కాంతా కనకం కశ్యపులే కయ్యాలకు మూలం

kanta kanakam kashyapule kayyalaku mulam

Translation

Women, wealth, and land are the root causes of all quarrels.

Meaning

This proverb highlights the three primary worldly desires that lead to conflicts, disputes, and wars throughout history: lust/desire for a woman (Kanta), greed for gold/wealth (Kanaka), and disputes over land/territory (Kashyapu/Kasini). It is used to explain the underlying motive behind most human rivalries.

Related Phrases

Women and gold are the root causes of conflict

This is a popular proverb used to describe the primary motives behind most human disputes, wars, or rivalries. 'Kaanta' (woman/lust) and 'Kanakam' (gold/wealth) represent the two main worldly desires that lead to disagreements or violence throughout history. It is often cited when explaining the cause of a complex feud.

All of it is just a hole/gap

This expression is used to describe a situation where there is a total loss, or when something is completely hollow, empty, or useless despite appearances. It implies that everything has gone down the drain or that the entirety of a matter results in nothingness.

If time and fate do not align, even the Sun God cannot escape troubles.

This proverb emphasizes the power of time (Kalam) and destiny (Karma). 'Kamalabandhavudu' refers to the Sun (the friend of the lotus). It means that when one's luck or time is bad, no matter how powerful, radiant, or influential they are, they must endure hardships. It is used to describe situations where even the most capable people face failures due to unfavorable circumstances.

Hardships do not live (stay) with you forever

This expression is used to offer comfort and hope during difficult times. It signifies the transient nature of problems, suggesting that just as joy is temporary, suffering and struggles will also eventually pass and are not permanent fixtures in one's life.

Do not serve food to strangers and wayfarers.

This proverb is a warning against wasting resources or showing hospitality to unknown, transient, or unworthy people (strangers) while neglecting one's own family or those who are truly deserving. It emphasizes the importance of prioritizing your own responsibilities and family before trying to please random outsiders who have no lasting connection to you.

A woman's word is the root of troubles

This is a traditional proverb implying that gossip or ill-advised words from a woman can lead to significant problems or conflicts. In modern contexts, it is often viewed as a dated or misogynistic sentiment, but it remains a known expression in literature and folklore to describe situations where a specific conversation or rumor triggered a series of misfortunes.

Tax if seen, pride if not seen.

This proverb describes a person who behaves dishonestly or illegally when they think they can get away with it, but acts submissive or pays up only when caught. It is used to refer to people who evade rules or taxes as long as they aren't observed, but maintain a facade of arrogance or innocence otherwise.

Do not hear, do not say, do not see.

This is the Telugu equivalent of the 'Three Wise Monkeys' principle. It serves as a moral guideline to avoid evil: do not listen to evil, do not speak evil, and do not see evil. It is used to encourage people to maintain purity of mind and avoid participating in gossip or negativity.

Establishing a matrimonial alliance within the same village leads to quarrels.

This proverb warns against forming marriage alliances (becoming in-laws) with people residing in the same village. The logic is that constant proximity and frequent interaction between the two families can lead to unnecessary misunderstandings, interference in domestic affairs, and frequent conflicts (kayyamulu) that wouldn't occur if there were some distance between them.

Will a man who did not have a single coin for the wedding ceremony protect you forever?

This proverb highlights skepticism towards someone's long-term commitment or reliability when they failed to show effort or capability during the initial, crucial stages of a relationship or project. It is used to suggest that if someone cannot handle small or foundational responsibilities, they cannot be trusted with life-long or larger ones.