తీర్థము స్వార్థము కలిసివచ్చినట్లు.

tirthamu svarthamu kalisivachchinatlu.

Translation

Like a holy pilgrimage and a personal interest coming together.

Meaning

This proverb is used to describe a situation where one trip or action serves two purposes: a spiritual or selfless duty and a personal or selfish gain. It is similar to the English expression 'killing two birds with one stone,' but specifically refers to achieving a personal benefit while performing a righteous or necessary task.

Related Phrases

A tiger has no mercy, and the Kamadhenu (divine cow) has no selfishness.

This expression highlights the inherent and unchangeable nature of beings. Just as a tiger is naturally predatory and cannot show mercy, a virtuous or divine person is naturally selfless and cannot act out of greed. It is used to describe how people act according to their fundamental character.

A man without money is useless.

This proverb plays on the word 'Artha', which means both 'meaning' and 'wealth'. It suggests that in the eyes of society, a person who lacks financial resources is often treated as if their life has no value or purpose. It is used to describe the harsh reality of how poverty can lead to social insignificance.

A man without money is like a ship without sails. (Dutch.)*

The money [in the box] and the soul [within the body] are made over to the spiritual guide, but the key and the body are retained by me. Applied to giving a person only the form of authority, but no real power.

This proverb is a humorous take on hypocritical devotion or selective surrender. It describes a person who claims to surrender everything valuable (like life and wealth) to a mentor or God for the sake of appearance, but in reality, keeps the physical control (the key to the chest) and their own comfort firmly in their own hands. It is used to mock people who act as if they are selfless but remain deeply possessive and untrusting.

When the time is favorable, children will walk into your life.

This proverb signifies that when fortune is on your side, everything falls into place effortlessly and success comes looking for you. It is used to describe a period of great luck where even unexpected positive events occur without much effort.

Have you come to eat or to visit the shrine ?

This expression is used to question a person's priorities or motives when they seem more interested in superficial benefits (like food) rather than the primary purpose or spiritual significance of an event (like receiving holy water at a temple). It is often used to chide someone who is distracted by secondary perks.

The water is not holy, unless it be poured into the shell.

This proverb signifies that certain actions or words gain value, legitimacy, or recognition only when they come from an authoritative source or a person of high stature. It is often used to describe situations where a valid point is ignored until an important person validates it.

Like kinship and a formal ceremony coming together.

This expression is used to describe a situation where two beneficial or relevant events happen simultaneously or overlap perfectly. It refers to a scenario where one trip or action serves two purposes—visiting a relative (kinship) and attending a social/religious gathering (perantam) at the same time, thereby saving effort and making the most of the occasion.

The sacred water in which the man was going to bathe came to meet him.

This proverb describes a situation where something you were seeking or planning to travel for becomes available to you unexpectedly and effortlessly. It is used when a desired opportunity presents itself right at your doorstep just as you were about to put in effort to attain it.

A thing sought for to come to hand without trouble.

Learning to apply the sacred mark is like completing all the holy pilgrimages.

This proverb suggests that mastering a fundamental skill or the core discipline of a task is equivalent to achieving the end result. In a satirical sense, it can also refer to people who focus heavily on outward appearances or rituals, implying that once the 'show' is mastered, they feel they have achieved everything.

No meaning can be given to erroneous expressions. Applied to discrepancies in a statement.

This expression is used to state that lies are baseless, lack substance, or have no logical grounding. It implies that falsehoods do not carry any real value or significance in the long run.