North IndiaPunjabi/Hindi cultural sphereproverbialtraditional
Literal: if the head is intact, a thousand turbans are possible.
2.
Pan-IndianNorth Indiaproverbialformal
Figurative: one's safety or survival is more important than external honors or possessions; as long as the essential thing (life, reputation, or core interest) is preserved, material or decorative losses can be recovered.