ప్రాణముంటే ఉప్పుగల్లు అమ్ముకొని బ్రతకవచ్చు

pranamunte uppugallu ammukoni bratakavachchu

Translation

If there is life, one can survive by even selling a grain of salt.

Meaning

This proverb emphasizes that life is the most precious thing and as long as one is alive, there is hope. It is used to console someone who has lost everything (money, property, or status) by reminding them that they can always rebuild their life through any humble means as long as they stay alive and healthy.

Related Phrases

A man's life is a bowl full of grains; a woman's life is a grain in the gruel.

This traditional proverb reflects historical gender roles and social hierarchies. It suggests that a man's life or contribution is seen as substantial and central (a bowl full of food), while a woman's life is often perceived as supplementary or less significant (a single grain in liquid). It is used to describe the disparity in how society values the lives and roles of men and women.

If you preserve your life, you can at least live by selling salt. Used as an argument not to risk life for the sake of gain.

This proverb emphasizes that life is the most precious asset. As long as one is alive and healthy, they can find some way to make a living, even through the humblest of jobs like selling salt. It is used to encourage resilience and hope during times of great loss or financial ruin.

If there is life, one can survive by eating Balusaku (common shrub leaves).

This proverb emphasizes that life is the most precious thing of all. It suggests that as long as one is alive, there is hope, and one can survive even on the simplest or most humble food during hard times. It is used to encourage resilience and prioritizing survival over luxury or pride.

If there is life, one can survive even by selling salt crystals.

This proverb emphasizes that as long as a person is alive and healthy, they can find some way to earn a living, no matter how humble the work. It is used to encourage resilience and hope during difficult times or financial loss.

A woman's life is like a banana leaf.

This proverb highlights the perceived vulnerability and fragility of a woman's life in traditional society. Like a banana leaf, which gets damaged whether it falls on a thorn or a thorn falls on it, a woman's reputation or life is seen as being easily affected by circumstances regardless of who is at fault.

If there is life, one can survive even by selling salt.

This proverb emphasizes the supreme value of life and health over material wealth or status. It suggests that as long as a person is alive and healthy, they can find a way to earn a living, even through the most humble or difficult means. It is often used to encourage someone facing a major loss or to emphasize that safety and survival should come first.

Do not go to the market relying on a debtor, and do not go to a festival relying on a lover.

This proverb emphasizes the importance of self-reliance and the danger of depending on unreliable sources. Relying on someone who owes you money (a debtor) to fund your shopping at a market is risky as they may fail to pay. Similarly, relying on a secret lover for protection or company at a public fair is unwise as their commitment is often unstable or hidden. It serves as a warning against putting one's trust in people who lack accountability or official obligation.

If one stays alive, one can survive by gathering and eating Balusa leaves.

This proverb emphasizes the supreme importance of survival and hope. It suggests that as long as a person is alive, even in the most dire circumstances or extreme poverty, there is always a chance to rebuild their life or see better days. It is often used to encourage someone to persevere through life-threatening situations or financial ruin.

If there is breath left, one can survive even by selling salt crystals.

This proverb emphasizes that as long as one is alive and healthy, there is always a way to make a living through some form of labor, however humble it may be. It is used to encourage resilience and hope during times of financial loss or hardship, suggesting that life itself is the greatest asset.

As one saves up, it is like selling off the pots to eat.

This proverb is used to describe a person who is extremely lazy or lacks foresight. Instead of working to earn a living, they slowly sell off their small household assets or savings one by one just to survive, eventually leaving themselves with nothing.