సిగ్గు విడిస్తే శ్రీరంగము, అంతకూ విడిస్తే బోడితల.

siggu vidiste shrirangamu, antaku vidiste boditala.

Translation

If one sheds shame, they reach Srirangam; if they shed everything, they end up with a bald head.

Meaning

This proverb describes the stages of detachment or shamelessness. In a spiritual context, it suggests that giving up worldly ego (shame) leads to a sacred state (Srirangam). In a worldly context, it is often used sarcastically to mean that once a person loses their sense of shame or social inhibitions, they can go to any extent, eventually losing their dignity entirely (symbolized by the shaved head of an ascetic or a social outcast).

Related Phrases

Practice without ground, speech without mind.

This proverb describes actions that lack a practical foundation or logic. 'Nela vidichina samu' refers to practicing martial arts while jumping off the ground (losing balance/foundation), and 'mati vidichina mata' refers to speaking without thinking. It is used to criticize someone who ignores reality, lacks common sense, or makes impractical plans.

If you cast off shame, you get a royal meal; if you go to Tirupati, you get a bald head.

This proverb suggests that in certain situations, one must set aside their ego or bashfulness to obtain what they need (like free food). It also implies that some outcomes are inevitable consequences of specific actions, much like how one is expected to shave their head when visiting the holy site of Tirupati.

If you give up the core/original, there is no more trouble.

This proverb suggests that if one abandons the root cause of an attachment, desire, or investment, the associated anxieties and troubles disappear. It is often used to describe a situation where letting go of the primary asset or ego brings immediate peace of mind.

[Shaving] a bald head, to [propitiate] the village goddess. No other will submit to the ignominy.

This proverb describes a situation where someone is unfairly singled out as a scapegoat to resolve a larger problem or to satisfy a ritualistic requirement. It refers to a person being sacrificed or humiliated (symbolized by shaving the head) for the supposed well-being of the community, often highlighting the absurdity of the solution or the innocence of the victim.

If one leaves his wife, he becomes a Haridasu; if he leaves family life, he becomes a Sanyasi.

This expression highlights how changes in social status or spiritual identity are often defined by what a person renounces. It describes the traditional path of detachment, where giving up personal attachments or worldly responsibilities leads to a different way of life, such as that of a wandering minstrel or a monk.

If you leave the house, the rain will fall.

This expression is used to describe an unfortunate situation where something bad or inconvenient happens the moment you step out or take a risk. It is often used to describe bad timing or a stroke of ill luck where a person's absence or departure triggers a problem.

When a shameless man went to Srirangam, a guiltless (or reckless) man went to Venkatagiri.

This proverb is used to describe a situation where people with similar negative traits or lack of discipline end up in different but equally inappropriate places or situations. It highlights how people who disregard social norms or personal integrity often act without direction or purpose, often used to mock those who try to hide their flaws by traveling or changing locations.

A palm leaf strip that is bent and released, sunshine emerging after a cloud has passed, and a woman separated from her husband.

This proverb highlights three things that are considered uncontrollable, fierce, or difficult to deal with. Just as a bent palm strip snaps back with force and sunshine is particularly scorching after a cloud passes, the expression suggests that a woman who has gained independence from her husband (in the context of traditional social structures) can be formidable or unrestrained. It is used to describe situations or people that have suddenly become intense or hard to manage after being released from a constraint.

If one leaves family life, it is monkhood; if it's not heaven, it is Kailasam.

This expression refers to a situation where there are limited but equally acceptable or predetermined alternatives. It is used when a person is prepared for one of two outcomes, implying that if one path doesn't work out, the next logical or inevitable step is already decided. It often suggests a sense of resignation or a lack of other choices.

If the husband's relatives leave their footwear at the front door, the wife's relatives leave them in the inner private room.

This proverb highlights favoritism or double standards in how guests are treated within a household. It suggests that while a husband's relatives might be kept at a distance or follow formal etiquette, the wife's relatives often enjoy more intimacy, comfort, or privilege in the home. It is used to mock or point out partiality in hospitality.