చేసిన పాపం గోచిలో పెట్టుకొని కాశీకిపోయినా తీరదు, కాటికిపోయినా తీరదు

chesina papam gochilo pettukoni kashikipoyina tiradu, katikipoyina tiradu

Translation

Even if you carry your sins in your loincloth and go to Kashi, or even to the cremation ground, they will not be washed away.

Meaning

This proverb emphasizes that one cannot escape the consequences of their bad deeds through religious pilgrimages or external rituals. It teaches that intentional sins cannot be hidden or absolved simply by visiting holy places like Kashi or until one's death; the karma of one's actions will inevitably follow them.

Related Phrases

Even after going to Kashi, the weight of the yoke remains.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where a person's problems, character, or burdens follow them no matter where they go or how far they travel. It emphasizes that a change of place does not necessarily result in a change of fortune or relief from responsibilities if the root cause remains within the person or their destiny.

Like going to Kashi and bringing back stork droppings.

This proverb is used to describe someone who goes to a great distance or undertakes a significant journey/effort, but returns with something worthless or fails to achieve anything meaningful. It highlights the irony of putting in immense effort for a trivial or useless outcome.

Like going to Kashi and bringing back a puppy.

Used to describe a situation where someone goes on a great, significant journey or puts in immense effort, only to achieve something trivial, useless, or even negative. It highlights the disparity between the effort expended and the poor outcome achieved.

Will a corpse that has gone to the cremation ground return home instead of being consumed by the logs?

This expression is used to describe an irreversible situation or a total loss. Just as a body taken to the pyre will inevitably be burnt and cannot return, it signifies that once something is gone or a certain point of no return is reached, there is no hope of recovery or reversal.

For a person whose time has come, even going to Kashi won't prevent misfortune.

This proverb suggests that when fate or bad luck is destined to strike, no amount of seeking refuge in holy places or taking precautions can prevent the outcome. It is used to describe situations where someone faces inevitable trouble despite their best efforts to avoid it.

Carrying the sin committed in his loincloth, he went to Kashi and cried 'Hara Hara'.

This proverb describes hypocrisy and the futility of seeking external purification when one is unwilling to let go of their wrongdoings. It is used to mock people who commit sins or crimes and expect divine forgiveness through pilgrimage or rituals while still holding onto the benefits of their bad deeds or without genuine repentance.

Like carrying a cat under the arm while going to a wedding

This expression is used to describe a situation where someone brings along an unnecessary burden or an unlucky distraction that ruins an important or auspicious occasion. It highlights the foolishness of creating complications for oneself when things should be simple and celebratory.

Like going to Kashi and bringing back dog sandals

This proverb describes a situation where someone goes to a great deal of trouble, effort, or travels a long distance for a very noble or significant purpose, but ends up bringing back something trivial, useless, or base. It is used to mock people who waste major opportunities or resources on insignificant outcomes.

A rain from the corner will not leave without drowning.

This expression refers to 'Moola Vana' (rains during the Moola Nakshatram period) which are traditionally believed to be persistent and heavy. Metaphorically, it is used to describe a situation, problem, or consequence that is inevitable and bound to cause significant impact or trouble once it begins. It implies that certain events must run their full course before they subside.

If you carry the sins you committed tied to your own hand, will going to Kashi provide salvation?

This proverb emphasizes that one cannot escape the consequences of their bad deeds simply by visiting holy places or performing rituals. It suggests that true redemption comes from character and actions, rather than superficial religious journeys. It is used to criticize hypocrisy in people who commit wrongs and expect divine forgiveness through travel or rituals.