అయిదు శిఖలున్నా ఇబ్బంది లేదు కానీ, మూడు కొప్పులు చేరాయంటే మత నష్టమే

ayidu shikhalunna ibbandi ledu kani, mudu koppulu cherayante mata nashtame

Translation

Even if there are five top-knots (men), there is no problem; but if three buns (women) gather, it is a ruin for the religion/order.

Meaning

This proverb suggests that men can often coexist or work together without much drama, whereas a gathering of women (symbolized by hair buns) might lead to gossip, disagreements, or complications that disrupt the harmony of a group. It is used to caution against the potential for discord when a small group of people known for talking gather together.

Related Phrases

Thirty-six loose hairs can come together, but three buns (braids) cannot.

This proverb is used to describe the difficulty of achieving harmony among women or strong-willed individuals in a single household. It suggests that while many men (represented by loose hair) might reach an agreement or coexist easily, even a small number of women (represented by tied buns/hairstyles) will have conflicting opinions or friction, making it hard for them to get along peacefully.

A field not watched by the owner is a loss no matter how much it grows.

This proverb emphasizes the importance of personal supervision in business or any undertaking. It implies that without the owner's direct oversight, resources are likely to be wasted, mismanaged, or stolen, leading to failure despite apparent growth or potential.

More than five tufts of hair (men), if three buns (women) gather together, it leads to disaster.

This proverb suggests that even a small group of women gathering to talk can lead to more trouble or complications than a larger group of men. It is often used to describe situations where gossip or excessive discussion among a few people creates unnecessary problems or ruins the original plan.

If three hair-buns come together, the three worlds will unite (and be destroyed).

This proverb is used to describe the difficulty and potential chaos of three strong-willed or argumentative women living or working together. It suggests that if three such people reach an agreement or collide, it creates a force powerful enough to disrupt the entire universe.

Neither did the mother-in-law say yes, nor did the daughter-in-law say no.

This expression describes a state of total agreement or perfect harmony between two parties. It is often used to describe situations where there is no conflict, or conversely, used sarcastically to describe a situation where no progress is being made because no one is taking a definitive stand or challenging the other.

Three hundred Śikhas (i. e. men ) may come together, but three Koppus (i. e. women ) should not get together. Śikha is the top-lock worn by men and Koppu is a woman's chignon.

This proverb highlights the difficulty of achieving harmony or agreement among women living together. It suggests that while a large group of men (represented by 'shikha') can coexist peacefully, even a small group of women (represented by 'koppu') often struggle to avoid conflict or disagreement due to varying opinions and temperaments.

Whether there are three hundred and sixty-four knots of hair or thirty-six small buns, it is all the same.

This expression is used to describe a situation where there is no real difference between the choices or outcomes presented, despite how they are counted or categorized. It implies that a large quantity of something disorganized or fragmented is ultimately equal to a smaller quantity of something similarly messy; basically saying 'it's all the same mess' or 'six of one, half a dozen of the other'.

Stubborn Shikhandi

This expression is used to describe a person who is extremely stubborn, obstinate, and refuses to listen to reason or change their mind. It combines 'Mondi' (stubborn) with 'Shikhandi' (a character from the Mahabharata known for being unshakeable in their purpose), signifying someone who stands their ground to a fault regardless of the consequences or arguments presented.

Three hundred male tufts can coexist, but three female buns cannot.

This traditional proverb suggests that while a large number of men (symbolized by 'shikha' or tufts) can work together or live in harmony, even a small number of women (symbolized by 'koppu' or hair buns) often find it difficult to coexist without conflict or disagreements. It is typically used to remark on domestic friction or the perceived difficulty of managing multiple women in a single household.

Three hundred men's hair tufts can come together, but three women's hair buns cannot.

This proverb highlights the difficulty of achieving harmony or cooperation among a small group of women compared to a large group of men. It is often used to describe situations where constant bickering or differences in opinion among a few women prevent a consensus or peaceful environment, suggesting that their temperaments or domestic rivalries are harder to reconcile than the collective will of many men.