Chaturanga Quotes

“Talk of treasure is as common as sand. Truth is not contained in any one grain. One must know how to sift it from the legends and wishes of old men.”
― Andrew C. Katen

“Kill the traitor!' 'Traitor, traitor, traitor!' 'Jai Mahishmathi!' the crowds screamed. Thirteen years have made no difference, thought Sivagami. People where still bloodthirsty. It didn't matter who killed whom. It was just entertainment for them. The rulers knew this well, and used it to control people, too keep them subservient. They regularly arranged these spectacles for the crowds because they helped to instil a sense of pride for the nation. Once that pride was born, it didn't matter whether they starved like dogs or lived like pigs; they still felt their country was the best in the world, that their ruler was their god, and they, the ruler's blind devotees.”
― Anand Neelakantan, Chaturanga

“At Gauristhalam, Bijala gave a stirring speech ; it was something Keki had made him practice for many days. He spoke about going deep into the jungle to catch this enemy of the country; how he hd wrestled with crocodiles in the river Mahishi, and tigers in the forest; how he had hiked up the ice-capped peaks of Gauriparvat to crawl into its caves and meditate on the future Mahishmathi. He talked about his sacrifices for the people-but he also made sure to talk about me he lost on the way. With tears on his eyes, he called the widows of soldiers who had died on the mission. The prince fell at their feet. 'Mothers,' he cried his voice quivering , his lips trembling with emotion. 'Your husbands were all brave men. I am a sinner. I couldn't save them . Every time a man died under my watch, I wanted to jump into the funeral pyre along with him. The only thing that kept me alive was the thought that I needed to apologie to you. Now that I have done so, allow me to jump into a pyre.”
― Anand Neelakantan, Chaturanga