సంతానానికని సప్తసాగరయాత్ర వెడితే, ఉప్పనీరు తగిలి ఉన్నది కాస్త ఊడుక పోయిందట.

santananikani saptasagarayatra vedite, uppaniru tagili unnadi kasta uduka poyindata.

Translation

When one went on a pilgrimage across the seven seas for the sake of children, the salt water caused even what they already had to be lost.

Meaning

This proverb describes a situation where a person undertakes a risky or difficult journey to gain something new, but ends up losing even the little they originally possessed. It is used to caution against Greed or poorly planned ventures that result in a net loss rather than a gain.

Related Phrases

Shame was lost the day I left; whatever little remained was lost with the task.

This expression is used to describe a person who has completely lost their sense of shame or self-respect in pursuit of a goal. It implies that a person initially cast aside their dignity to get something done, and now they are entirely indifferent to criticism or social embarrassment.

The bride who could not see followed the farmhand.

This proverb describes a situation where someone who is naive, ignorant, or lacking foresight makes a foolish choice or follows someone who is far below their status or expectations. It is used to mock people who act blindly without understanding the consequences of their actions or the true nature of the person they are trusting.

When the masons built a mansion, it supposedly collapsed because a dog's leg touched it.

This proverb is used to mock someone's poor workmanship or a weak, fragile result. It highlights the absurdity of blaming a minor, insignificant event for the failure of something that should have been strong, implying that the work was fundamentally flawed from the start.

When going after what one doesn't have, even the little one had was lost.

This proverb describes a situation where greed or the pursuit of unattainable goals leads to the loss of existing resources or assets. It is used to advise someone to be content with what they have or to warn against taking excessive risks that might jeopardize their current security.

When luck is not on your side, if you go out to beg, even the begging bowl you have will be swept away.

This proverb highlights a period of extreme misfortune where any attempt to improve one's situation or seek help results in losing the little one already possesses. It is used to describe a streak of bad luck where every action leads to further loss or backfires unexpectedly.

When someone went for salvation, a crocodile dragged them away.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone sets out to achieve a noble or higher goal, but instead gets caught up in a sudden, unexpected, and mundane disaster or complication. It highlights the irony of encountering a great misfortune while seeking the ultimate spiritual liberation.

When the masons built a mansion, it collapsed just because a dog's leg touched it.

This expression is used to mock people who do a poor quality job or make grand claims about their work when it is actually fragile and lacks a strong foundation. It highlights incompetence where even a minor, insignificant touch or obstacle causes the entire effort to fail.

When her dance went well in the market, she credited it to the drum player being outside.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where someone fails to give credit where it is due, or perversely blames their success on an irrelevant external factor. It can also imply a person who tries to hide their lack of skill by making excuses or blaming their equipment/accompaniment even when things go right.

While going for what was not there, even what was there was lost

This proverb describes a situation where someone loses their existing possessions or status while greedily pursuing something they don't have. It is used to caution against unnecessary risks or greed that leads to the loss of one's current security.

When a skilled worker built a canopy, it supposedly collapsed just because a dog's tail touched it.

This is a sarcastic proverb used to mock someone's incompetence or lack of skill. It describes a situation where someone claims to be an expert, but the work they produce is so flimsy and poorly done that the slightest disturbance causes it to fail.