the discipline of hunting, an unfit person cannot be trusted to perform a specific task effectively.

Like trying to cross the Godavari river by holding onto a dog's tail.

This proverb is used to describe a foolish or futile attempt to achieve a massive goal using unreliable or insufficient means. Just as a dog is not strong enough to pull a human across a large river, relying on weak or incompetent support for a difficult task will inevitably lead to failure.

You may swim over the sea, but not over family [ annoy- ances ].

This proverb highlights the immense difficulties and endless responsibilities of worldly life (Samsara). It suggests that while physical feats like crossing a vast sea might be possible with effort, managing the complexities, emotions, and burdens of domestic life is an unending and often overwhelming challenge.

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.

When you pull him out by the leg, he holds on by the eaves.

This expression is used to describe an extremely stubborn, persistent, or shameless person who refuses to let go or give up. Even when someone tries to remove them or bring them down, they find another way to cling to their position or stay involved.

A man of no delicacy of feeling, not to be got rid of easily. A toady.

Like holding onto a thorny grey nicker bush

This expression is used to describe getting stuck in a situation where you cannot move forward, yet letting go or moving back is equally painful or difficult. It represents a 'stuck between a rock and a hard place' scenario where any action taken results in hurt or complication.

Like trying to cross the Godavari river by holding a dog's tail

This expression describes a situation where someone relies on a weak, unreliable, or incapable person/resource to overcome a massive challenge. Just as a dog is not strong enough to pull a human across a vast river like the Godavari, choosing an incompetent mentor or a flawed strategy will lead to failure.